THE WINNIPEG GENERAL STRIKE Canada's best-known general strike

The Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 (May 15 – June 25) was one of the most influential strikes in Canadian history, and became the platform for future labour reforms. The Strike

Dismal Labour Conditions Although many Canadian companies had enjoyed enormous profits on WWI contracts, wages and working conditions were dismal and labour regulations were mostly non-existent. Dismal Labour Conditions

Massive unemployment and inflation, the success of the Russia’s Revolutions (1917), a wave of strikes across Canada and rising revolutionary industrial unionism all contributed to postwar labour unrest. Postwar Labour Unrest

March 1919 labour delegates (representatives) from across Western Canada convened in Calgary to form a branch of the “One Big Union,” with the intention of earning rights for Canadian workers through a series of strikes. One Big Union

In Winnipeg on May 15, when negotiations broke down between management and labour in the building and metal trades, the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council (WTLC) called a general strike. Negotiations

At stake were the principle of collective bargaining, better wages and the improvement of often dreadful working conditions. Within hours almost 30,000 private- sector workers had left their jobs. At Stake

The almost unanimous response by working men and women closed the city's factories, and shut down Winnipeg’s retail trade and stopped the trains. Unanimous Response

Working Class Solidarity Public-sector employees such as police, firefighters, postal workers, telephone operators and employees of waterworks and other utilities joined the workers of private industry in an impressive display of working- class solidarity. Working Class Solidarity

The strike was co-ordinated by the Central Strike Committee, composed of delegates elected from each of the unions affiliated with the WTLC. Co-ordination

The committee bargained with employers on behalf of the workers and co-ordinated the provision of essential services. Bargaining

Opposition + Citizens’ Committee Opposition to the strike was organized by the Citizens' Committee of 1000, created shortly after the strike began by Winnipeg's most influential manufacturers, bankers and politicians. Opposition + Citizens’ Committee

Revolutionary Conspiracy? Rather than giving the strikers' demands any serious consideration, the Citizens' Committee, with the support of Winnipeg's leading newspapers, declared the strike a revolutionary (communist) conspiracy led by a small group of "alien scum." Revolutionary Conspiracy?

The available evidence failed to support its charges that the strike was initiated by European workers and Bolsheviks, but the Citizens' Committee used these unsubstantiated charges to block any conciliation efforts by the workers. Evidence Failed

Afraid that the strike would spark confrontations in other cities, the federal government decided to intervene. Federal Intervention

Soon after the strike began, government officials Senator Gideon Robertson, minister of labour, and Arthur Meighen, minister of the interior and acting minister of justice, went to Winnipeg to meet with the Citizens' Committee (the employers). They refused requests from the Central Strike Committee for a similar hearing. Robertson + Meighen

Feds Support Employers On their advice, the federal government swiftly supported the employers, and federal employees were ordered to return to work immediately or face dismissal. Feds Support Employers

The Immigration Act was amended so that British-born immigrants could be deported. Amendments

The Criminal Code's definition of sedition was also broadened. Sedition = a term of law which refers to overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority as tending toward insurrection against the established order (government). Sedition Broadened

On June 17 the government arrested union representatives = 10 leaders of the Central Strike Committee and 2 propagandists from the newly formed One Big Union. Arrests

Four days later, a charge by North-West Mounted Police into a crowd of strikers resulted in 30 casualties, including one death. "Bloody Saturday" ended with federal troops occupying the city's streets. Bloody Saturday

Released Labour Leaders Six of the labour leaders were released, others arrested = Fred Dixon (politicial) and J.S. Woodsworth (reporter). Released Labour Leaders

Faced with the combined forces of the government and the employers, the strikers decided to return to work on June 25, 1919. A Forced Return

Legacy of Bitterness + Controversy The General Strike left a legacy of bitterness and controversy. In a wave of increased unionism and militancy across Canada, sympathetic strikes erupted in centres from Amherst, NS, to Victoria, BC. Legacy of Bitterness + Controversy

Seven of the arrested leaders were unfairly convicted of a conspiracy to overthrow the government and sentenced to jail terms from 6 months to 2 years. The charges against J.S. Woodsworth were dropped. Union Recognition

Collective Bargaining Almost 3 decades passed before Canadian workers secured union recognition and collective bargaining. Collective Bargaining

To Ponder Summarize: What was the Winnipeg General Strike? What were the results of/reactions to the strike? Was the Canadian Government right in the way that they reacted to the strike? Why or why not? To Ponder

Winnipeg General Strike, Demonstration Demonstration about the trials prosecuting Russell and other leaders, Winnipeg General Strike, 1919 (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-37329). Winnipeg General Strike, Demonstration

Winnipeg General Strike Marchers in support of Winnipeg Strike leaders leaving Market Square, passing City Hall, fall 1919 (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-34022). Winnipeg General Strike

One of the strike leaders, R. E One of the strike leaders, R.E. Bray, speaking to demonstrators during the Winnipeg Strike, June 1919 (courtesy L.B. Foote, Western Canadian Pictorial Index). Bray, R.E.

North Main Street, 21 June 1919, resulting in 30 casualties and one death (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/WS- 83/David Millar Coll). Winnipeg Riot