1. APRIL 21, 2017 Review End of the War
Canadian Autonomy and the First World War
Next Unit - Notes – An Uneasy Adjustment
** Test TUESDAY (SOME review on Monday)
** Hand in Conscription Crisis Assignment

2. Review Which two events drew the US into the War?
What was the name in which the Canadians advanced continuously, pushing back the Germans and led to Armistice?
What day was Armistice?
What three events did Canada demonstrate her Independence at the end of the War?
What killed 22 million people after the war?

3. Strike
Strike action (or simply a strike) is the mass refusal by groups of workers to perform work.

4. It was a bad year for strikes
It was a bad year for strikes. Thousands of workers took part in illegal strikes, and governments across the country threatened them with fines and jail sentences. Business complained bitterly about the impact on competition and profits, and leading newspapers across the country agreed. Their editorials insisted that “strike leaders have allowed the intoxication of power to go to their heads” and that “strikes by government officials and the employees of municipal authorities should be prohibited by law.” A prominent government representative declared bluntly about one strike, “There is absolutely no reason that hardship should be imposed upon the whole community, just because three employers and their employees were unable to agree.”
what strikes are going on today?
What is the role of strikes in Canada today? Why do people go on strike? What are benefits that workers enjoy today that have been gained through strikes? What rights do they have?

5. An Uneasy Adjustment
In 1918, Canadians celebrated the end of WW1, Veterans returned home to:
no steady pensions
no special medical services for wounded
few jobs
To make matters worse, many employers became rich during the war.
Veterans made sacrifices, but were not reaping the rewards.

6. Rise of Communism
Communism - Under communism all means of production (factories, farms, railways) were publically owned.
1917 Russian Revolution – Bolsheviks establish communist government.
Bolsheviks encouraged workers around the world to join in revolution.
In Canada, inspired workers to try to improve working conditions.

7. Workers Respond
During War workers had worked at reduced pay while cost of goods soared.
Demanded
higher wages
better working conditions
the right to join unions

8. Rise of the Labour Movement
Workers demands resulted in many strikes across Canada.
Often long, bitter disputes.
When the strikes turned violent the provincial police and federal troops were forced to break them up.

9. Labour Movement in Canada
Most communities in the Maritimes depended on a single employer for jobs. The British Empire Steel Corporation.
Demand for wartime industries declined after war - employer tried to save costs by reducing wages
Workers respond by reducing output and striking.
Unemployment and long strikes meant hardship for everyone in the single employer communities
In Western Canada there were also many strikes over wages
Some Western leaders more socialist in policies.
Believed that ordinary people should have involvement in government.

10. One Big Union
In 1919, Western Canadian union leaders found One Big Union (OBU)
Represented all Canadian workers.
Goal to help workers establish more control of industry and government through peaceful means.
The main weapon would be the general strike, a walkout by all employed workers.
Solidarity Forever – Lyrics Analysis

12. The Winnipeg General Strike
All the tension came to a head in Winnipeg (the financial center of western Canada, and the largest city at the time)
In May 1919, Winnipeg’s metal and building workers walked off the job.
demanding higher wages
shorter work week
the right to collective bargaining.
Negotiations breakdown – May Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council voted for a general strike in support.

13. Winnipeg General Strike
private and public workers join strike
Closed factories, retail stores
No streetcars or food deliveries
No telephone or telegraph
Strikers essentially running Winnipeg rather than government.

15. Citizen’s Committee of One Thousand
Not everyone sympathized with the strikers. Business leaders, politicians and industrialists formed the CCOT (Citizen’s Committee of One Thousand)
The Committee saw union leaders as part of a communists conspiracy to overthrow the government.

18. The General Strike : Government Responds
The Mayor of Winnipeg appoints special police, fires many civic workers, and has the strike leaders arrested.
Federal government – fears disruption/protest could spread.
Changes Criminal Code so that foreign-born union leaders (and anyone who they believe could start a revolution) could be arrested and deported without trial.
Sends troops to Winnipeg to restore order.

19. Bloody Saturday
On June 21st strikers held a parade to protest the mayor’s actions. The parade turned violent.
Royal North West Mounted Police charge crowd resulting in one killed and 30 injured
One Striker died, thirty were injured, and many were arrested.
Defeated, the strikers returned to work after a 43 day protest
Clash becomes known as Bloody Saturday

22. Short Term Impact Union movement suffers setback
Many striking workers lose jobs
Divisions between working class and businesses deepen

23. Long Term Impact Royal Commission supports workers’ grievances
Many demands eventually achieved
Some involved took up Political Reform
JS Woodsworth founds Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) – later becomes the NDP