Canadian labour gains and changes between 1940 and 1975

History Of Canadian Labour: The Gains and Changes of the Working Class And Labour Movement Has

Made Between 1940 And 1975

The objective of this work is to analyze the extent to which workers made gains, and the ways in which the working class and labor movement changed between 1940 and 1975. This work will discuss the origins of the post-war collective bargaining system, the steel strike of 1946, the labor movement in Quebec, ethnically split labor markets, immigrant working women, civil service organizing, the postal strike of 1965, and the generational conflict in the labor movement of the 1960s.

GROWTH in UNION MEMBERSHIP and the LABOUR MOVEMENT

The work of MacDowell (1987) entitled: "The Formation of Canadian Industrial Relations System During World War Two" states that the years during the war for Canada were years characterized by "antagonistic labor-government relations and serious industrial unrest..." While union membership and the labour movement experienced growth before the war began during the war, "union membership more than doubled, so that by 1946 there were 832,000 organized employees engaged in collective bargaining." (McDowell, 1987) the labour market conditions during the 1940s were of the nature that "produced higher wages, rising expectations and demands for better working conditions." (McDowell, 1987) However, wages did not rise as quickly as workers had hoped and this combined with insecurities related to the "tight labour market, the rising cost of living, and their experiences during the Depression..." resulted in workers joining unions." (McDowell, 1987) Employer resistance met the increase in organizational activity resulting in "unprecedented levels of industrial conflict." (McDowell, 1987)

II. GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION - SUPPORTS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

In 1944, the government passed legislation that supported collective bargaining that slowed down the increasing number of strikes and the workers involved as well as man-days lost. Trade unionism' growth during the course of the war brought about structural changes in "the movement itself which had both organizational and political ramifications." (McDowell, 1987) the unions that were stated to be the "most effective" were those that were organized "on a craft basis. These craft skills could not be easily acquired so that by controlling the supply of labour and eliminating competition between tradesmen the trade union could enhance its bargaining power and guarantee both employer recognition and collective bargaining." (McDowell, 1987)

III. GOVERNMENT ORDER-in-COUNCIL P.C. 2685

It is related that in June of 1940 the government proclaimed order-in-council P.C 2685: a declaration of principles which the government hoped labour and management would adopt." (McDowell, 1987) it was the government's hope to proactively address unrest in the industrial sector and thereby "prejudice the war effort." (McDowell, 1987) This order was a formula that addressed resolving disputes and provided encouragement to employers to recognize unions voluntarily as well as good faith negotiation and dispute resolution in a conciliatory fashion. The government's stated position on collective bargaining is stated to have been 'neutral' and the implication was that the "contest between labour and management was essentially a private matter" ignoring that this neutral role in essence tipped the balance of bargaining power to the employer's favor. McDowell states that the unenforced "declaration of principles became the focus of much bitter debate and contributed to labour's disaffection." (1987) the wage control policies were specifically an area of dissatisfaction for unions and as well labour was all but unrepresented in government policy-making and the business community was not only practically in charge of the war production effort and reaping considerable benefits..." (McDowell, 1987)

IV. NASCO ORGANIZED by SWOC

The National Steel Car (NASCO) plant in Hamilton is stated to have been organized by the Steelworker's Organizing Committee (SWOC) in 1940 and a vote was proposed with the membership voting "unanimously...to strike" on April 29, 1941. The government immediately expressed concern that this strike might disrupt the war production effort. Strikers returned to work rather quickly under the assumption that negotiations would ensue however, the negotiation of collective agreements with the union and employee associated was resolved when a new controller was appointed. In 1945, the United Steelworkers of American was certified. Difficulties continued because the labour policy in Canada was nothing like that of the 'New Deal' labour policy of the 1930s, and had as its' one primary goal and that was the elimination of industrial unrest.

V. NEW POLICY & COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT PASSED

In 1942 the employees of DOSCO and Algoma Steel was stated to represent "the most serious threat to the government's wage policy since its inception" however a three man commission was appointed to investigate which postponed the dispute temporarily. The Barlow Commission report in 1943 and "rejected the recommendation that the steel industry be classified a national industry as the union had requested." (McDowell, 1987) This resulted in 9,000 workers going on strike. This resulted in the development of a new policy by the Prime Minister who proposed "that the union take its case before a reconstituted 'independent' National War Labour Board." (McDowell, 1987) in 1943, "the labour movement and the government were completely at odds over the related issues of collective bargaining and wage controls." (McDowell, 1987) the government wanted labor to join the war effort by sacrificing wages while it was the belief of labor that in return for this the government should guarantee collective bargaining right for worker protection from arbitrary employer action. The Collective Bargaining Act was passed in April 1943.

VI. LABOUR COURT - COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT DETAILS

The Labour Court hashed out the details of collective bargaining and certified the unions and even decertified some of them. The powers of the labour board were broad in remediation dealing with act violations and had the power to reinstate employees who had been discharged unlawfully. The Labour Court was criticized by labour but at the same time, it was supported in spite of its limitations. The government made the announcement in 1943 that "the NWLB would conduct its own public enquiry into the causes of labour unrest" involving approximately a quarter of a million workers. High industrial unrest resulted in the NWLB introducing a national labour code, although unplanned. Labour gained a national platform, which it could air its grievances. The demand of the labour movement was a "permanent national labour code which recognized the right of labour to organize, enforced recognition of the majority union, outlawed 'company unions and the establishment of a board for effective administration of the act. (McDowell, 1987) in August of 1943, the Minister of Labour received the Majority and Minority reports of the NWLB Inquiry and each made recommendation for a new labour code inclusive of compulsory collective bargaining. In February 1944, P.C. 1003 was enacted.

The CTCC objective was the establishment of Quebec's professional corporation, which included "correcting the abuses of capitalism and restoring social order." (Rouillard, 1987) the confederation conceived the professional corporation as being comprised of "representatives of workers and employers who would look after the common interest of the profession. Issues such as salaries, working conditions, apprenticeship, production control, and even profit-sharing were first to be discussed in joint committees by members of the corporation." (Rouillard, 1987) This system's function was reliable for sustenance from all the social groups and "conflicting relations in the business world were to give way to a spirit of operations based on justice and charity." (Rouillard, 1987)

VIII. LIBERAL HUMANISM & ECONOMIC PLANNING

In 1958 this liberal humanism of the CTCC "manifested itself in a new theme that appeared...economic planning." (Rouillard, 1987) Abuses of the system were corrected by the intervention of the state even though it was symbolic intervention only and it even "further directed the economy toward satisfying the real needs of individuals." (Rouillard, 1987) the CTCC gradually became nondenominational over the years and finally in 1960 the CTCC dropped 'Catholic' from its title and "all direct references to the Church's social doctrine." (Rouillard, 1987)

IX. ETHNICALLY SUBMERGED SPLIT LABOUR MARKET

The work of Calliste entitled: "Sleeping Car Porters in Canada: An Ethnically Submerged Split Labour Market" (1987) states that the theory of the split labour market "was formulated by Edna Bonacich to explain economic sources of ethnic antagonism." (Calliste, 1987) a split labour market is stated to exist "when the cost of labour substantially differs along ethnic lines for the same work, or would differ if they did the same work." (Calliste, 1987) This situation creates conflict "among employers and "higher-paid dominant labour, and lower-paid ethnic minority labour." (Calliste, 1987) the higher-paid labor force is reported to have felt threatened when lower-paid labour was introduced into the workforce due to fear of being displaced or having their wages reduced. W.D. Scott, Superintendent of Immigration stated in 1918 of Canadian ethnic segregation: "Coloured labour is not generally speaking in demand in Canada and it is not only regarded as the lowest grade, but it is the last to be taken on and the first to be discharged in most enterprises." (Calliste, 1987)

X. PORTERS UNIONIZED in 1942 & ESTABLISH AGREEMENT in 1945

In 1942, porters were unionized and by 1945, an agreement has been established. The national committee on human rights of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) launched an investigation in 1961, which found that discrimination did exist and placed blame on the railway. Following the Local 130 filing a formal complaint alleging racial discrimination against its national union under the Fair Employment Practices Act, a merger of the two groups was approved by the Joint Protective Board of the Sleeping, Dining and Parlor cart section of the CBRT and the merger was approved in January 1964. This resulted in the way being opened for porters to be "promoted to sleeping car conductor and inspector, as well as for being eligible for employment in the dining car." (Calliste, 1987)

The work entitled: "The Modern Era: 1960-1990" relates that the workforce expansion continued "both as a result of a natural increase in the population (the baby boom) and with the influx of thousands of immigrants." (1987) Additionally during World War II the industrial framework which was developed experienced expansion and adaptation in the 1960s as associations were converted by public sector employees and engaged in "consultation with employers, into unions bargaining collectively on their behalf, often however not always with the right to strike." (the Modern Era: 1960-1990, 1987) at this time, private sector employment was unorganized for women.

SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

The post-World War II years in Canada were years of change and transformation and realization of what had been envisioned prior to the beginning of the war. While patriotism during the world had served to extend labour's realization of that for which they organized, went on strike and fought for, in the end the labour movement made great strides in advancing the conditions, rights and wages of the workforce in Canada.