Preview

Winnipeg general strike

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
960 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
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

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Business was thriving, the economy was growing, and life as a whole was improving. However, there was a growing minority of workingmen whose long, difficult hours of toil were being taken advantage of by greedy, selfish employers. These poor men and their malnourished, destitute families compiled the backbone of the thriving economy. Without them, production as a whole would have been at a standstill and the growing quality of life for Americans would have been dampened. Yet these hard-working people received no recognition. On the contrary, they were sorely mistreated by their employers. Threateningly, this problem was growing vaster, until finally workers began to take a stand. Did they make any impact? Did the movement last? Throughout the decades, labor unions have shaped the state of the American economy and the value of the common…

    • 1000 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In 1902 a group of horse and buggy drivers created the Teamsters Union, in that the Teamsters were employed to transport goods. This occupation has played an important part in the economic development of the United States. Although they worked under difficult circumstances at the turn of the twentieth century they began to unionize on an extensive scale. There was no established national organization until 1912 that the teamsters were secure. Back in those days certain crafts and professions were considered as public-interest endeavors, which were licensed and regulated by the town authorities. Included in the teamsters which started with cart-men were; doorkeepers, butchers, and bakers. With the public being so reliant on these crafts they showed a monopoly and the members would join in strikes, to change supply and demand so they could increase prices for their products. In addition, the strikes served the purpose in securing higher wages and fees for services, and to keep outsiders from operating in the same craft. The strikes came about as early as the seventeenth century, although there weren’t any conflicts between labor and management. Instead, the strikes represented demonstrations against local laws and directives and were aimed in influencing the actions of town councils.…

    • 5968 Words
    • 24 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Haymarket riot made a big impact all around the world. It drove people to distrust the labor Unions, but also violated the rights of men who were turned into martyrs by the government. This event caused much controversy, and is still argued about passionately to this day. During that time, there was also controversy over the labor unions. Many argued that they were “unAmerican” and unnecessary although the unions did ultimately reach their goals and are still helpful today.…

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Module4StudyGuideNotes

    • 2916 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Labor unrest came to a head in 1919 when workers began to protest in response to the difficulties caused bydemobilization. Workers went on strike…

    • 2916 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    In the United States during the late 1800’s many industrial workers, both foreign and domestic, banned together to stand against wealthy elites to obtain better compensation for their strenuous work. In this time of rising conflict, many labor unions attempted to speak out and demand better reward. Many big name companies owned by rich businessmen were mistreating their workers and eventually groups like the “Knights of Labor”, “The Workingmen’s Party of Illinois” and “The Lehr and Wehr Verein” were assembled to unify the workers allowing them to resist oppression. Many of these big name companies dealt with the major manufacturing of goods such as lumber and steel, while many others were more focused on the construction of the railroads that transported these goods or the press that advertised them. Because businesses were privately owned and singularly managed, there was little to no government attempt at setting up guidelines on how business owners should administer their employees. Taking advantage of the lack of governmental regulations, these businessmen were able to obtain massive amounts of money and power and leave their workers overworked and underpaid.…

    • 1429 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    APUSH DBQ1 Labor Unions

    • 1111 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the mid-1800s, the National Labor Union was formed to unify workers in fighting for higher wages, lowered work hours, and various other social causes. However, this sets the stage for many failing unions to come. One of the first major strikes in this period would include the Great Railroad Strike. In the late 1800s, railroad workers from across the country participated in an enormous strike that resulted not only in mass violence, but also very few reforms. An editorial in The New York Times stated: "[T]he strike is apparently hopeless, and must be regarded as nothing more than a rash and spiteful demonstration of resentment by men too ignorant or too reckless to understand their own interests…" (Document B). This editorial, which was clearly in favor of labor reforms, was acknowledging that this method of reform was unsuccessful for the laborers at this time. A failure of this magnitude so early on in the movement should have been enough cease its continuation; however, year after year, strikes were breaking and little was being done in the workers’ favor. Another major strike would be the Homestead Strike and Lockout. In the late 1800s,…

    • 1111 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Beginning in the 1860’s, labor unions began to sprout in hopes of making reforms by unifying workers to fight for higher wages, and 8 hour work day, and various other social benefits. The National Labor Union (1866) was the first assembly established to take part in this fight. Strikes would have to be effective in order to initiate any major changes but at a time like this, more harm was being done than good. In 1877, many workers participated in the first great American strike which resulted in mass violence and little reforms. Afterwards, an editorial in the New York Times stated that “the strike is apparently hopeless, and must be regarded as nothing more than a rash and spiteful demonstration of resentment by men too ignorant or too reckless to understand their own interests…” (Document B) This editorial, which clearly favored labor unions, was acknowledging that…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The general strike of May 1926 was not a success for those attempting to force the government to act to prevent wage reductions and worsening conditions for coal miners. Had the TUC been more prepared to strike and followed through with what the miners wanted them to do, the government would have been faced with a much tougher challenge. Despite this, even if the conservative government were faced with a tougher challenge, the preparations and subsequence actions taken by them were more than enough and the main reason for the failure of the strike.…

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Since there was no groundwork to rationalize and show examples of the success of organized labor, it was nearly impossible to make it work at this time. If unions were going to work, striking would have to be effective and clearly, they weren't. In the 1860's, the National Labor Union was formed to unify workers in fighting for higher wages, an 8 hour work day and various social causes and it set the stage for many failing unions to come. In 1877, railroad workers in this union from across the country took part in an enormous strike that resulted in mass violence and very few reforms. Afterwards, a editorial in The New York Times stated: "the strike is apparently hopeless, and must be regarded as nothing more than a rash and spiteful demonstration of resentment by men too ignorant or too reckless to understand their own interests" (Document B). This editorial, which was clearly in favor of labor reforms, was acknowledging that this method of fighting was not going to work for the laborers at this time. A failure of this magnitude so early on in the movement should have been enough to put it to halt, however, year after year, strikes were breaking and little was being done in the workers favors. In 1892, workers at the Homestead Steel Plant near Pittsburg walked…

    • 989 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In an 1875 world, run by corporations and narcissistic owners, workers found that as individuals, they were mute to the rest of the nation. They were mere workers in the anthill, ruled by numerous 'queens'. These workers rallied together in an attempt to scare the queens into submission of their demands. At first these uprisings had little to no effect on the corporate leaders, but slowly began to change work hours and average daily wages. Also, workers became less educated and with a reduction of skill in the workplace; the reason, workers didn't need to have a well-rounded knowledge of the product they were making, since they only had to work on specifics in the 19th century, onward. Not only did the strikes and unions bind one worker with another, they helped the workers to grow a substantial sense of audacity and fortitude, strengthening the nation as a society.…

    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Working Class

    • 1084 Words
    • 5 Pages

    This article entitled The Honest Workingman and Workers’ Control: The Experience of Toronto Skilled Workers, 1860-1892 written by Gregory S. Kealey looks to better describe the practice of three Toronto unions from the 1860’s to the early 1890’s and their struggles for their rights and deserved wages in order to illustrate the strength these types of unions possess. This article recognizes that there are industries where unions win, and still must rely on skilled labour. Many times people hear the term ‘industrialization’ and think that all craft workers get blown away, however this is not exactly the case as this article demonstrates.…

    • 1084 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The general strike took place in 1926; It had lasted 9 days from 4 May 1926 to 13 May 1926. It was called by the general council of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in an unsuccessful attempt to force the British government to act to prevent wage reduction and worsening conditions for coal miners. There are many reasons for the causes of the General strike including; the government, the TUC; Coal mines and the return of the gold standard.…

    • 995 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    4 People were not only losing their jobs but they were losing their family and friends. The doctors could not save the people who died in the coal mine, however they could have prevented another horrible mistake. Health research was not as advanced as it was now, and new diseases kept popping up causing mayhem among the people. The Red Cross scandal which involved the organization putting HIV infected blood in patients caused commotion and distrust all over Canada.…

    • 619 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Regina Riot was an incident that occurred during the On-to-Ottawa Trek in 1935. This event was a large scale of constance of protesting by the working class that was dissatisfied of the way the government was dealing with things. Canada’s Prime Minister R.B. Bennett was dealing with the Great Depression, as he created a new act that would help people which was The Relief Act mainly for single men that did physically demanding labour. As most men would criticize and demand to improve the living and working conditions within the camps also new work programs. During the time of the relief camps men would live and worked in these camps for a rate of twenty cents per day before walking out on strike in April 1935. After all this event to be…

    • 170 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays

Related Topics