As Friend and Foe

Summary

This video script explores the rise of industrialization in Canada at the turn of the 20th century and the struggles of workers who sought better wages and working conditions. It highlights the role of government intervention in labor disputes, including the controversial actions of figures like William Lyon Mackenzie King, and the evolving labor movement. The script covers pivotal moments like the Winnipeg General Strike, government repression, and key labor victories. It also discusses the influence of international examples like Nazi Germany's labor policies and their impact on Canadian politics and labor relations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Canada experienced rapid industrial growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by the railroad, lumber, mining, and manufacturing sectors.
• 😀 The government supported industrial barons by granting them land and mineral concessions but also required a large labor force, leading to immigration policies that attracted European and Oriental workers.
• 😀 Immigrants to Canada faced harsh working conditions, with long hours, poor wages, and frequent accidents, but they continued to hope for a better life.
• 😀 Workers began organizing to demand better wages and conditions, eventually forming industrial unions to collectively address their grievances.
• 😀 Unions were initially illegal, and the government often sided with employers, using force to suppress strikes and protests.
• 😀 William Lyon Mackenzie King played a significant role in labor policy, believing government intervention could act as a mediator between labor and employers rather than supporting unions.
• 😀 King's actions were controversial, such as his mediation in the Grand Trunk Railway strike, which led to the firing of union workers and the hiring of strike breakers.
• 😀 The government continued to intervene in labor disputes, including in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, where violence was used to suppress workers' demands.
• 😀 Throughout the 1920s, industrial prosperity in Canada was interrupted by the Great Depression, leading to widespread unemployment and harsh relief conditions for the jobless.
• 😀 Despite King's attempts to maintain a government-controlled labor system, workers continued to organize and gain recognition, culminating in significant victories like the 1943 strikes during World War II.
• 😀 The 1970s saw an increase in government intervention in labor disputes, especially under Pierre Trudeau, who imposed wage controls and restricted workers' rights to strike, leading to protests and labor unrest.

Q & A

What was the industrial situation in Canada at the turn of the century?

At the turn of the 20th century, Canada experienced rapid industrial growth, especially with the expansion of railroads and industries like lumber, mining, and manufacturing. This was largely driven by powerful industrialists who were granted large land tracts and mineral concessions by the government.

How did Canada attract labor for its growing industries?

Canada's government developed immigration policies to bring in a large labor force. Waves of immigrants from Europe and the Orient arrived in Canada, hoping for a better life. They filled labor-intensive jobs, often under poor conditions and for low wages.

What was the condition of workers during the early industrial era in Canada?

Workers, including children, often worked 12-hour days in poor conditions. They were paid very low wages, faced rampant disease, and were prone to accidents, while profits soared for the employers.

How did workers respond to poor working conditions in Canada?

Workers began to meet in each other's homes and discussed the need for collective action. The idea of industrial unionism emerged as the only way to improve wages and working conditions through organized efforts.

What role did the Canadian government play in the labor movement?

Initially, the Canadian government did not support unions and even aided employers in resisting them. In 1900, it established the Department of Labor, but its main strategy was conciliation, often siding with employers. Over time, the government increasingly intervened in labor disputes, sometimes with military force.

How did William Lyon Mackenzie King influence labor policy in Canada?

William Lyon Mackenzie King, appointed Deputy Minister of Labor in 1900, was a key figure in shaping labor policy. He believed that the government should act as a referee in labor disputes rather than supporting unions directly. His policies often favored employers over workers, as seen in his intervention in strikes like the Grand Trunk Railway dispute.

What was Mackenzie King's involvement with John D. Rockefeller Jr.?

After his political career faltered in Canada, King was hired by John D. Rockefeller Jr. to manage labor relations at Rockefeller’s Colorado mines during a coal miner strike. King helped Rockefeller disband the Mine Workers Union, despite the miners' tragic loss during the strike.

What was the outcome of the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919?

The Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 was a large labor dispute in which the government responded with force, dismissing municipal police who supported the strikers and deploying the military. The strike ended with significant violence, leading to 24 strikers wounded or killed, and 10 union leaders arrested.

How did World War I affect labor movements in Canada?

World War I exacerbated worker dissatisfaction, as soldiers returned to find scarce jobs and wages lagging behind inflation. Strikes broke out, including the major Winnipeg General Strike, and there was a rising demand for better wages, working conditions, and union recognition.

What role did Pierre Elliott Trudeau play in labor relations in Canada?

Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who became Prime Minister in 1968, continued the interventionist policies of his predecessors. His government imposed severe economic controls in 1975, which angered workers and led to demonstrations. Trudeau's policies often limited the right to strike, reflecting an ongoing tension between the government and labor movements.

What long-term effects did Mackenzie King's labor policies have on Canada?

Mackenzie King's labor policies led to the institutionalization of government intervention in labor relations, favoring a system of labor-management cooperation. Over time, these policies became permanent features of Canadian government, though they also faced criticism for prioritizing management over workers' rights.

How did the government restrict union rights in the 20th century?

Over the course of the 20th century, Canadian governments intervened in labor relations by imposing limits on the right to strike and forcing workers back to work. Laws such as the 1944 Privy Council Order 1003 legalized collective bargaining, but the government's control over the labor process continued to grow, especially in times of economic crises.