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Transcript

The Winnipeg General Strike

Conclusion

Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council

Were the actions of the federal government during the Winnipeg General Strike justified?

  • Appealed for a general strike in support of the metal workers
  • 94 unions walked off
  • Firemen, postal workers, telephone operators, office clerks, railway workers, streetcar drivers and conductors, delivery people and garbage collectors
  • Even police officers and veterans supported the strike.
  • The Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 led to the creation of several notably abusive federal laws restricting civil liberties.
  • Section 41 (enacted in June 1919) of the Immigration Act allowed officials to deport any alien or Canadian citizen not born in Canada for advocating the overthrow of the government by force.
  • Hundreds of trade unions and communists were eventually deported

30,000 people were walking

the picket lines!!

x 17

Actions by the Strike Committee

  • Impacted Winnipeg for 6 weeks.
  • Elevators shut down, transportation stopped, postal and telephone communications came to a halt, and nothing moved without approval from the strike committee.
  • In response, Winnipeg business leaders organized a "Citizens' Committee" to oppose the strike and turned to the federal government for help.

Federal Government's Response...

Cont'd

  • Many officers were sympathetic to the strikers and they were replaced with 1,800 special constables, recruited and paid for by the business community.
  • The "Specials" received a horse and a baseball bat to keep order. The Royal North-West Mounted Police, the Red Coats, were also brought in.
  • Because of the spread of communism in Russia the Canadian federal government became fearful of a revolution.
  • Ottawa ordered the federal employees to return to work immediately or face dismissal.
  • Believing that immigrants were behind the strike, the Canadian government amended the Immigration Act
  • The Criminal Code's definition of sedition (incitement to rebellion) was broadened.
  • On June 10th, a riot broke out after the "Specials" tried to disperse a crowd listening to a speech. A few days later, the federal government arrested 12 union leaders, forbade the publication of the Western Labour News, and ordered the Mounted Police to put down demonstrations with any necessary force.

Veterans' Response...

Introduction: Post-War Canada

  • On June 21, 1919, war veterans organized a parade to protest the restrictions and a crowd of 6,000 people gathered before the city hall.
  • A streetcar, operated by strikebreakers, approached on its route. The veterans overturned it and set it on fire. The Mounted Police and the "Specials" charged the crowd.
  • On that Bloody Saturday, two strikers were killed, thirty-four others were wounded, and the police made 94 arrests. Fearing more violence, workers decided to call off the strike
  • War factories filing bankruptcy.
  • Living costs increases
  • Men looked for employment, better wages and working conditions.
  • May 1st, 1919 Winnipeg's building and metal workers went on strike.
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