MP-0000.27.173 | Centre Block, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, ON, 1900
Centre Block, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, ON, 1900
Wallis & Shepherd
1900, 20th century
Silver salts on glass - Gelatin dry plate process
6 x 8 cm
MP-0000.27.173
© McCord Museum
Description
Keywords: Architecture (8646) , governmental (274) , Photograph (77678)
Keys to History
At the turn of the century links between American and Canadian workers grew closer in the context of the strong growth of international unions in Canada. For their part Canadian workers wanted to take advantage of union social programmes and of the possibility of working in the United States with a union card. American unionists wanted to standardize working conditions across North America to prevent businesses from using these differences to their own advantage.
The increase in the number of unions affiliated with international unions, which went from 240 in 1890 to 1,070 in 1902, worried the Canadian Senate. On four occasions bills were discussed aimed at severing the links between Canadian unions and their southern neighbours, who were accused of sowing discord in Canada. The House of Commons, in the hands of the Liberals led by Wilfrid Laurier (1841-1919), did not share this opinion and chose to introduce the first Canadian law on conciliation of conflicts in the workplace.
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What
Canadian Pacific employees and coal miners were often involved in lengthy industrial action. Key industries were affected, and the public seemed to be held hostage to their demands.
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Where
The labour unrest that attracted most attention took place on Vancouver Island (1903) and in Alberta (1906).
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When
Anti-union bills were introduced in the Senate in 1903, 1907, 1909 et 1910. But on each occasion the workers' movement sent its star performers to the Upper House. They sought to establish the facts and demanded the withdrawal of measures that would effectively sever their links with American organizations.
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Who
In the long run the senators were persuaded of the organizational autonomy of Canadian union members within the international American organizations. They also concluded that the workers had as much right to benefit by the human and financial resources of the Americans, as did employers who belonged to North American employers' organizations.
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