A troubled time Flashcards
What date did Canadians come back to celebrate the end of great war
1918 November
what were the reactions of the soldiers returning to Canada and why
They were disappointed and angry because the government had no plans for vets and there was no pension, no medical care, no jobs
why were the employees in Canada resentful
During the war, unions were allowed to reduce pay to help the war effort
-after the war, the costs of goods raised but salaries did not
why did workers look towards the union movement
to help improve wages and working conditions
what is socialism
Wanting public or state ownership and a society that is equal for all.(fair wage)
The leaders proposed founding the big Union
Why?
Because, the more people, the more pressure on the government and the more pressure on the industrialist
improve working conditions and salary - and would do this by doing a strike
Why were the Politicians and employers nervous during winnipeg general strike
Because they thought they were going to get executed like the Czar and his family had been executed
Since few were working, bread, milk eggs and ice were not being delivered so how did they fix this?
the strike committee gave permission for some to work delivery trucks to transport goods. and had a sign to show that they had permission
what happened when the strike leaders were arrested
the leaders were the ones keeping the movement peaceful but once they were arrested, the followers went violent after a while. which led to the bloody saturaday
what does this quote mean The veterans made the sacrifices, but others reaped the rewards”
industrialist were getting rich of the war while the veterans got nothing
Why were employees resentful
Employees in Canada were also resentful.
During the war labour unions allowed reduced pay to help fund the war effort.
- Wages no longer covered the costs of rent and food for families. (inflation)
- Workers looked to the union movement to help them improve wages and working conditions.
- Some lost limbs and some died leaving families destitute without a bread winner. (from war)
Western Labour Conference March 1919
The leaders proposed founding the One Big Union (OBU) because of the more people means more pressure on politicians and industrialists to improve pay and working conditions. This would repersent all workers
-They wanted to transfer power from the industrialists and politicians to the workers and their unions.
how were the social programs?
There was no social safety net.
No health care for the poor.
No workers compensation
what happened when Union leaders became openly socialist in their policies
This made the Politicians and employers nervous. They were thinking of the Russian Revolution which scared them.
The Czar and his family had been executed.
The strike
When was it
what were the Demands?
how many workers on strike during may 15th
In May 1919, Winnipeg’s metal and building trade workers walked off the job.
Demands:
higher wages
shorter work week
right to bargain collectively through unions
May 15th over 30 000 workers on strike
