About the Winnipeg General Strike
Imagine what would happen in a major city if most of its labor force chose to strike. The city would likely come to a standstill. What if the general strike lasted for up to 6 weeks? Such was the case in Winnipeg in 1919.
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History
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On November 11, 1918, the armistice ending World War I was signed. Soldiers of the British Commonwealth returned to their homes and places of employment. They found low wages, poor working conditions, long working hours and no unified voice to represent their complaints. In Calgary in March 1919, leaders of various labor groups of Western Canada met to consider forming a large union. From this agreement came plans for smaller trade councils and unions such as those the Winnipeg building and metal trade groups attempted to use in negotiations in May 1919. Abraham Albert Heaps and James Shaver Woodsworth, two of the notable strike leaders, became Independent Labor Party representatives in Canada's Parliament. Woodsworth led the Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation, which later became the New Democratic Party of Canada.
Significance
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The Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 was the largest strike to take place in Canada to that date. All levels of government as well as business owners and management were forced to recognize the power a well-organized labor group could wield against unsympathetic employers. Labor conditions and wages changed over the next 30 years as a result of awareness generated by this strike. Labor unions saw the need to be represented politically in Canada's Parliament and the short-lived Canadian Labor Party was birthed in the 1920s in response.
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Time Frame
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On May 1, 1919, workers in the building and metal trade unions went on strike after employers refused to negotiate with or formally recognize their Trades Council. By May 15, female telephone operators joined them with workers from other groups following. A number of strike leaders were arrested on June 17 under newly changed national Immigration and sedition laws. On June 21, the North West Mounted Police were ordered to charge a large group of protesters in Winnipeg's Market Square. Two men died and 30 more were injured when a newly hired police force met fleeing protesters with baseball bats and other weapons. The General Strike lasted until June 25, a total of 6 weeks.
Geography
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At first, the General Strike was confined to workers in the building and metals trade groups. By the end of 2 weeks, a total of 30,000 workers in the city of Winnipeg walked off their jobs in solidarity with the original striking workers. From the telephone system to the police force, Winnipeg began to suffer the results of its general service workers on strike. As the strike progressed, labor strikes in other cities in Manitoba and across Canada flared up in response to the situation in Winnipeg. The federal government changed certain laws to assist Winnipeg officials in arresting strike leaders and ending the strike.
Effects
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The Canadian government, fearing a rise of national socialism, enacted two amendments to existing immigration and sedition laws. One amendment allowed for hundreds of foreign members of trade unions and communist groups to be deported. Another amendment was designed to intimidate members of trade unions and the Communist party of Canada. This resulted in increased animosity between trade unions and the government. Instead of decreasing in number, labor unions grew and gained political influence as labor leaders were elected to Parliament.
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