WinnipegGeneralStrike

The Winnipeg General Strike began on May 15, 1919 in response to the breakdown of negotiations between trade unions and bosses.

The Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 was one of the most influential strikes in Canadian history as it was the first organized large-scale strike in history and because it became the platform for future labour reforms.

Although many Canadian companies had enjoyed enormous profits on World War I contracts, wages and working conditions were dismal and labour regulations were mostly non-existent.

In March 1919 labour delegates from across Western Canada convened in Calgary to form a branch of the “One Big Union”, with the intention of earning rights for Canadian workers through a series of strikes.