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Although not the exact date, the beginning of the 1700's saw jobs becoming readily available within the Fur Trade. With the HBC or the NWC, almost all paid jobs occured within the fur trade.
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The first labor strike in what was to be Saskatchewan took place at Cumberland House. This was headed by James Batt and William Taylor, and resulted in an increase of wages for HBC employees.
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As the two companies merged, wages dropped and many people were laid off due to downsizing. Men became self employed or turned to farming.
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When wages and pay were cut and threatened, Railroad workers went on strike. They refused to back to work until cut wages had been paid.
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When CPR threatened wage cuts, the newly established railway unions defeated the company, protecting their wages, and negotiating raises.
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Scott, as an employer, was one of the first to engage in collective bargaining with his workers, and introduced the 8 hour work day.
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The Women's Christian Temperance Union campaigned and won Prohibition, claiming their husband's paychecks were spent at the bar before they could make it home.
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After they were not included in the Minimum Wage Act, female waitresses and telephone operators fought to increase their wage and decrease their hours.
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Farming was doing exceptionally well, and hired hands and farm workers could bring in staggering paychecks.
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The mounted police violently put down the Winnipeg General Strike. This was the walkout of thousands of workers in support of wage and other contract demands.
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Prohibiton was revoked in 1925, but this did not stop women in their campaigns for equal rights that would continue in the years to come.
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The farming economy was doing very well in years previous. 24000 workers from the east came to help with the harvest.
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A drought hit the farming provinces, and the economy took a huge hit. This year, less than 5000 workers were required from the east.
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Miners and their families staged a cavalcade to demand for better work terms and conditions. Many protestors were arrested, deported, or blacklisted.
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The On-To-Ottawa Trek was stopped in Regina. The trek was a protest for camp workers to show their disagreeance with thier work conditions. A riot broke out in Regina, ending the trek. The conditions began improving and some work camps closed.
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With the expansion of government services, Medicare was formed. These expansions to our country created many new jobs which positively impacted the economy.
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In the 1970's, Saskatchewan's workforce was one of the most unionized in the country. Over 20% of employees belonged to unions.
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In his first term, Allan Blakeney enacted some of the most advanced Occupational Health and Safety Legislation in North America. This was set in place to reverse the trend of workplace injuries and death.
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Canada's largest strike was held to protest controls and policies of the NDP provincial government.
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Under Grant Devine's government, labor legislation was not enforced, neither were health and safety regulations. Unions were weakened, and the province was heavily in debt.
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In 1994, the Trade Union Act was revised, slowly improving labor legislations. It is never perfect, and there are ongoing issues that our country will strive to improve upon.
