In late 1928, workers employed by the United Fruit Company in Colombia initiated a strike to demand improved wages and working conditions, reflecting broader dissatisfaction with labor practices in the region. The strike drew attention to the significant influence of the United Fruit Company, a powerful American multinational that controlled vast agricultural resources in Central America, including Colombia. Workers organized to advocate for their rights in a dangerous climate, as the company and the Colombian government both sought to suppress dissent in favor of economic interests. After weeks of unrest, the situation escalated drastically when the Colombian government decided to intervene militarily. On December 6, the military moved in to forcibly dissolve the strike, leading to a confrontation between soldiers and workers. Reports of violence emerged, though the exact number of casualties remains uncertain. Accounts suggest that many workers lost their lives in the massacre, which remains one of the dark moments in labor history in Colombia.

This military intervention was not merely a response to a labor dispute; it illustrated the profound economic and political links between the United Fruit Company and the Colombian government. The company's control over the region's economy provided it with the ability to influence political decisions, often at the expense of local labor rights and the welfare of Colombian citizens. The event demonstrated the lengths to which governments would go to maintain foreign investment and control labor movements, setting a precedent for future conflicts between multinational corporations and local populations. The repercussions of the military action against the United Fruit Company workers resonated throughout Colombia, sparking protests and leading to increased awareness of labor rights issues, as well as highlighting the dangers that foreign corporations posed to local communities and economies.