By: Divya Sivakumaran
Staff Writer WINNIPEG, Manitoba —
The Winnipeg General Strike finally came to an end on June 26th, 1919, and the members of the Central Strike Committee returned to work as of yesterday. Although this was the most massive general strike in Canadian history, the government fails to acknowledge the demands of the strikers. This strike started at the end of World War I when the soldiers arrived home from the war front. As a result of the war, Canada’s economy entered recession causing many of factories to shut down which increased the unemployment rates. Many veterans were angered by the fact that no jobs were available. The others were aggravated by the lack of jobs and poor working conditions. This led to the formation of many strikes, which eventually caused the …show more content…
However, government employees were encouraged to join private industries and the members of essential services were requested to stay on duty.
Meanwhile, the Winnipeg business leaders established the “Citizen’s Committee” which was a group opposed to the strikers. In an effort to stop this strike, which was causing great economic loss, the government joined forces with the Citizen’s Committee. With the government’s support, the Citizens’ Committee became very influential and dominant. This committee consisted many of the authoritative manufacturers, bankers, business owners, newspaper owners and politicians. With the help of the Winnipeg’s newspaper companies, the government was able to announce to the public that this strike “is a seditious conspiracy, which is being led by a group of alien scum” (Cruxton 140). The Protestant Minister and social activist, James Shaver Woodsworth stated that the strike “is an attempt to meet a very pressing and immediate need.” This individual represented the strikers and played an immense role in this strike, especially for the
Staff Writer WINNIPEG, Manitoba —
The Winnipeg General Strike finally came to an end on June 26th, 1919, and the members of the Central Strike Committee returned to work as of yesterday. Although this was the most massive general strike in Canadian history, the government fails to acknowledge the demands of the strikers. This strike started at the end of World War I when the soldiers arrived home from the war front. As a result of the war, Canada’s economy entered recession causing many of factories to shut down which increased the unemployment rates. Many veterans were angered by the fact that no jobs were available. The others were aggravated by the lack of jobs and poor working conditions. This led to the formation of many strikes, which eventually caused the …show more content…
However, government employees were encouraged to join private industries and the members of essential services were requested to stay on duty.
Meanwhile, the Winnipeg business leaders established the “Citizen’s Committee” which was a group opposed to the strikers. In an effort to stop this strike, which was causing great economic loss, the government joined forces with the Citizen’s Committee. With the government’s support, the Citizens’ Committee became very influential and dominant. This committee consisted many of the authoritative manufacturers, bankers, business owners, newspaper owners and politicians. With the help of the Winnipeg’s newspaper companies, the government was able to announce to the public that this strike “is a seditious conspiracy, which is being led by a group of alien scum” (Cruxton 140). The Protestant Minister and social activist, James Shaver Woodsworth stated that the strike “is an attempt to meet a very pressing and immediate need.” This individual represented the strikers and played an immense role in this strike, especially for the