– The Winnipeg general strike was Canada’s most famous strike. Causes – Massive unemployment & inflation. Unemployment grew when the war ended. Jobs were lost at munitions plants (a quarter of a million people looking for work) and 350 000 veterans returned home with no jobs. There was an overload of money and a lack of goods, which caused inflation. – The success of the Russian revolution (1917) and political unrest in Germany caused by radical new unionist ideas.
The membership in unions increased greatly. In Calgary, (March 1919) there was a meeting of the union members to discuss a workers revolution in Canada like the Russian one. They pledged to create One Big Union (O. B. U. ) for all workers.
The Strike On May 15, 1919 when negotiation broke down between the management and labour in the building and metal trades, the Trades Council called a general strike. 30 000 people walked of the job in a matter of hours. – This closed the cities factories, crippled retail trade and stopped trains. – The public employees (police, fireman, postal workers, etc. ) joined the private industry workers, which displayed impressive working class solidarity.
– A committee was created to bargain with employers for rights and essential services. It included elected delegates from each union. – Workers wanted collective bargaining, better wages and improvement of working conditions (the conditions were awful). – The opposition was Winnipeg’s most influential upper class, bankers, manufacturers and politicians. – They declared that the strike was a revolutionary conspiracy lead by a small group of “alien scum.” – The government (scared the strike would spark confrontations in other cities) went to Winnipeg to meet with the citizens committee.
– They refused all requests and ordered the employees to return to work immediately or face dismissal. – Even when the strike was ending, the government made it illegal to even talk about revolution. The immigration act was amended so British-born immigrants could be deported and the meaning of sedition (rebellion against authority) was broadened in the criminal code. – On June 17, the government arrested 10 leaders of the strike.
Then on June 21, 1919 there was a mass rally of strike sympathizers. – Mounted police stormed the crowd on Main Street Winnipeg where 30 were injured and 1 was killed. This day became known as “Bloody Sunday.” Effects – The strike left a legacy of bitterness and controversy. – It increases unionism and militancy across Canada – It started the labour movement in Canada. There were unions from Vancouver to Cape Breton who were inspired and fought for their rights after this strike (usually they lost)..