1. Return Home Rise of Communism Workers Respond Winnipeg General Strike
Post War Canada
Return Home
Rise of Communism
Workers Respond
Winnipeg General Strike

2. Soldiers Return Home An Uneasy Adjustment Few support services
(physically and mentally wounded)
Few jobs

3. Dissatisfied Workers After the war Workers demanded more Money!
Many Canadians agreed to low wages as part of their patriot duty for the war effort
After the war
Inflation caused major problems as wages no longer covered the cost of rent and food
Workers demanded more Money!

4. Rise of Communism Under Communism:
After WWI people around the world dissatisfied about rich and poor divide
1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia
Under Communism:
All means of production and distribution are publically owned
No private ownership of business or land

5. Communism in Canada BUT...
Never gained widespread support
BUT...
The ideas of these revolutionaries inspired Canadian workers to try to improve working conditions

6. Worker’s Demands 3 main demands of workers Higher wages
Better working conditions
The right to join unions
These demands resulted in numerous strikes across Canada
- 4 years of labour wars in Eastern Canada

7. One Big Union
Labour Union founded at the Western Labour Conference March 1919
To represent all Canadian workers
Goal
To help workers gain more control of industry and the government through peaceful means
Main Weapon
The general strike, a walk out by all employed workers

8. Winnipeg General Strike 1919
Post war labour disputes peaked in Winnipeg
The financial center and largest city in Western Canada
Metal and Building trade workers demanded
Higher wages
Shorter work week
Right to collective bargaining

9. May 1919 Negotiations Broke Down
Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council voted for a General Strike
people
Crippled the city
Sympathizers joined the strike
Firefighters, post Office, transport, communication

11. Opponents of the Strike
Opposed bargaining with strike leaders
Feared trade unions would lead to a communist uprising like in Russia
- Red Scare!!

12. Citizen’s Committee of 1000
Anti Strike Organization
Saw the union leaders as part of a communist conspiracy to overthrow the government
Convinced City leaders to fire the police and replaced them with special task force

13. Federal Intervention Changed the Criminal Code of Canada
Federal Government feared protest could spread
Changed the Criminal Code of Canada
Foreign born strike leaders could be arrested and deported without trial
(anyone who was believed to be starting a revolution)

14. Bloody Saturday June
Strikers parade to protest firing of police and special task force creation
Royal NWMP and task force charged the crowd resulting in a clash
1 striker died, 30 wounded, and many arrested

15. Defeated Strikers Returned to work after 43 day strike
7 arrested leaders served 2 months to 2 years in prison
Many not rehired or had to sign contract promising to never join a union
Royal Commission investigation found that strikers complaints valid

16. J.S, Woodsworth Social reformer arrested during the strike
Formed the Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation
Became the New Democratic Party