The Worker Crisis of 1920 By: Adam Perry

Returning from the Front Veterans returning from the front find themselves without work Many never find work

Unrest in the Populace High rate of unemployment Fear of unemployment High cost of living Wages too low Desire for shorter hours

Why it was so Bad Men worked anywhere between 4-17 hours per day Women worked between 5-14 hours per day Bad conditions

Average Wages and hours Job Wages Hours/week Bricklayer $ 1.00 44 Carpenter $ .90 44 Plumber $ .90 14 Electrician $ .875 44 Painter $ .75 44 Metal worker $ .65-.80 48 Builder Labourer $ .55-.65 44 Factory Labourer $ .40 50-60

To make things worse Insufficient or poor housing Denial of right to organize Unions Refusal to recognize Unions Denial to recognize collective bargaining Restrictions on freedom of speech and press

Rising against the Man As working conditions get worse workers unite and begin to strike Strikes hit all time high in 1920 with over 450 000 strikers Out of those strikers: 65 000 Lost 118 000 Won 131 000 Compromised 140 000 Never Ended

Famous Strikes Winnipeg Workers strike Cape Breton Coal workers strike

Tragedy in the Streets Many of the original strikes were considered Riots In some cases people were killed when police opened fire on them such as in the Winnipeg Workers Strike Even when the strikes were peaceful

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