The Winnipeg General Strike of 1919
Workers Take a Stand Against Employers and Change the Working World
Aug 12, 2009
Far-reaching consequences can sometimes stem from the actions of a few people. When disgruntled workers in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, began to consider strike action in response to job losses and poor working conditions in the aftermath of World War I, they probably had little idea of the dramatic events that would come and the profound effect the strike would have on both employers and employees.
In the spring of 1919, negotiations between the Winnipeg Builder’s Exchange and the unions grouped under the name of Metal Trades Union council had stalled, leaving the workers frustrated with the lack of progress. On May 1st, they went on strike and began a train of events that would change the world of work.
The Beginning of the Winnipeg General Strike
According to the official history of the strike , sympathy for the striking workers soon led others to join them, including many women. On May 15th, one group at a time, approximately 30,000 workers walked off the job to demand better conditions. Some of the first people to join the strike were telephone operators, mainly women, who helped to cripple the city’s communication systems. A University of Manitoba study shows the dire need many women had for higher wages; many employers assumed that women’s wages were merely supplemental to the family income, making it difficult for single women to survive.
Helping the Winnipeg Strikers of 1919
Besides joining the men in their strike, women were key players in helping striking workers through the difficult weeks that followed. Members of the Women’s Labour League led by Helen Armstrong organized a food bank, distributing necessary supplies to all striking workers, but especially to the women involved. With food supplies assured, the strikers could continue their protest without fear of starvation.
The confrontation between the Northwest Mounted Police and the Strikers
The history of the strike tells of strong reactions around the country to the events in Winnipeg. The government, believing that the strike was a ploy to introduce communism to Canada, amended immigration laws to allow officials to deport any accused insurrectionists not born in Canada. People around the country protested this development, and riots in which a streetcar was set on fire broke out in Winnipeg on June 21st, a day called Bloody Saturday. The government sent in a special detachment of the Northwest Mounted police to quell the riot. One of the officers killed a bystander, and the strikers were herded into a lane called Hell’s Alley, where the police forced the protesters to surrender. In light of these events, the strike committee urged the people to leave the next stage to politicians and the Winnipeg General Strike ended on June 26 at 11 a.m.
Results of the Winnipeg General Strike
The Winnipeg General Strike had an effect far beyond its time. The city lost many of its parks as the government, believing that people would be unlikely to gather together without convenient places to do so. The corner of Portage Avenue and Main Street, where many events took place, still remains but has changed almost beyond recognition. Many workers were intimidated into returning to their jobs, while the laws against foreign-born strikers bred antagonism and distrust for a long time to come.
In addition to all of these results, however, there were some positive outcomes. The ideals of fair wages and reasonable working conditions stemming from the strike soon spread to other cities and regions, changing the way employers treat their employees. Workers all across North America are still feeling the effects.
