Winnipeg General StrikeWinnipeg General StrikeAvailable online @ msbeenen.wikispaces.comAvailable online @ msbeenen.wikispaces.com

W.W.W.W.

Who? ALMOST ALL WORKERS

What? A general strike across Winnipeg and other parts of Canada> leads to violence

When? 1919 (Not the 20’s but still IMPORTANT)

Where? Winnipeg Manitoba

**When you see this ~~ you do not need to copy that point!

Causes

After the war, soldiers came home looking for work but factories were shutting down and unemployment was on the rise.

Inflation during the war increased the cost of living and many families were now living in poverty

Immigrants had started taking over jobs that once belonged to the veterans, this created social tensions.

Workers also wanted better working conditions, too many workers were getting injured or killed on the job.

Negotiations

Workers tried to negotiate with the Government but they didn’t care.

Winnipeg builders exchange, electric, and fire alarm employees started to strike. They were labelled “Bolsheviks” and accused of undermining Canada

Lack of recognition from the Government caused other civic workers to join the strike in sympathy.

bOLSHEVIKS

Group of Russian radicals that overthrew the government in 1917.

They called for a revolution from workers around the world.

They believed people should control the way goods are produced and distributed.

Although some Canadians were influenced by these ideas it was not as extreme. REFORMISTS NOT REVOLUTIONARIES

Fear of the foreign

Because of this fear of Bolshevik ideas, foreign union leaders and workers were looked at suspiciously.

To prevent revolution, legislation quickly passed that any foreign born “radicals” (people who belonged to a revolutionary group or opposed organized government) could be instantly deported.

organization

The “One Big Union” was created in March 1919 by union leaders across western Canada in an attempt to help workers obtain more control of the industry.

Some workers did not want to negotiate with this Big Union

Frustration built and the works strike!

tHE sTRIKE

May 1919 metal and building workers walk off the job in Winnipeg: A general strike was voted in by the Trades and Labour union and over 30,000 workers went on strike

Winnipeg was at a standstill: Police supported the strike but stayed working to keep the peace, firefighters strike but went back to work after 11am~~

Police intervened for fear of communism (it didn’t help that a large number of immigrants had settled in winnipeg)

winnipeg stands still

Stores and factories closed.

Dairies and bakeries stopped deliveries

Street car operators, garbage collectors, postal workers. etc.

Bloody Saturday

General strike had been going on for 37 days now

June 21st violence erupts (Blood Saturday)

A crowd had gathered to watch a parade protesting the arrest of strike leaders

Mayor feared troubled and read the riot act. He also called in the Royal North West Mounted police.

Police charged the crowd. One man was killed and 30 injured.

5 days later people are ordered back to their jobs. Strike is over.

Street car is attacked by strikersStreet car is attacked by strikers

Results

Many strike leaders are arrested and sentenced to jail time.

Some were forced to sign “yellow dog contracts” stating they would never join a union or take part in union activities.

Criminal code was changed: persons proposing violence to bring about political or economic changes could be searched without a warrant.

It wasn’t all bad!

People actually started thinking about the lives of workers and how much they do.

Drew attention to social and economic problems faced by working people.

Royal Commission was appointed to investigate the causes of the strike.

Many of strike leaders moved on to do great things in politics.

Some other noteworthy labour changes!~~

By 1929, Canadian provinces make it illegal to employ children under 14 in factories or mines.

School attendance was made compulsory.

Some children under 14 stilled worked full time.

Class task

Read “Bloody Saturday” Graphic Novel as a class

Finish KWL: If you get the marker fill in a point and pass it on. BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS

WITH A PARTNER CREATE A MIND MAP OF HOW THIS STRIKE WOULD’VE AFFECTED THE PEOPLE IN WINNIPEG/CANADA

**If you have any questions that relate to this topic please write them on a piece of paper and hand it in at the end of class.