Labour Unions

By ellapeitsch

  • 1786

    First labour strike started by Philadelphia printers

  • 1872

    • Labour unions fought for shorter work weeks.
    • Strike reaches many and gains support
    • Union activity was illegal at this time
    • John A. MacDonald introduces the Trade Union Act, this act legalized and protected these unions.
    • work weeks get shortened

  • 1894

    Labour Unions become an official thing/ have a definition and such

  • 1919: Winnipeg general strike

    -As soldiers return home from war they are met with inflation and unemployment
    - Workers wanted fair wages
    - On may 15th workers walked out on their jobs, this is one of the biggest labour union actions Canada has ever faced
    - Private and Public sector workers join in on this strike
    - union busters are hired and two strikers are killed and others injured
    - Strike ends

  • 1929-1940

    • Unemployed men working in government work camps working for very small wages start a strike in Vancouver
    • After 2 months nothing has been resolved so they take it to Ottawa
    • They riot outside the RCMP and some union leader get arrested ending the strike
    • The next year Mackenzie King is voted to power and destroys the camps the men rioted against. This means the outcry was heard.
    • This strike helped in getting unemployment insurance in 1940

  • 1945: Windsor’s Ford strike

    • Ford want to break some of the things unions have gained for workers
    • Unions needed more security
    • Union membership is introduced
    • Due begin to be automatically deducted from workers pay and was given to unions
    • Workers demand 2 weeks of paid vacation time
    • September 9th union strikes for a month it was 8,000 members strong
    • Paul Martin Sr. begins bargaining again
    • Workers end strike on December 9th after Paul says he will be sympathetic with them in finding a resolution

  • The Rand decision

    • After 6 weeks back on the job Union memberships were denied but automatic due check offs were put in place.
    • It was stated that everyone benefits from unions so everyone should contribute
    • Rad formula introduced meaning that unions can pay for the cost of bargaining, enforcing collective agreements, and campaigns that help the interests of union members

  • 1956

    A leader is demanded to be a voice for the union. This resulted in the creation of the CLC.

  • 1960 - Safety at work

    • Many immigrants in Canada were facing harsh living conditions and workplace conditions. They were paid just enough, were scared of deportation and worked often in unsafe areas or facilities.
    • 6 Italian immigrants passed away due to the unsafe workplace environment they were faced with
    • Unions struck for the Ontario Government to be more serious about worker and workplace safety
    • Industrial safety act introduced
    • Saskatchewan passes Occupational Safety act

  • 1965

    • Postal workers wanted the right to bargain collectively, striking right, higher wages and better management. They organized a country wide illegal strike
    • it lasted 2 weeks and ended with all public service workers being granted the right to collectively bargain

  • Parental and maternal benefits

    • in 1971 maternal paid leave was introduced
    • unions negotiate better paid and longer maternity leave as well as benefits and a guarantee that women would be able to return to their jobs from before their maternity leave. They also did this for kids who were adopted etc.
    • In 1979 in Quebec up to 20 weeks of full paid maternity leave was negotiated for many canadians