Histoire du syndicalisme au Canada History of Canadian Unionism

Sommaire

La compréhension du mouvement syndical canadien exige au moins la connaissance des principales lignes de son évolution historique depuis qu'il a commencé à se développer au siècle dernier. C'est cette succession d'événements importants que l'auteur rappelle brièvement au lecteur.

Summary

BIRTH OF LABOR UNIONS

The first labor unions appeared at the beginning of the XIX^th century in Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton and Halifax.

In 1850 and 1886, Canadian unions were affiliated to American unions, and some American unions were established in important Canadian cities. In the meantime, labor unions were grouped on a provincial and national basis. Around 1886. appeared an important group, the Trade and Labor Congress of Canada, which was created before the A F of L.

From 1902, American unions controlled Canadian unions. In 1908, the Canadian Federation of Labor is founded, but, because of friction between English speaking and French speaking Canadians, the unions of the Province of Quebec withdrew their membership. In 1919, the C F of L claimed 14 locals and 8,000 members.

Between 1902 and 1927, took place three major events: 1) "Catholic Unions were founded in the Province of Quebec; 2) The Provincial Workmen's Association disappeared, and 3) in the Prairies appeared the American Labor Union, the Industrial Workers of the World, and later the One Big Union. At the end of the World War I. the O.B.U. had 50,000 members and 100 locals, but it had almost disappeared in 1922.

In 1927, the Pan-Canadian Congress of Labor was created and grouped disparate locals and died soon.

In the U.S.A. the Committee of Industrial Organization was created in 1935, and, the next year, its members were suspended by the A F of L and the CIO was founded. In Canada, under the pressure of the A F of L. the locals belonging to unions affiliated with the CIO were expelled from the Trade and Labour Congress and founded the CCL. In 1956, following the American Unions, the TCL and the CCL merged.

THE CCCL

In the U.S.A. the Committee of Industrial Organization was created in 1935, and, the next year, its members were suspended by the A F of L and the CIO was founded. In Canada, under the pressure of the A F of L. the locals belonging to unions affiliated with the CIO were expelled from the Trade and Labour Congress and founded the CCL. In 1956, following the American Unions, the TCL and the CCL merged.

Catholic Unions appeared at the beginning of the XX^th Century, following a strike in the Shoe Industry in Quebec City and the expulsion, from the TLC, of Canadian Local unions not affiliated to International Unions.

Other reasons influenced also the Creation of the CCCL:

1. The social teaching of the Church with the Encyclicals Rerum Novarum and Singulari Quadam.

2. The dawn of nationalist ideology with Bourassa and Tardivel.

3. The socialist and anticlerical attitude of some American Unions established in Canada.

4. The industrial progress which came with World War I.

The principal characteristics of Catholic unions were their "confessionality", and their adhesion to the Social Teaching of the Church and the presence of chaplain.

In 1921, their unions founded the CCCL and the membership was around 25,000. In 1932, the CCCL had 26,000 and 8 regional councils. In 1953, it had 100,000 members and 400 local unions, and, today, it represents 50% of all union members in the Province of Quebec.