While the history of the winnipeg general strike has an established start and. The winnipeg general strike of 1919 issue 404, summer. The beginning of organized labour in canada the winnipeg general strike, 15 may25 june 1919, is canadas bestknown general strike. In a 1969 cbc radio documentary commemorating the winnipeg general strike strike, lawyer jim walker talks about the federal governments response. Winnipeg general strike centenary 1919 2019 lecture series march 20. Far from a simple retelling of the general strike, magnificent fight speaks to the power.
The winnipeg general strike of 1919 was one of the most famous and influential strikes in canadian history. The winnipeg general strike happened from may 15june 25, 1919. Attendees at atrium launch of 1919 winnipeg general strike display. On the morning of may 15, telephone operators in winnipeg did not report for work. The winnipeg general strike was a response to employers refusal to bargain with metal and building tradesmenthe metal, mining, and shipbuilding trades were at the forefront of class struggle in 1919.
Canadas most influential strike, last edited march 04, 2015. Today, united way winnipeg supports more than 100 programs and. The winnipeg trades and labour council wtlc, the umbrella organization for local labor, called a general strike in sympathy on may 15. Create a map of winnipeg showing all the sites with. Largest strike in canadian history largest number of people on strike caused relations between labour groups unions and government to be difficult. On may 1, 1919, building workers in manitoba declared a strike after many futile attempts at negotiation. The justice minister and labour minister both travel to winnipeg to meet the representatives citizens however. Between 15 may and 25 june 1919, more than 30,000 workers left their jobs.
The socialist party was in no way involved in the strike. Winnipeg general strike of 1919, from unrest to bloody saturday fallout look through some of the key moments in the 42day winnipeg general strike that started in may 1919 and culminated with a. The bolshevik revolution had just occurred in russia and many workers saw this as an example of a successful socialist revolution. Scene at westminster and lipton station during 1919 winnipeg general strike. This strike is canadas best known strike in its history. Other articles where winnipeg general strike is discussed. The strike was an illegal six week action fought by underprivileged canadian workers to have their right of collective bargaining recognized by the. Posted on october 10, 20 updated on october 12, 20. Mayworks ottawa will pay tribute to the workers involved in this strike through education and the arts. Massive unemployment and inflation, the success of the russian revolution in 1917, and rising revolutionary industrial unionism all contributed to the postwar labour unrest that fuelled the landmark strike. For six weeks, may 15 to june 26, more than 30,000 strikers brought economic activity to a standstill in winnipeg, manitoba, which at the time was canadas third largest city. The end of the winnipeg general strike did little to bring labour peace to canada in the summer of 1919. In may 1919, 30,000 winnipeg workers walked away from their jobs, shutting. Significance of the winnipeg general strike answers.
Generally, revolutionary industrial unionism was a force throughout the western world at the time. The winnipeg general strike was canadas most influential labour protest after world war i many canadian soldiers returned home to find few opportunities. It seeks to explore the significance of the general strike as a pivotal moment in winnipegs history and assist research in this area by identifying records with information related to six topics. The winnipeg general strike is the proudest achievement of the canadian working class, said historian norman penner, whose father jacob was a communist striker and later a city council member in winnipeg, where communists maintained strong support among the north end working class into the 1980s, and where traces of left radicalism remain. Winnipeg general strike canadian museum of history. Throughout the spring of 1919, winnipeg had been buzzing with the fervour of militant unionism among the working class. The winnipeg general strike timeline created by idiotatlarge. In 1982, nick zalozetsky was interviewed by peter warren on a cjob radio program. Why was the winnipeg general strike important answers. In the meantime, if youre not able to see comments. The 1919 winnipeg general strike tour nolan reillys popular winnipeg general strike tour comes to the library with an introduction to the key events and players of the most prominent general strike. By the end of the class students will understand what the winnipeg general strike was. It all happened in winnipeg, manitoba 100 years ago in one of the most wellknown and significant labour strikes in canadian history.
About 30,000 workers, both unionized and nonunionized, left their jobs. A timeline created with timetoasts interactive timeline maker. The winnipeg general strike demanding rights for the working class. The canal reduced reliance on canadas rail system for international trade, and the increase in ship traffic helped vancouver surpass winnipeg to become canadas thirdlargest city in the 1960s. Massive unemployment and inflation, dismal wages and working conditions, and the success of the russian revolution all contributed to labour unrest at the time. An eerie calm descended on the streets of winnipeg on the morning of may 15, 1919.
The beggining of things a strike was launched due to lack of workers rights. The winnipeg general strike is a landmark in north america by any measure. The winnipeg general strike canadian labour congress. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Winnipeg general strike canadian history britannica. The following timeline provides a listing of key events before, during, and.
In the coalmines of alberta and nova scotia confrontations continued into the mid1920s, but labours postwar revolt had ended for the most part by the early 1920s. For six weeks in the summer of 1919 the city of winnipeg, manitoba was crippled by a massive and dramatic general strike. The legacy of the 1919 winnipeg general strike youtube. Although it is one hundred years ago, the lessons are rich for workers today and will be vital for future class struggles that will unfold in the canadian state. Winnipeg general strike a short history of canadas winnipeg general strike of 1919. The general strikes that took place in glasgow, scotland in january 1919, in seattle in february 1919, along with the winnipeg strike remain some of the high watermarks in north american working class history.
Winnipeg general strike of 1919 the canadian encyclopedia. It all happened in winnipeg, manitoba 100 years ago in one of the most well known and significant labour strikes in canadian history. The workers were orderly and peaceful, but the reaction. It is probably the closest the working class in canada has come, so far, to taking power, albeit in one city. As discussed in the earlier post, despite this decade was looked at as one of happiness, there were some groups of people who were unhappy, among these were the workers. Lessons of the winnipeg general strike 1919 socialist. The winnipeg general strike was canadas first and only general strike after world war i many canadian soldiers returned home to find few opportunities. Calgary western labour leaders met to discuss the creation of one big union. On may 6, 2019, winnipeggers gathered in united way winnipegs atrium. Some 50,000 tradesmen, labourers, city and provincial employees had walked off the job, leaving the city paralyzed. It inspired sympathetic strikes in several provinces from british columbia to nova scotia it introduced the widespread idea of unions to the public it made people start to question the ideas of classes and wage equality. The winnipeg general strike was coordinated by the central strike committee with delegates from the unions affiliated with the wtlc.
A timeline detailing key dates and events leading up to the strike and its aftermath. The winnipeg general strike of 1919 was an important event in the history of canada because it was a turning point. The winnipeg general strike timeline timetoast timelines. Yet five of the eight imprisoned were members of the party 16 and numerous quotations from party literature and correspondence were used in the trials to establish that the strike was the work of the devil. The city had witnessed a general strike the year previously, which had ended with partial gains for workers. Winnipeg general strike was large and difficult defeat. Cbc digital archives remembering the winnipeg general strike medium. The winnipeg general strike of 1919 was the largest strike in canadian history. The strike committee gathered in the grubby quarters of the labour temple, the citizens committee in the sumptuous rooms of the.
On may day 1919, in the immediate aftermath of world war i, a general strike began that shut down all economic activity in winnipeg, canada. United way winnipeg commemorates 1919 winnipeg general strike. From may 15 to june 26, 1919, 30,000 workers in winnipegs factories, retail businesses and public sectors walked off the job to protest a lack of collective bargaining rights, poor working conditions and low wages. The winnipeg general strike canstar community news the events of the winnipeg general strike were in many ways precipitated by the effects of the first world war and the flu epidemic of 1918.
The winnipeg general strike of 1919 was a crucial event in canadian history. Remembering the winnipeg general strike digital library services. The winnipeg general strike of 1919 was one of the most influential strikes in canadian history, and became the platform for future labour reforms. The 1919 winnipeg general strike ended five days after the violent confrontation on bloody saturday, without any concessions being won by the workers and with many facing a bleak future. May 15thousands of union members and nonorganized workers launched a general strike, which would see an estimated 35,000 people join in, effectively shutting winnipeg down for business. He explains the new laws and the amendments to the immigration act and how they were aimed at undermining the strike leadership and strike activities. The winnipeg general strike 1919 in praise of canadian. Archives of manitoba, winnipeg strike 25 n123 thirtyfive thousand workers off the job. Create an illustrated timeline of events leading up to, during, and following the winnipeg general strike. The strike was an illegal six week action fought by underprivileged canadian workers to have their right of collective bargaining recognized by the canadian government and by wealthy business owners. The two committees exposed the deep fissure in winnipeg society.
Today we are going to be looking at the winnipeg general strike. Two weeks later, the winnipeg trades and labor council called for a general strike. This years mayworks ottawa 2019 theme is toppling the system. Conservative party traditionally shunned by labour groups. Winnipeg general strike, 1919 bc teachers federation. From midmay to late june 1919 for six weeks about 35,000 workers the bulk of winnipegs labour force walked off the job and risked hunger, blacklisting, and potential police and military repression. Attendees at atrium launch of 1919 winnipeg general strike display at. Frustrated by unemployment, inflation, poor working conditions and regional disparities after world war i, workers from both the private and public sectors joined forces to shut down or drastically reduce most services.
How the 1919 winnipeg general strike led to bloodshed and. Winnipegthe winnipeg general strike, which started 100 years ago wednesday, lasted only six weeks. Marking the 100th anniversary of the 1919 winnipeg general. Factories, shops, transit and city services shut down. This video, tied to our 1920s unit, tells the details of the story and legacy of the winnipeg general strike. Were continuing to work with our commenting software provider on issues with the platform. Strikebreakers for the committee of 1,000 took over the fire. Massive unemployment and inflation, the success of the russian revolution in 1917, and rising revolutionary industrial unionism, all were contributions to the postwar labor unrest that put the strike in motion. The year 1919 saw soldiers returning home after world war i to find high unemployment rates and inflation. In the short term, the strike ended in arrests, bloodshed and defeat, but in the long run it contributed to the. The nowiconic winnipeg museum located at the forks opened in 2014 with an exhibit in its canadian journeys gallery about the 1919 winnipeg general strike that includes a.
A dismissed police force replaced by batonwielding vigilantes. Employers and the federal government labelled the strike a revolutionary conspiracy led by foreigners. Winnipeg is marking one of the seminal strikes in canadian history 100 years ago tens of thousands of workers walked off the job in what would come to. The building and metal trades resorted to strike action at the beginning of may in order to resolve disputes with their various employers. The winnipeg general strike, which lasted from mayjune 1919 began innocently enough. Winnipeg general strike of 1919, from unrest to bloody saturday. The winnipeg general strike lasted a total of 43 days, beginning on may 10th, 1919, and ending with bloody saturday which was june 21st, 1919. The winnipeg general sympathetic strike, winnipeg, p. Wages and working conditions were dismal and labour regulations were mostly nonexistent.