Winnipeg General Stike
The Winnipeg General Strike, 1919 When tension in any labour situation builds to such a strenuous point of direct confrontation between worker and employer, the end result is change or strike. One of the most famous labour occurrences of this nature in Canadian history is the Winnipeg Generals strike of 1919. ... The main focus of this Winnipeg general strike was for workers to be granted the right to collective bargaining. ... The initial lack of jobs, as well a general feeling of discontent with involvement in the Great War, the Canadian playground of the labour market lay in a state of susceptibility for radical change, both ideologically and physically. ... These were important issues in western Canada, especially in Winnipeg, which had a large number of unsatisfied labour`s looking for change. The year 1919 in particular, Winnipeg played host to a general strike which held wide support by many members of society. ... Dissatisfied with their treatment by capitalist ownership, the workers of Winnipeg demanded higher wages and the right to collective bargaining. ... On May 6, the WTLC met and decided to poll all of its members on whether or not to launch a general strike to support the metal and building trades workers. ... With this overwhelming endorsement in hand, the WTLC declared the general strike. ... On May 15, 1919 all work in Winnipeg would come to a halt. ... Given the name general strike, it most likely came from the fact that it was not one specific area of the work force striking. ... Even more surprising at the time was how wide spread the support for the general strike was.