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The Fight for a Shorter Work Week
Workers in Toronto were sick of the long shifts and work weeks during this time. After a request to shorten the work days was denied, the workers went on a strike in order to pressure the government into taking action. This is when the Trade Union Act was introduced on April 18, 1872, legalizing and protecting unions. This led to annual celebrations of labour day, which is still celebrated to this date. -
The Winnipeg General Strike
After World War 1, returning soldiers couldn't find any jobs, and unemployment as well as inflation was very high. Trades workers demanded fair pay as it was getting difficult for most people to provide for their families. This led to one of the largest strikes Canada had ever seen, where workers marched into the streets of Winnipeg. On June 21, 1919, authorities fired shots into the crowd killing two people and injuring several others. The infamous "Bloody Saturday" marked the end of the strike -
Birth of Unemployment Insurance
During the Great Depression between 1929-29, many unemployed men had to work in government work camps in order to make a living. These wages were not enough and the conditions were harsh, which led to many men leaving the camps to go on strike to Ottawa known as the "On to Ottawa trek". After many arrests and riots, Canada finally adopted an unemployment insurance system in 1940. Today this is known as Employment Insurance (EI). -
Formation of the Canadian Labour Congress
By the 1950s, the time had come for a single, nation-wide labour organization to help unions work together and unite to accomplish their goals. With the rise of big corporations, the country demanded a strong, unified voice for working Canadians, which led to the formation of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). -
Right to Safety at Work
After a scary and tragic workplace accident, where five Italian immigrant workers were killed, labour unions across the country pressured the government to implement safety laws and take workplace health and safety seriously, leading to the passing of the Industrial Safety Act. The act is still in existence today, making health and safety the responsibility of both the management and workers. -
Public service workers win bargaining rights
In 1965, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers wanted the right to bargain collectively, the right to strike, higher wages and better management. They went against government policies and staged an illegal, nation-wide strike. It lasted two weeks and ended with the government agreeing with the workers' requests.