This essay outlines an historic political event in Canada’s political union history. The Bloody Saturday strike turns into a tragedy. It began on May 1 st 1919, over a year after the end of The Great War. Winnipeg metal workers went on strike and shut down Vu kan Metal Works, Manitoba Bridge and Iron and the Dominion Bridge and Iron companies. Angry workers claim the three firms refused to bargain fairly. That same day the building trades joined arm and arm in a massive strike.
The repercussions of this Anarchist movement has plunged Winnipeg into class warfare and is being felt around the world. It has been reported that ballots cast for a “sympathetic strike” indicated 11, 112 trade unionists voted yes to strike and only 524 against. Influenced by the popular European political theory of “One Big Union” and the Russian revolution of 1917, where the idea of “Rule by Workers” has inspired the “Winnipeg Citizens Committee of 1000” to produce strike signs and posters that are noticeably plastered all over Winnipeg. As of May 15 th, our city finds itself without mail, telephone, milk delivery, streetcar and telegraph service. Local police are technically on strike but remain on duty. Workers and their families find it more difficult to pay bills and put food on the table.
Tempers are becoming short. As the strike becomes less passive, strike leaders have been arrested and charged with conspiracy and libel. Federal troops were called in yesterday, June 21 st, some calling it “Black Saturday.” The Mayor reads the riot act and soon after local Winnipeg RCMP aim fire into a large crowd killing at least two and injuring over thirty strikers. It appears the strike is failing!
The Essay on Political and social effects that shaped the 60s generation
Massive black rebellions, constant strikes, gigantic anti-war demonstrations, draft resistance, Cuba, Vietnam, Algeria, a cultural revolution of seven hundred million Chinese, occupations, red power, the rising of women, disobedience and sabotage, communes & marijuana: amongst this chaos, there was a generation of youths looking to set their own standard - to fight against the establishment, ...
