General Strike example essay topic

- The Winnipeg general strike was Canada's most famous strike. Causes - Massive unemployment & inflation. Unemployment grew when the war ended. Jobs were lost at munitions plants (a quarter of a million people looking for work) and 350 000 veterans returned home with no jobs. There was an overload of money and a lack of goods, which caused inflation. - The success of the Russian revolution (1917) and political unrest in Germany caused by radical new unionist ideas.

The membership in unions increased greatly. In Calgary, (March 1919) there was a meeting of the union members to discuss a workers revolution in Canada like the Russian one. They pledged to create One Big Union (O.B.U.) for all workers. The Strike On May 15, 1919 when negotiation broke down between the management and labour in the building and metal trades, the Trades Council called a general strike. 30 000 people walked of the job in a matter of hours. - This closed the cities factories, crippled retail trade and stopped trains.

- The public employees (police, fireman, postal workers, etc.) joined the private industry workers, which displayed impressive working class solidarity. - A committee was created to bargain with employers for rights and essential services. It included elected delegates from each union. - Workers wanted collective bargaining, better wages and improvement of working conditions (the conditions were awful). - The opposition was Winnipeg's most influential upper class, bankers, manufacturers and politicians. - They declared that the strike was a revolutionary conspiracy lead by a small group of "alien scum".

- The government (scared the strike would spark confrontations in other cities) went to Winnipeg to meet with the citizens committee. - They refused all requests and ordered the employees to return to work immediately or face dismissal. - Even when the strike was ending, the government made it illegal to even talk about revolution. The immigration act was amended so British-born immigrants could be deported and the meaning of sedition (rebellion against authority) was broadened in the criminal code. - On June 17, the government arrested 10 leaders of the strike. Then on June 21, 1919 there was a mass rally of strike sympathizers.

- Mounted police stormed the crowd on Main Street Winnipeg where 30 were injured and 1 was killed. This day became known as "Bloody Sunday". Effects - The strike left a legacy of bitterness and controversy. - It increases unionism and militancy across Canada - It started the labour movement in Canada.

There were unions from Vancouver to Cape Breton who were inspired and fought for their rights after this strike (usually they lost)..