Labour Movement in Canada

1. Labour Movement in Canada Four major waves of working-class resistance and labour militancy when the labour movement expanded its membership and its goals: • the 1880s, • the end of First World War, • during and after the Second World War, • and the decade after 1965.

2. Workers’ Rights in Canada

3. Craft & Industrial Unions • craft unions  first to form in Canada in the 1820s  made up of a specific trade or skilled workers (e.g. printers, shoemakers, masons, bakers and tailors) • industrial unions  workers in a particular company or industry  not based on specific trade / skill (e.g. Canadian Auto Workers i.e. CAW)

4. Collective Bargaining • the negotiation between representatives of workers and employer(s) establish terms & conditions of employment that are acceptable to both sides • power in numbers is the philosophy behind unions and collective bargaining • single unskilled or semiskilled workers are easily fired and replaced

5. Collective Bargaining • union and management try to reach an agreement on such issues as pay, pensions, workload and holidays • once an agreement is reached a contract called a collective agreement is signed by both sides that state the terms of the agreement and how long it is in effect

6. Collective Bargaining • if a dispute arises during the term of the collective agreement than an arbitrator (outside person) settles the dispute

7. Conciliation / Mediation • after a contract expires and the two sides cannot come to an agreement on a new contract • both union and management may agree to allow a conciliator (outside person) hear both sides and try to bring them to an agreement

8. Strike / Lockout • Occurs if labour and management cannot come to an agreement and create a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) • labour may strike (withhold labour services) or management may lockout the workers

9. Development of unions in Canada • Until 1872, union activity was illegal in Canada. Yet workers had formed unions and went on strike regardless. • In 1872, thousands of workers in cities and towns throughout southern Ontario and Quebec, went on strike to secure the nine-hour day (they also worked six days a week). • It included printers at the Globe newspaper owned by George Brown, a prominent Liberal. Brown had the union leaders charged for engaging in a seditious conspiracy.

10. Working Conditions in the 1900s — Canada’s Industrial Revolution Factories began replacing the agriculturalindustries Most factory jobs involved hard labour, long hours, low pay… To save $ companies hired women and children Lighting and ventilation in factories were poor, work areas were dirty, machinery was dangerous.

11. There was no job security & unemployment was common • This allowed employers to pay lower wages and threaten workers if they didn’t work hard. • Employers worked hard to stop any attempts at creating labour unions. • Job instability was complicated by the huge flow of immigrants. Many were desperate for work.

12. Child Labour • Children were popular workers with owners because they didn't have to be paid as much as adults. • Unions fought against child labour, partly to save jobs for adults. • Child labour laws were passed, but the number of children working in factories actually increased from 1900- 1910.

21. What were these early unions fighting for? • A key development came in 1872 when the printers in Toronto decided to mount a vigorous campaign for the nine-hour day. They still worked a six-day week and so what they were seeking was a 54-hour week. • The Toronto printers were part of a general effort to obtain shorter hours. This was being promoted by what were known as Nine-Hour Leagues in many centres. The Toronto publishers promptly rejected the proposal and countered with a proposal for $10 for a 60-hour week -- about 16 -- cents an hour.

22. The Nine-Hour Movement of 1872 • George Brown’s political rival, John A. Macdonald sensed a political opportunity and passed the Trade Unions Act which legalized union formation. However, it did not require employers to recognize unions or engage in collective bargaining. • In 1876, federal legislation granted some legal room for picketing. • A national labour organization, the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada (TLC) was established in 1886.

23. Winnipeg General Strike 1919 After WWI, many Canadian soldiers returned home to find few opportunities. The soldiers thought the jobs they had left would be there when they returned. The soldiers were mistaken. Canada provided little money, jobs, retraining or support to the veterans. As well, health benefits were limited and veteran pensions were often unpaid.

24. Winnipeg General Strike Companies who made war equipment had enjoyed enormous profits, and many business operators were rich. For the workers, wages were low, working conditions were unsafe, and labour regulations were mostly non-existent. During the war, women had worked in the factories. They had gained experience and skills. Many women did not want to return to the role of homemaker. Prior to WW1, many eastern Europeans had settled in western Canada. Large groups of Ukrainians moved to Winnipeg. Now, these groups were seen as undesirable.

26. Winnipeg General Strike In Canada, there was unemployment and very high inflation (40 - 60%) …frustration and anger. In Russia, the 1917 revolution had put a communist government in power. For Canadian workers, a socialist system (i.e., property and wealth distribution subject to control of society for the common good) seemed like a good solution.

27. Winnipeg General Strike In May 1919, One Big Union was formed in Calgary. The union was seeking better wages and working conditions for workers in all Canadians cities. The union began to organize workers across Canada. Building and metal workers tried to become unionized, but management refused to negotiate. The workers decided to strike for better wages and union recognition.

28. Winnipeg General Strike One Big Union convinced all Winnipeg workers to support the strike, and by 11:00 a.m., 30,000 workers…almost all workers in Winnipeg…were on strike. The strikers included postal workers, police officers, fire fighters, water works operators and cooks.

29. Winnipeg General Strike At first, the strike was peaceful, and a Central Strike Committee was formed. The Central Strike Committee controlled the movement of goods and supplies (e.g., milk and food delivery) in many parts of Winnipeg.

30. Winnipeg General Strike Almost immediately, employers and the Winnipeg City Council established the Citizens' Committee of 1000, a group of Winnipeg's wealthiest manufacturers, lawyers, bankers and politicians. The Committee ignored the strikers' demands for improved wages and union recognition. Instead, the Committee claimed the strikers were Bolsheviks trying to start a violent communist revolution.

31. Winnipeg General Strike Local newspapers had lost most of their employees to the strike. Papers such as the Winnipeg Free Press called the strikers bohunks, aliens and anarchists. They ran cartoons depicting hooked-nosed Jewish radicals throwing bombs. In response to the negative press, workers began to hold similar but smaller strikes in cities across Canada.

32. Winnipeg General Strike, 1919 • Workers in other cities struck in sympathy with Winnipeg. • Victoria, Vancouver, New Westminster, Prince Rupert, Calgary, Edmonton, Medicine Hat, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Brandon, Port Arthur, Toronto, Montreal, and Amherst, Nova Scotia, all saw general strikes called to support the workers in Winnipeg and to protest the arrests of strike leaders.

33. Winnipeg General Strike The Government of Canada began to worry about the outcome of strikes in all Canadian cities. Government of Canada official met with the Citizens' Committee of 1000, but they refused to meet with the Central Strike Committee. With Government of Canada support, the Winnipeg City Council fired all police officers. They were replaced with members of the Citizens' Committee of 1000.

34. Winnipeg General Strike • The Government of Canada acted quickly. • The Immigration Act was amended so strike leaders could be easily and quickly arrested and deported. • Striking government employees were ordered back to work. • On 17 June 1918, ten strike leaders were arrested. • More RCMP officers were sent to Winnipeg.

35. Winnipeg General Strike In protest, the strikers organized a rally in downtown Winnipeg. On 21 June 1918, the event turned violent. RCMP on horseback charged into the protesting strikers. Many more strikers were arrested, 30 people were injured and one person was killed. This event is called Bloody Saturday. On 25 June 1918, the strikers returned to work.

36. Winnipeg General Strike This is a very important historical event in the social, economic and political valeus of Canadian history. Why?

37. Winnipeg General Strike • Why? • Workers saw the need to united. This was the start of many unions in other parts of Canada, as well as meaningful rules and regulations for labour (e.g., safe working conditions, appropriate wages). • Strike leader J.S. Woodsworth was jailed during the Winnipeg General Strike. He later founded Canada's first socialist political party, the CCF. It became the New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP). • Canadians began questioning the tactics and force used by the government.