Winnipeg General Strike Essay, Research Paper

The Work Revolution Strike

During June 1919, a work stoppage took topographic point that revolutionized brotherhoods and the on the job topographic point

today. The Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 that took topographic point in Winnipeg was fought between the

WTLC ( Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council ) and the high-payed employers and authorities.

The workers of Winnipeg struck for better working conditions, better wage, and shorter working

hours. Little did they know that this work stoppage would take to entire pandemonium in the metropolis of Winnipeg. The

WTLC had to contend with non merely the provincial authorities and employers, but besides the armed forces,

RCMP and the federal authorities. They were greatly out numbered in this work stoppage, but stood

strong in their beliefs and carried on for 6 hebdomads until the work stoppage was over. The workers were

justified in traveling on work stoppage and because of this, created a revolution.

Trying to acquire the employers and authorities to listen to the WTLC & # 8217 ; s demands was hard.

Every effort made was shut down by the rich, powerful people of concern. The workers on

work stoppage took force into the streets. Polices were non plenty to command these angry people, so the

authorities called in the Military and RCMP. The WTLC and workers had about no power at all

compared to the Military and RCMP, doing this an unjust battle. Even though this was realized

by many, the work stoppage went on and took charge in greater lengths so earlier. On one twenty-four hours, the work stoppage

was brought to the chief street of Winnipeg. Everyone was at that place, doing great perturbation seeking

to acquire their demands met. The RCMP rushed into the croud on horseback with baseball chiropterans and

started vacillation, hitting many people doing hurt. One officer was pulled down and crush

severely. When intelligence of this reached the other officers, they open fired on the crowd with machine

guns. They killed one adult male and injured 30 others. This was known as & # 8220 ; Blo

ody Saturday” . This

was an unjust battle non merely because of the power state of affairs, but besides the guns and authorization which

the WTLC & # 8217 ; s oppositions had. The WTLC besides had its strengths as good. It had the support

of all the people of Winnipeg and across the state. In other metropoliss, sympathy work stoppages took topographic point.

The WTLC had every right to travel on work stoppage. The on the job conditions at the clip were

atrocious. The wage and rewards were downright ugly and the on the job hours were perfectly

impossible. The lone manner to better these things was to strike since old methods were

non successful. Examples of working conditions at the clip were hapless, insecure and

many had been injured at the workplace, some even died. It was besides non good lit, so finishing

undertakings were about impossible. In the summer clip, the work topographic point was hot and intolerable. For

these grounds, the workers were justified in traveling on work stoppage. It was about clip that rewards and

conditions were improved. Workers tried to compromise with their employers, but all efforts at

it failed miserably. A work stoppage was an effectual agencies of acquiring what workers wanted. A work stoppage gave

the workers hope and something to look frontward to.

In decision, the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 fought between the WTLC and its

oppositions was good justified. They had every right to strike for better working conditions, hours

and rewards. The WTLC was justified to strike, but the work stoppage that took topographic point was unjust. WTLC

had the military and federal constabulary to utilize force to endorse the oppositions up. The WTLC merely had the

people and their word. Even though the WTLC and workers lost the work stoppage, they created a

revolution. They would alter the work topographic point for the better. They would do better rewards and

better working hours. If it wasn & # 8217 ; T for this tremendous work stoppage, who knows how work in general

would be in footings of conditions and even how it would be perceived.