Rise
The general strike that began in Winnipeg on May 15 was not associated organizationally with the OBU. Yet the federal government and some conservative labor politicians accused the OBU of instigating it. Many of the strike's leaders, including OBU activist Robert B. Russell, were arrested in conjunction with the strike, Russell being sentenced to two years imprisonment. Edmonton, Calgary, Drumheller and Vancouver began their own general strikes in support of the Winnipeg workers, and some of these strikeleaders, such as Edmonton's Joe Knight, were OBU affiliates.
The AFL and the TLC resisted the secession, by what would soon become the OBU. OBU members and OBU unions were expelled from most local trades councils. Nonetheless, thousands of workers resigned the AFL and the TLC and joined the OBU. These included loggers, hard rock miners, coal miners, longshoremen, construction workers, metalworkers, shop craft workers, etc. The One Big Union organized by industry rather than by trade, in response to a deemphasis of craftsmanship, (Taylorism), and the burgeoning demand for unskilled labour. The OBU's anti-capitalist policy was evident by its constitution's pre-amble:
The O.B.U. ... seeks to organize the wage worker nor according to craft but according to industry; according to class and class needs; and calls upon all workers irrespective of nationality, sex, or craft to organize into a workers' organization, so that they may be enabled to more successfully carry on the every day fight over wages, hours of work, etc. and prepare themselves for the day when production for profit shall be replaced by production of use.
By late 1919 the OBU's membership was 40,000 to 70,000. The members were almost exclusively in the west of Canada. Efforts to organize in other parts of Canada and in the United States failed.
On June 4, the union was finally initiated officially at a small meeting in Calgary. Although an industrial form of organization was chosen, many questions were left unanswered in the constitution approved at this meeting. The manner of operation of the OBU did not differ much from that of the AFL or the TLC. Often, AFL or TLC union methods were simply incorporated into the OBU without any change; members simply started paying their dues to a different organization, but one with more radical aspirations.
Read more about this topic: One Big Union (Canada)
Famous quotes containing the word rise:
“...for [God] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.”
—Bible: New Testament, Matthew 5:45.
“... women of the North, I ask you to rise up with earnest, honest purpose, and go forward in the way of right, fearlessly, as independent human beings, responsible to God alone for the discharge of every duty, for the faithful use of every gift, the good Father has given you. Forget conventionalisms; forget what the world will say, whether you are in your place or out of your place; think your best thoughts, speak your best words, do your best works, looking to your own conscience for approval.”
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)
“So in majestic cadence rise and fall
The mighty undulations of thy song,
O sightless bard, England’s Monides!
And ever and anon, high over all
Uplifted, a ninth wave superb and strong,
Floods all the soul with its melodious seas.”
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1809–1882)