Winnipeg general strike
Winnipeg General Strike
The Winnipeg General strike has been one of the most intensive episodes in Canadian history, and it was also an important development in the building of the democratic socialist movement in Canada by laborers in the 20th century.
During the 1900’s after World War I and the success of the Russian Revolution in 1917, workers were faced with much leadership in factories. They did not have very many rights and the government often allowed owners to treat employees however they wished. Workers were often required to work long hours, they were paid poor and working in dangerous conditions or with dangerous chemicals or machines. If they were injured at work, no compensation was given to them, and often they were fired if they could not fulfill their position even it was an injury from the job, and no employee insurance was given to them. At that time there were very few unions in existence so the workers were not able to organize themselves to work collectively for their rights. Due to Canada’s virtually non-existent labor laws of the time, union recognition could only be recognized through the strike action by workers.
Winnipeg had been buzzing with the fervor of aggressive unionism among the working class. The city had witnessed a general strike the year previously, unemployment was high, wages were low and conditions poor; soldiers returning from Europe were met with the fact that while they had been risking their lives in the trenches, companies at home had been making large profits from war contracts. Many were concerned in Canada that unions would lead to the spread of communism which had recently taken over Russia.
On May 1st, 1919, finally workers got into action to have the union recognize and to demand higher wages and improved working conditions. On May 6th, the building and metal workers asked Winnipeg Trades and Labor Council (WTLC) for assistance with the strike and its members voted as to whether to strike in
The Winnipeg General strike has been one of the most intensive episodes in Canadian history, and it was also an important development in the building of the democratic socialist movement in Canada by laborers in the 20th century.
During the 1900’s after World War I and the success of the Russian Revolution in 1917, workers were faced with much leadership in factories. They did not have very many rights and the government often allowed owners to treat employees however they wished. Workers were often required to work long hours, they were paid poor and working in dangerous conditions or with dangerous chemicals or machines. If they were injured at work, no compensation was given to them, and often they were fired if they could not fulfill their position even it was an injury from the job, and no employee insurance was given to them. At that time there were very few unions in existence so the workers were not able to organize themselves to work collectively for their rights. Due to Canada’s virtually non-existent labor laws of the time, union recognition could only be recognized through the strike action by workers.
Winnipeg had been buzzing with the fervor of aggressive unionism among the working class. The city had witnessed a general strike the year previously, unemployment was high, wages were low and conditions poor; soldiers returning from Europe were met with the fact that while they had been risking their lives in the trenches, companies at home had been making large profits from war contracts. Many were concerned in Canada that unions would lead to the spread of communism which had recently taken over Russia.
On May 1st, 1919, finally workers got into action to have the union recognize and to demand higher wages and improved working conditions. On May 6th, the building and metal workers asked Winnipeg Trades and Labor Council (WTLC) for assistance with the strike and its members voted as to whether to strike in