of the ruling families of Costa Rica, attempted to do away with the growing labor movement. In 1920, the first general strike occurred in the major urban areas. Encouraged largely by the carpenters and furniture makers' unions, the workers initially demanded an eight-hour workday and an increase in wages. When their demands were ignored, other unions joined their cause, including the public workers from the Pacific Railroad and the National Liquor Factory, as well as private typists, sailors, and others. The transitional government, weak from deposing Tinoco, settled quickly while private companies took more time to draw concessions from the workers. In 1923, many unions and labor groups joined to form the Costa Rican Federation of Workers. In 1929, the Revolutionary Labor Cultural Association (Asociación Revolucionaria de Cultura Obrera) was founded. Advocating for the rights of workers in study groups, ARCO was a director predecessor to the Communist Party of Costa Rica, both of which frequently clashed with police during violent demonstrations. Although they had frequently protested in the past, banana workers staged one of Costa Rica's most significant strikes in 1934. Previous banana strikes and protests had been repressed by the national government on behalf of United Fruit Company. Because of the previous repression, members of the Atlantic Workers Congress met in secret to sign documents demanding a minimum wage that would not be given in company coupons, six hour shifts, recognition of injury law, and generally improved working conditions. Among the Atlantic Workers Congress was Carlos Luis Fallas, who would later write "Mamita Yunai," based on his experiences working for United Fruit. A national strike began on 9 August 1934 involving more than 30 separate unions. United Fruit immediately tried to divide workers in different professions and regions along ethnic lines, even forcibly deporting workers to other countries. The unions and the company came to an agreement that ended the strike on 28 August; however, United Fruit did not follow through. Instead, the company began a public relations campaign to brand the strike as a communist insurrection, which the government accepted. Nonetheless, The Great Banana Strike was an important step that would eventually lead to the formation of effective Trade unions in Costa Rica since the company was required to sign a collective agreement with its workers in 1938. Unions went on strike again, but the leaders of the Atlantic Workers Congress were imprisoned and the strike ended.