Post-WWI Canada “Wars have a way of inspiring political dissent and radicalization.”

Adjustment Period Most soldiers returned home in 1919 Most soldiers returned home in 1919 returning soldiers faced many hardships returning soldiers faced many hardships wanted pension and compensation paymentswanted pension and compensation payments found it difficult to return to ‘normal’ life.found it difficult to return to ‘normal’ life. Quebec’s opposition to conscription divided the country Quebec’s opposition to conscription divided the country

Economic Upheaval Just after WWI – INFLATION = prices of goods soared and the cost of living shot up Just after WWI – INFLATION = prices of goods soared and the cost of living shot up At the same time – munitions plants closed down and few new factories opened up At the same time – munitions plants closed down and few new factories opened up Those who did shift to producing consumer goods needed time to re-tool Those who did shift to producing consumer goods needed time to re-tool Jobs were hard to come by Jobs were hard to come by

Economic Upheaval – cont’ When 1,000s of veterans returned home looking for jobs – unemployment rose even higher When 1,000s of veterans returned home looking for jobs – unemployment rose even higher Women often forced out of work so returning men could take their jobs, but still not enough jobs for returning soldiers Women often forced out of work so returning men could take their jobs, but still not enough jobs for returning soldiers

Labour Discontent Low Wages + Inflation + War Pride = Labour Discontent + Gov’t’s Lack of Action

Worker Unrest & Militancy Strikes : workers demand higher wages, better working conditions, right to join unions. Even if the received higher wages, inflation caught up to wages Strikes : workers demand higher wages, better working conditions, right to join unions. Even if the received higher wages, inflation caught up to wages Unions: increased with labour discontent 1914: 150,000 trade union members Unions: increased with labour discontent 1914: 150,000 trade union members 1919: 400,000 trade union members 1919: 400,000 trade union members

Workers Unrest and Radicalization Western Labour Conference in March 1919 created One Big Union to represent all workers Western Labour Conference in March 1919 created One Big Union to represent all workers They wanted to abolish production for profit (basis of a capitalism) and establish a 6 hour work day They wanted to abolish production for profit (basis of a capitalism) and establish a 6 hour work day

Winnipeg General Strike

Winnipeg General Strike (1919) Labour unrest came to a head in the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 Labour unrest came to a head in the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 at that time Winnipeg was the financial centre of Western Canada at that time Winnipeg was the financial centre of Western Canada Building & metal- trades workers, supported by more than 30,000 working people, tied up the city for 6 weeks Building & metal- trades workers, supported by more than 30,000 working people, tied up the city for 6 weeks Sparked dozens of sympathy strikes across the country Sparked dozens of sympathy strikes across the country

Strike - Standstill Winnipeg was at a standstill: 35,000 workers stopped working Winnipeg was at a standstill: 35,000 workers stopped working no firefighters, postal workers, telephone, newspapers, streetcars, bread/milk deliveries… no firefighters, postal workers, telephone, newspapers, streetcars, bread/milk deliveries…

Winnipeg Strike – cont’ workers asked for higher wages, better working conditions, and the right to bargain collectively ( negotiations between workers and management) workers asked for higher wages, better working conditions, and the right to bargain collectively ( negotiations between workers and management) Because of the Russian Revolution (1917) of communist workers, government & business leaders panicked Because of the Russian Revolution (1917) of communist workers, government & business leaders panicked Feared a communist revolution in Canada Feared a communist revolution in Canada

Owners’ Reaction to Unions Most factory owners & city councils had never faced unions before, and strongly opposed them Most factory owners & city councils had never faced unions before, and strongly opposed them Labeled them “Bolsheviks” (communists) and radicals Labeled them “Bolsheviks” (communists) and radicals By there were more than 420 strikes in Canada & many non-union workers also demonstrated to support worker demands By there were more than 420 strikes in Canada & many non-union workers also demonstrated to support worker demands

Reaction to Strike formed by business leaders, politicians, and industrialists who did not sympathize with the strikers formed by business leaders, politicians, and industrialists who did not sympathize with the strikers committee saw union leaders as part of a communist conspiracy to overthrow the governmentcommittee saw union leaders as part of a communist conspiracy to overthrow the government Citizen’s Committee of One Thousand Citizen’s Committee of One Thousand

Reaction to Strike – cont’ Federal government – fearing disruption and protest could spread to other cities – intervened Federal government – fearing disruption and protest could spread to other cities – intervened Immigration Act amended to allow foreign-born residents suspected of trying to cause a revolution to be deported without a trial. Immigration Act amended to allow foreign-born residents suspected of trying to cause a revolution to be deported without a trial. Mayor of Winnipeg appointed special police, fired many civic workers, and had the strike leaders arrested Mayor of Winnipeg appointed special police, fired many civic workers, and had the strike leaders arrested

“Bloody Saturday” June 21st, 1919 a crowd gathered to watch a parade protesting the arrest of strike leaders and overturned and set fire to a streetcar run by “volunteers” (seen as traitors by workers) June 21st, 1919 a crowd gathered to watch a parade protesting the arrest of strike leaders and overturned and set fire to a streetcar run by “volunteers” (seen as traitors by workers) The Royal Mounted Police charged the crowd. The Royal Mounted Police charged the crowd. One man was killed, 30 injured and nearly 100 arrested on the day known as Bloody Saturday. One man was killed, 30 injured and nearly 100 arrested on the day known as Bloody Saturday.

Results of Winnipeg Strike Lasted 43 days total Lasted 43 days total Metal workers went back to work without a pay increase. Metal workers went back to work without a pay increase. Some workers were jailed, some were deported, and thousands lost their jobs. Some workers were jailed, some were deported, and thousands lost their jobs. Those who were re-hired were forced to sign contracts agreeing not to join a union Those who were re-hired were forced to sign contracts agreeing not to join a union Seven strike leaders were convicted of a conspiracy to overthrow the government and jailed for up to two years. Seven strike leaders were convicted of a conspiracy to overthrow the government and jailed for up to two years.

Strike Aftermath cont’ In the 1920 Manitoba provincial election, 11 labour candidates won seats. Four of them were strike leaders. In the 1920 Manitoba provincial election, 11 labour candidates won seats. Four of them were strike leaders. It was another 20 years before collective bargaining was recognized in Canada. It was another 20 years before collective bargaining was recognized in Canada. Winnipeg's economy went into a decline. Winnipeg's economy went into a decline. Divisions between working and business classes grew Divisions between working and business classes grew

What would you do? If you were a returning soldier in Winnipeg during the General Strike, which side would you have been on and WHY? If you were a returning soldier in Winnipeg during the General Strike, which side would you have been on and WHY? What other methods could the strikers have tried to make the gains they wanted? What other methods could the strikers have tried to make the gains they wanted?