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Industrial revolution history essays
Industrial revolution history essays
Industrial revolution history essays
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The Winnipeg General Strike took place on May 15th 1919. It was the Canada’s biggest strike during that period. The details of the strike are dispute among many historians. There were many different views about the Winnipeg’s strike such as what was the strike about? Why did it happen? What were these workers trying to achieve? However, it is believed that the strike was caused due to major dispute between metal trade workers and their bosses. This news spread rapidly among the Winnipeg’s working class citizens who created deeper problems over inflation and unemployment. This strike was based on the working class assumptions of value of work, community and honor. There was shortage of all the public services such as banks, food delivery services, …show more content…
newspaper, taxis, water, police and fire departments. Not only had the tension of strike grown in Canada but also throughout the world. This strike caused severe effect on the life of the people living in Winnipeg. Evidence suggests that the largest strike in Canada caused many hardships for the working class, women and immigrants and the negative effect on the city. Many people had different effect of strike on Winnipeg and the rest of Canada, but it is believed that the most important issue of the strike is the need of union recognition and a reasonable living wage.
“In western Canada most entered in closed and polarized communities and were forced to work in dangerous and unrewarding occupation.” Winnipeg Union members did this because the cost of living was increasingly high and the wages remain the same. “The wages were only eighteen percent higher than 1914 and the cost of living went up by eighty percent. The bosses made an offer making a blanket increase of 20 cents an hour; however this did not suite the employees. All the workers left the grounds and started protesting.” The strike was lead because of the poor working conditions, the lack of job security, and the lack of collective bargaining rights. “The “establishment” opposing the strike, consisting of the federal government, the municipal government of Winnipeg, the business elite, and the media, implemented harsh measures that caused the hardening of public opinion against the strikers and, ultimately, the suppression of the strike itself. …show more content…
” In March 1919, many labor leaders and activists from Winnipeg and Western Canada gathered in Calgary for a conference, to discuss “the aims of Labor...the abolition of the present system of production for profit and the substitute therefore of production for use, and...a system of propaganda to this end.” This strike played an important role for the newspaper reporters. Many newspapers were not allowed to participate in the meetings of the strikers because it was the striker’s position that the newspapers were misrepresenting them. The major newspaper Winnipeg Tribune was boycotted because of the unfavorable reports printed against the convention held in Calgary in March 1919 and the action it took against the formation of the One Big Union. This strike played an important role in the women’s life because this strike became a struggle for living wage, a good cause for women to be involved. Helen Armstrong played the role model for women workers and women’s leaders in Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. She supported women for lobbying for a provincial minimum wage law, and mobilizing women and providing support during the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. Helen Armstrong’s experience in Winnipeg suggests that some organizers were very adept at organizing women workers to defend their own interests and to ensure solidarity between women and men. Paula Kelly’s account of the life of Helen Armstrong highlights the role women workers played in Winnipeg general strike. Her film offers an interesting counterpoint to the argument that one of the difficulties the organizers of the labor revolt of 1919 faced was the division among the members of the various genders, ethics and other segments of the working class. Workers and employers had been in conflict for a long while even before the initial strike took place.
On May 15th negotiation broke down after the refusal of workers to recognize the Metal trade council. This resulted in Winnipeg union calling strike. On May 15, 1919 the general strike was called and within few days many workers walked off the job. The effect of this strike was so tremendous that all the factories were closed, manufacturing process was shut down, all the retail was crippled and the transportation was eliminated. While the strike breaks defeat on the labor movement, the prosecution led the charges of radicalism. The counter-strike committee known as the “Citizens’ Committee of 1000” were formed. “Newly discovered correspondence between leading Citizen Lawyer A.J. Andrews, a prominent member of the Winnipeg legal community and founding member of the Citizens’ Committee, and Acting Minister of Justice Arthur Meighen illuminates the strategizing and cooperation that took place between the state and the Citizens”. Following the arrest of the strike leaders, a large crowd was gathered to protest them. Street car was blocked and was set on fire. Police was called and charged the crowd using firearms. Many were killed and several wounded resulting in the “Bloody
Saturday”! Many incidents of intimidation and violence were reported in the working class areas of the city. The Winnipeg strike negatively affected Eastern European immigrants as they were deported out of the country and several found themselves behind bars for many months. There were many assaults incidents which took place towards many Winnipeg residents, girls and boys. This strike discouraged some workers going back to the work while others kept stores and other operations open for the work. The unlawful conduct between the strikers, the more number of rioting was getting out of control. In March 1919 the western Labor conference encouraged the progress of the Russian Revolution in Calgary. The most important issue being discussed is the idea of a new militant industrial union called the “One Big Union”. The purpose of this union was to eliminate the existing unions and include the workers in Canada into one union to gain massive bargaining power. The strike was finally over on June 26th 1919. This strike secures the workers’ demands for higher wages but the longer hours of work still remains the same. This condition changed in positive ways for workers. After the recognition of the unions, many workers able to get their jobs back. This strike made Canadian workers had secured union recognition and collective bargaining. The Winnipeg citizens and employees were happy to see the General Strike ending. Although there was still long term effect felt on the employees and the government. The working class was negatively affected by this strike. Their jobs were replaced by the volunteers who worked during the strike. This led to working class families with no source of income. Data was collected by the federal government about the participation in the strike. The majority of workers who participated in the strike were from the manufacturing industries, transportation, construction, trade, and service sectors. 34.3% of the Winnipeg population involved in the strike was from the transportation industry as they were felt with no option because there was no type of transportation service running for them. 29.1% of the population involved in the strike was from the manufacturing industry. Other industries contributed less because of the smaller business. The government calculated that overall there were over 35,000 citizens in Winnipeg who took part in the General Strike. Despite many problems faced during the strike, it is believed that many of them have ended. The lessons learned from the strike made Winnipeg and the rest of Canada receiving much improved working conditions. Dispute is the prime reason that led to the strike; although many reasons are still unpredictable. To avoid such stressful and devastating strike in near future, Canadians should improve the working conditions for employees.
The strike affected much of the country, and it had great influence on public opinion on the rights of workers. It showed how the roles of management and the roles of government handled this situation. The Pullman Strike of 1894 and its aftermath had a huge effect on the course of the labor movement in the United States. The use of federal troops and the labor injunction sent a message to U.S. workers that would not change until the new deal of the 1930s. George Pullman was no longer look at as the great enlightened employer who took care of his workers, but a greedy intolerant man. After the strike he was worried that people would rob him so when he was buried he had it lined in concrete so no one could. The Pullman strike ultimately was unsuccessful at the time. Workers were sent to jail and many couldn’t find any jobs after. Although, it was successful in several ways. The federal government was involved for the first time in history because of a strike, and because they all took a stand for their human rights it impacted the future and how workers are treated
How were revolutionary industrial unionists in Winnipeg influenced to strike in 1919? All Canadians have heard of the Winnipeg General Strike, and many have studied its influences. Coming immediately after the First World War, yet coming before the Great Depression hit, many wonder why Winnipeg workers took up arms when they did? In truth, the strikers were primarily industrial unionists who wanted a revolution. The strikers were aiming for a major difference in the government. Now, to the non-Canadian, Canada has always seemed perfectly calm and neutral. Many would go as far as wondering how Canada could ever have any problems. Therefore, hardly anybody knows of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, let alone what caused the strike. Simply put, revolutionary industrial unionists within Canada were influenced to strike by Canada’s involvement in the First World War, the quick and incredible success of Russia’s revolution in 1917, and inflation within the country.
The 1919 steel strike was an attempt to organize the United States steel industry after World War One. The strike lasted about five months, and was unsuccessful. It began on September 21, 1919, and collapsed on January 8, 1920. It was started by the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, or the AA. The AA had formed in 1876. It was a union of iron and steel workers which was very committed to creating unionism, but advancements in technology had decreased the amount of skilled workers in the industries.
Canadians were frustrating, wonderful, and hard. Soldiers returning from the war expected jobs, but were faced with unemployment, inflation and strikes. Inflation had doubled the cost of living where wages had not and those fortunate to be employed still faced immense financial difficulty. Many people joined unions for better pay and working conditions, 1919 saw the most strikes at a staggering three hundred and six, people were angry and discontented. The 1920s were a time of crime corruption and extreme poverty, yet by mid era difficult conditions began to improve. Foreign investors gained confidence in Canada and as a result new industries were developed, The twenties really did 'roar' and with this boom of change Canada underwent the transformation that was the gateway to the future.
“Industrial unions dominated the landscape of the late nineteen century U.S. labor movement.” They gathered all level workers together without discrimination of gender, race, or nationality. They declared the eight-hour workday for the first time when normal work time should be 12. Low wage of workers caused the “Great Strike of 1877”, which began with railroad workers in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. After the “Great Strike”, industrial union started to
This strike was a battle over several issues. One factor that escalated the strike intensity was the pensions battle. Billons of dollars in pensions were on the line. The Teamste...
On the day of October 29, 1929 the Great Depression had begun. This was due to the worth of the New York stock market falling intensely. The Great Depression was a time when Canadians suffered extraordinary levels of poverty due to unemployment. It shaped Canadian’s political views, and also their views about their country and role of the government. Canadians joined together in various new political parties, labor groups and other organizations that represented detailed regional, economic or political interest. Canadians scrambled through the crisis with a makeshift blend of private and public charity. Private Citizens in wealthier provinces recognized the dilemma of Saskatchewan and sent hundreds of carloads of fruit, vegetables and clothing westward. This showed that Canada is a crew of kind and supportive individuals.
The Pullman Strike of 1894 was the first national strike in American history and it came about during a period of unrest with labor unions and controversy regarding the role of government in business.5 The strike officially started when employees organized and went to their supervisors to ask for a lowered rent and were refused.5 The strike had many different causes. For example, workers wanted higher wages and fewer working hours, but the companies would not give it to them; and the workers wanted better, more affordable living quarters, but the companies would not offer that to them either. These different causes created an interesting and controversial end to the Pullman strike. Because of this, questions were raised about the strike that are still important today. Was striking a proper means of getting what the workers wanted? Were there better means of petitioning their grievances? Was government intervention constitutional? All these questions were raised by the Pullman Strike.
against their employers, employees were able to go on strike and prove a point. Some
The unions resorted to many forms of tactics such as boycotts, picketing, and the less prominent “closed shop”. The most prevalent of these methods, however, was the formation of riots. During the late 19th century riots included: the Haymarket Square Riots (1886), the Homestead Lockout, and the Pullman Car Company strike. The Haymarket Square Riots of 1886 took place at the McCormick plant in Chicago, Illinois in response to the worker’s need for an eight hour workday. The first two days were innate, but the third day was where the the situation actually instigated the cause. The owner of the plant, McCormick, attempted to bring strikebreakers (scabs), and a battle had begun between the scabs and the strikers. The riot, wistfully, ended the lives of four men when the police began to attempt to impede and halter the situation. These four deaths initiated a chain reaction resulting in the calling for the revenge of the four men by German radical Johann Most. Despite Johann’s reaction, 200 more Chicago policemen ordered the remaining strikers to leave the area. In the crowd, in the moment, a homemade bomb was hurled leading in the death of one policeman; acting as a predecessor of events, this event lead to a shooting between the policemen and the strikers concluding with the death of four workers and seven more policemen; entirely approximately one hundred people were injured. The Haymarket Riots caused public opinion to turn against labor. The Homestead Lockout took place in Homestead, Pennsylvania at Andrew Carnegie’s steel plant and was instigated by Henry Clay Frick’s wage cut. In this riot workers walked out of the company and then Frick ordered company doors to be locked and trapped the workers inside. Employees rebelled and caused about 200 Pinkerton detectives to come up the river to protect company property and created a battle.
The Coal Strike of 1902 occurred as a result of many problems that were faced by miners. At the time of the coal strike there were 150,000 miners working in the mines (Grossman) Due to the depression of 1893, miners had their wages cut and were living in poverty (Grossman). Many miners were dissatisfied and looked to the United Mine Workers for support in raising their standard of living. This proved difficult since employers refused to recognize labor unions for fear of giving them significant control over the industry. In most instances of employee demands before 1902, employers would use government troops or hire immigrants to take the jobs of the strikers (David Kennedy).
... and left the city of Regina in ruins. The workers went back in failure with none of them better off. All these events caused the society in Canada to suffer and make it into the history books as ‘great’.
To conclude this analysis on the basis of the labor’s extensive history, Sloane & Witney (2010) propose, “it is entirely possible that labor’s remarkable staying power has been because of the simple fact that to many workers, from the nineteenth century to the present, there really has been no acceptable substitute for collective bargaining as a means of maintaining and improving employment conditions” (p.80). In the end, it is important to anticipate unions and employers presently work together to find solutions that will enhance collective bargaining strategies and practices to serve the interest of both parties.
When 15,000 workers walk out of a factory in one day and start a picket line, it’s bound to catch the interest of the press. But when the strike lasts for 14 weeks and shuts down a shirtwaist plant, they mean business. Especially when the strike, lead by all women in the early 1900s, something completely unheard of. In the 1910s women had about as many rights as blacks did, and though they had “freedom” they were discriminated by color all the same. At the start of an industrial revolution immigration to the cities was colossal, many people lived in ghettos and learned that good, well paying jobs were often hard to find. Low income meant that large families had a hard time paying their bills. No money to pay the bills lead to women and children dropping out of school and going to work in large overcrowded factories. When the heat and the pressure of large amounts of work and not enough pay became too much for them they decided to revolt. While women were arrested and sent to workhouses slowing progression, the Uprising of the 20,000 improved working conditions for sweatshop workers and proved women could make a difference in a man’s world.
The Strike of 1934 displayed the power the organized labor had, and how the mistreatment of labor can shut down an entire city and coast. The timing was just right for the maritime workers to strike. The grips of the Great Depression fueled laborers to maintain and improve their quality of life and security for their families. Congresses investigation into the 1934 San Francisco Strike concluded that “the aspirations of labor which led to the strike were directed from the change in public opinion expressed in the National Industrial Recovery Act. The potentialities of a protected right to bargain collectively were quickly perceived by waterfront workers.