Stephen Endicott's 'Raising The Workers' Flag

The conflicting interests of labor and capital became eminent During the Great Depression in the Canadian history. The radical Canadian workers formed the Workers' Unity League as a response to the influence if the encouraged of the Red International of Labor Unions. The formation of the Workers' Unity League facilitated the advancement of the objects of the unions in Canada, boasting of approximately 40,000 members at its peak. The primary objective of the union was to ‘Raise the Workers' Flag.’ Many authors and historians have attempted to cover this phenomenal era in their works, among them Stephen L. Endicott who wrote the book ‘Raising the Workers' Flag: The Workers' Unity League of Canada, 1930-1936.’ The social, economic, and political environment surrounding this period tags along with a wealthy struggle and historical significance towards …show more content…
The union fronted demands for improved wages and working conditions, led the jobless in fights for better relief as well as for employment insurance, and organized the working class into industrial unions. Besides, it fought against the widespread on-the-job discrimination and championed for employee’s rights, especially the right and freedom to organize, strike, and picket, as well as the freedom of free speech and assembly (Endicott 322). It indulged into the opposition of war preparations to sensitize the working population of the existing social classes besides making them revolutionary and combative. The influence of the union surfaced on the attainment of allegiance of approximately 40,000 workers who joined its activities. At its peak, it opposed the government’s measure to outlaw the Communist Party in the year 1931, deportation of some of its followers, the imposition of a ban on its meetings, and the subsequent imprisonment of its leaders. Notably, the union was a pro-communist