Unions and the Unions and the Winnipeg General Winnipeg General

StrikeStrike

Labour UnrestLabour Unrest

1918-1919 a wave of labour 1918-1919 a wave of labour unrest swept across Canada.unrest swept across Canada.

Workers struggled with Workers struggled with employers to determine the employers to determine the direction of postwar society.direction of postwar society.

What to do with the ex What to do with the ex soldiers.soldiers.

Returning SoldiersReturning Soldiers Many ex soldiers did not find Many ex soldiers did not find steady work with decent wages when steady work with decent wages when they returned home from the war. they returned home from the war. Many became angry.Many became angry.

Ex soldiers expected that their Ex soldiers expected that their sacrifices would be rewarded with sacrifices would be rewarded with steady jobs.steady jobs.

Many women had taken over the jobs Many women had taken over the jobs performed by men.performed by men.

Veterans expected to go back to Veterans expected to go back to their own jobs.their own jobs.

Union MovementUnion Movement Union Movement declared that the Union Movement declared that the economy should benefit ordinary economy should benefit ordinary workers, not just industrialists.workers, not just industrialists.

Who did this union appeal to?Who did this union appeal to? Many political groups agreed with this.Many political groups agreed with this. Many people wanted a ‘voice in the Many people wanted a ‘voice in the management and a share in the profits…’management and a share in the profits…’

It is ‘un-Christian to accept profits It is ‘un-Christian to accept profits when labourers do not receive a living when labourers do not receive a living wage.’wage.’

Union MovementUnion Movement

Farmers in Canada under the Farmers in Canada under the Canadian Council of Agriculture Canadian Council of Agriculture called for public ownership of called for public ownership of essential services such as essential services such as railways and electrical power. railways and electrical power. They also wanted old age They also wanted old age pensions, and widow’s pensions, and widow’s allowances.allowances.

An Era of UnionsAn Era of Unions

1920s many unions in Canada 1920s many unions in Canada wanted to unite under one wanted to unite under one union. union.

One Big Union (OBU)One Big Union (OBU) Saw society as a class Saw society as a class struggle between workers and struggle between workers and business owners. By uniting business owners. By uniting they could win the struggle.they could win the struggle.

Encouraged workers to Encouraged workers to engage in a general cross engage in a general cross country strike.country strike.

Union OutlookUnion Outlook Many people who did no Many people who did no belong to unions saw them belong to unions saw them as communists. Thus began as communists. Thus began the ‘Red Scare’.the ‘Red Scare’.

Unions actually praised the Unions actually praised the Communist Revolution in Communist Revolution in Russia.Russia.

Their slogan was ‘Workers Their slogan was ‘Workers of the World, Unite’.of the World, Unite’.

If union members were found If union members were found with communist literature with communist literature they were sent to prisonthey were sent to prison

Wide Spread StrikeWide Spread Strike 1919 a widespread 1919 a widespread strike across Winnipeg.strike across Winnipeg.

Their goal was to win Their goal was to win the right to bargain as the right to bargain as a group to gain better a group to gain better pay, and to improve pay, and to improve working conditions.working conditions.

Working Conditions = Working Conditions = Work week, Conditions Work week, Conditions in the factory (harsh in the factory (harsh environment), unsafe.environment), unsafe.

This is called This is called Collective Bargaining.Collective Bargaining.

Tensions MountTensions Mount 30, 000 workers walk off the job in 30, 000 workers walk off the job in Winnipeg, followed by ‘sympathy’ Winnipeg, followed by ‘sympathy’ strikes in Vancouver, Toronto and strikes in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Montreal.

Stores and factories close, city Stores and factories close, city departments shut down. Some are departments shut down. Some are afraid it is the beginning of a afraid it is the beginning of a communist revolutioncommunist revolution

Winnipeg officials ban parades and Winnipeg officials ban parades and demonstrations. RCMP raids homes of demonstrations. RCMP raids homes of union leaders.union leaders.

Images of the StrikeImages of the Strike

Riot!Riot! June 21, 1919 = violence in the streets. June 21, 1919 = violence in the streets. Cars are set on fire – the RCMP charges Cars are set on fire – the RCMP charges the crowd. 1 man is killed, 30 injured the crowd. 1 man is killed, 30 injured and 100s arrested.and 100s arrested.

The day becomes known as ‘Bloody Saturday’The day becomes known as ‘Bloody Saturday’ Central Strike Committee orders the Central Strike Committee orders the workers back to work and the strike is workers back to work and the strike is over.over.

Some families never recover financially – Some families never recover financially – leads to pro-worker political parties like leads to pro-worker political parties like the NDP laterthe NDP later