On January 1st, 1912, a new Massachusetts law reduced textile mill workers' hours but owners cut wages in response. When workers at Everett Cotton Mills learned of this, they went on strike and were soon joined by others. Italian organizers Arturo Giovannitti and Joseph Ettor helped lead the 20,000 striking workers in Lawrence, who united across ethnic lines against the mill owners' "slavery and starvation." The state militia and police violently abused the strikers, arresting some, while the city and state refused aid. After months on strike, the workers eventually won concessions from their employers.