General Overview:
Resentment among the working class has been growing in Winnipeg for several years. Unions (employees) complained that Government supported employers over workers. In the spring of 1919, the Winnipeg metal and building trades began negotiations with their employers. As they usually demand for higher wages and an eight- hour workday, the unions demanded the right to collective bargaining - to negotiate on behalf of their members rather than each worker negotiating for him or herself. The employers refused to considered their demands, then approximately 30 000 people walked out in general strike on 15 may 1919. The strike spread from industry to industry, Winnipeg shuts down. Mail delivery, streetcar and taxi service, newspaper, …show more content…
The word about the strike spread across the country, sympathy strikes were being organized in more than 30 centers including Regina, Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton. The opposition to the strike was organized by the strike was organized by the Citizens’ Committee of 1000, comprised of Winnipeg’s most influential manufacturers, bankers and politicians. Rather than giving the strikers’ demands any serious consideration, the Citizens’ Committee, with the support of Winnipeg’s leading newspaper, declared the strike a revolutionary conspiracy led by a small group of “alien scum”, even though the strike leaders were mainly British in origin. Afraid that the strike might spark confrontations in other cities the federal employees were ordered to return to work immediately or face dismissal. The Immigration Act was revised so that British- born immigrants could be deported, and the Criminal Code’s definition of sedition (stirring up of rebellion against the government in power) was broadened. Despite everything put in place, thousands of people continued to protest. The strike started to turn violent people pulled streetcars off its track and setting it on fire. The mayor called the North-West Mounted Police to disperse the crowds. Armed with baseball bats, the police galloped into the
Resentment among the working class has been growing in Winnipeg for several years. Unions (employees) complained that Government supported employers over workers. In the spring of 1919, the Winnipeg metal and building trades began negotiations with their employers. As they usually demand for higher wages and an eight- hour workday, the unions demanded the right to collective bargaining - to negotiate on behalf of their members rather than each worker negotiating for him or herself. The employers refused to considered their demands, then approximately 30 000 people walked out in general strike on 15 may 1919. The strike spread from industry to industry, Winnipeg shuts down. Mail delivery, streetcar and taxi service, newspaper, …show more content…
The word about the strike spread across the country, sympathy strikes were being organized in more than 30 centers including Regina, Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton. The opposition to the strike was organized by the strike was organized by the Citizens’ Committee of 1000, comprised of Winnipeg’s most influential manufacturers, bankers and politicians. Rather than giving the strikers’ demands any serious consideration, the Citizens’ Committee, with the support of Winnipeg’s leading newspaper, declared the strike a revolutionary conspiracy led by a small group of “alien scum”, even though the strike leaders were mainly British in origin. Afraid that the strike might spark confrontations in other cities the federal employees were ordered to return to work immediately or face dismissal. The Immigration Act was revised so that British- born immigrants could be deported, and the Criminal Code’s definition of sedition (stirring up of rebellion against the government in power) was broadened. Despite everything put in place, thousands of people continued to protest. The strike started to turn violent people pulled streetcars off its track and setting it on fire. The mayor called the North-West Mounted Police to disperse the crowds. Armed with baseball bats, the police galloped into the