 From the start , the colonial authorities attempted to persuade the strikers to disperse and go back to work . When they refused , they were fired on . In Jadotville , 15 strikers were shot dead by the military . In Élisabethville , the strikers , including their leader Léonard <unk> , were invited to negotiations at the town 's stadium , where they were offered various concessions , including a 30 % pay rise . 
