Post War Canada

Post War CanadaReturn HomeRise of CommunismWorkers RespondWinnipeg General Strike

Soldiers Return Home•An Uneasy

Adjustment- Few support

services(physically and

mentally wounded)- Few jobs

Dissatisfied Workers• Many Canadians agreed to

low wages as part of their patriot duty for the war effort

•After the war- Inflation caused major

problems as wages no longer covered the cost of rent and food

Workers demanded more Money!

Rise of Communism• After WWI people around

the world dissatisfied about rich and poor divide

• 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia

• Under Communism:- All means of production

and distribution are publically owned

- No private ownership of business or land

Communism in Canada• Never gained widespread

support

•BUT...

• The ideas of these revolutionaries inspired Canadian workers to try to improve working conditions

Worker’s Demands•3 main demands of workers- Higher wages- Better working conditions- The right to join unions

•These demands resulted in numerous strikes across Canada

- 4 years of labour wars in Eastern Canada

One Big Union•Labour Union founded at the Western

Labour Conference March 1919- To represent all Canadian workers•Goal - To help workers gain more control of industry

and the government through peaceful means•Main Weapon- The general strike, a walk out by all employed

workers

Winnipeg General Strike 1919•Post war labour disputes peaked in

Winnipeg- The financial center and largest city in Western

Canada

•Metal and Building trade workers demanded

- Higher wages- Shorter work week- Right to collective bargaining

May 1919 Negotiations Broke Down

•Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council voted for a General Strike

- 30 000 people- Crippled the city

•Sympathizers joined the strike- Firefighters, post Office, transport,

communication

Opponents of the Strike• Opposed bargaining

with strike leaders

• Feared trade unions would lead to a communist uprising like in Russia

- Red Scare!!

Citizen’s Committee of 1000• Anti Strike

Organization• Saw the union leaders

as part of a communist conspiracy to overthrow the government

• Convinced City leaders to fire the police and replaced them with special task force

Federal Intervention• Federal Government

feared protest could spread

• Changed the Criminal Code of Canada

- Foreign born strike leaders could be arrested and deported without trial

(anyone who was believed to be starting a revolution)

Bloody Saturday June 21 1919• Strikers parade to

protest firing of police and special task force creation

• Royal NWMP and task force charged the crowd resulting in a clash

• 1 striker died, 30 wounded, and many arrested

Defeated Strikers•Returned to work after 43 day strike

•7 arrested leaders served 2 months to 2 years in prison

•Many not rehired or had to sign contract promising to never join a union

•Royal Commission investigation found that strikers complaints valid

J.S, Woodsworth

• Social reformer arrested during the strike

• Formed the Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation

• Became the New Democratic Party