Recently, a friend of mine hosted a meeting of her Condo Executive. At that meeting she felt under attack for supporting CUPE’s call for job action to oppose changes to pension laws.

Another friend of mine wrote the following to her to explain why she needs to stay strong in the face of adversity. I think these (slightly edited) words, written by a guy who has been there, speak volumes about why unions and why sometimes, job actions matter and why we need to recognise that they protect all of us - whether we are union members on not.

Dearest R,

I am so very sorry of the abuse inflicted on you by such narrow minded, ill informed, people. Insults at the workplace or on a picket line are bad enough, but in your own home, these are absolutely innapropriate. A person should always feel safe in his or her home. Verbal abuse of any type must never be tolerated.

RE: The comment “We should shoot all Union Workers”

I hope you will indulge me in this rather significant piece of Canadian labour history. When I was on a picket line freezing one December with the CUPW., my thoughts would turn to Winnipeg in the early part of the last century.

Again when participating in seven “Days of Action” against Mike “The Hammer Harris” my heart was in Winnipeg,1919.

Representing workers on a difficult day on racism or homophobia, my thoughts would normaly turn to the struggles of the past that brought us justice as workers and as a people.

In 1917 Laborers and Union leaders in Western Canada wanted to peacefully modernise Canada by radically increasing the political power of the working class. The preferred method was called “One Big Union” (OBW).Organize all workers in Canada into one big Union. Unionists asked that the Government recognize the legal right of Collective Bargaining for all the workers of Canada.

Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council (WTLC) was the bargaining agent.

On May 5,1919 the (WTLC) called for a general strike to shut down the city of Winnipeg. The strike fought for free collective bargaining rights, better wages and working conditions. More than 30.000 Union and non-union workers joined in the strike.

The union organizing body maitained essential services for the city - despite the desire of the police and others to join the strike.

Eastern European immigrants were widely accused of organizing comunism. The Government passed a law allowing the police and immigration officials sweeping new powers of deportation. The Government was inefective because the union Leadership was primarly Canadian or British.

After five weeks of strike the government fired all striking workers and hired war vets., as special constables to break the strike.

Before sunrise on Saturday June 21st. 1919 Police arrested ten strike leaders including R.B. Russel and future “C.C.F.” founder J.S. Woodsworth.

Later that day a peaceful march began to work its way down Main St. to protest the arrests. It got out of hand. Demonstrators set fire to 1 empty street car.

The Police respond with baseball bats

Workers fought back with stones and fists.

The POLICE charged twice more this time firing guns.

The workers dispersed in fear. TWO WORKERS WERE SHOT AND KILLED and dozens were injured.

That day is now known in Canadian Labour history as “BLOODY SATURDAY”.

Things changed after “Bloody Saturday.” The police and constables patrolled the streets with “machine guns” Additional Strike Leaders were arrested.

By June 25, 1919 the Workers gave up their peaceful attempt to gain collective bargaining because of the threat of more Government sanctioned violence.

THE WINNIPEG GENERAL STRIKE ENDED WITHOUT THE WORKERS ACHIEVING THEIR ENDS. OR DID IT?

Eighty years later Members of the Canadian Labour Movement have a legal right to organize the workfloor and enjoy their right to “free collective bargaining”

When it get’s tough in your livingroom, in the workplace, or on a picket line please, remember “Bloody Saturday”.

Your friend in Solidarity,

JDM