The Role of Industrial Production in Labour Organizing

Imani W.

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The Role of Industrial Production in Labour Organizing

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Industrial production, labour organizing, Niagara region, exploitation in the workplace, unskilled labor, labour union, child labor, Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor in Niagara, Great Depression, Crowland relief strike of 1935

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Abstract

A look back at the development of the labour movement in Niagara can be traced back to the commercial capitalism facilitated by the construction of the well and canal. In this period, the majority of waged workers involved in the construction were unskilled laborers. Their lack of skills became an exploitation point for employers who took advantage of the low wages required to pay them. This limitation also affected their health at the work mines because it was often dangerous and they were reduced to using traditional tools such as picks, shovels and axes. The lack of representation opened them up to poor working conditions for extended periods. According to Patrias and Savage (2012), the workers in the canals worked for fourteen to sixteen hours a day in both extreme heat during summer and bitter cold during winter.

What were the main bastions for union organizing in the Niagara region?
What was the impact of depression and prosperity on union activity?
How did unions cope with the decline of industrial employment?
Do unions have much of a future in a largely de-industrialized region?

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[...] In the current era, unions have been structured to represent the interests of many different professional occupations and are not limited to industries alone. Currently, there exist diversified interest groups that champion better conditions for workers across a multitude of professions such as unions on education for teachers, unions on healthcare for doctors and nurses as well as other professions. Therefore, irrespective of industrialization, unions still have a great future ahead. References Harried, E. (2015). Why trade unions are declining. The Economist. https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2015/09/29/why-trade-unions-are-declining Kelly, G. (2017). [...]

[...] Trade unions adapt to the modern world or die. Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/f65a8510-4626-11e7-8d27-59b4dd6296b8 Milkman, R. & Luce, S. (2017). Labor Unions and the Great Recession. RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, https://doi.org/10.7758/rsf.2017.3.3.07 Patrias, C. (2018). Immigrants, Communists, and Solidarity Unionism in Niagara, c - 1960. Labour / Le Travail 119-158. doi:10.2307/26551540 Patrias, C., & Savage, L. (2012). [...]

[...] The Role of Industrial Production in Labour Organizing Introduction A look back at the development of the labour movement in Niagara can be traced back to the commercial capitalism facilitated by the construction of the well and canal. In this period, the majority of waged workers involved in the construction were unskilled laborers. Their lack of skills became an exploitation point for employers who took advantage of the low wages required to pay them. This limitation also affected their health at the work mines because it was often dangerous and they were reduced to using traditional tools such as picks, shovels and axes. [...]

[...] The Canadian economy was on the negative receiving end as a result of the depression where industrial production fell by 58%. The total income level in 1929 fell to 56% while unemployment at the depth of the depression in 1933 was at 27%. These prevailing conditions at the time made life difficult for Canadians and affected other aspects of the economy such as the activity of labour unions (Milkman & Luce, 2017). Labour unions and organizations in Niagara were trusted by their member workers to protect their interests during this period. [...]

[...] How did unions cope with the decline of industrial employment? As mentioned, the depression brought with it an increased level of unemployment which prompted workers through unions to action. To cope with the decline of industrial unemployment, unions resorted to strikes as a means to force employers into reconsideration. The Crowland relief strike of 1935 provides a perfect example of this action. Because employment was lacking during the period, the families in Crowland registered for relief food and aid where in exchange family heads would work constructing sewers in the town through the Crowland Unemployed Association. [...]

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