As Friend And Foe: Canadian Labour Movement

In the film As Friend and Foe, one can learn about the tense history of the Canadian Labour Movement. The title of the film is very fitting for it describes the complicated relationship that the government shared with its workers. On one hand the government can be a friend, providing benefits and support in times of need. On the other hand, it can also be a unions greatest enemy, causing opposition to even the most basic needs of workers. This is expressively shown in the events that took place during Winnipeg General Strike, one of the main subjects of this film. One important theme that seems to prevail in this situation, and many others in the Labour Movement, is violence. Violence is what starts and ends the Winnipeg General Strike, even long before “Bloody Saturday” took place. It begins in the

The violence that came along with the Bolshevik revolution in Russia was enough to put fear into the possibility that communism, or anything of the sort, would come to Canada. Both parties were pushed to their breaking points and thus when the Winnipeg General Strike happened, it was bound to end poorly. The workers just wanted to end the violence being committed against them and the government wished to prevent events similar to the ones in Russia. Although there were losses on both sides, and the government won the battle, this was an important first step in the Labour Movement. Eventually people would rise up again to stop the senseless, yet legal, crimes that were being committed against them. Along with the violence, it is important to note the other theme that seemed to be prevalent in this film which can be described as governmental indecisiveness. The government in this time could not decide whether they wished to be on the unions or the corporations sides. It seems that all they really wished to do was please the workers enough that strikes and other issues would not