29 lines
1.2 KiB
Markdown
29 lines
1.2 KiB
Markdown
The **Vancouver General Strike of 1918** was the [first general
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strike](List_of_General_Strikes "wikilink") in
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[Canadian](Canada "wikilink") history and took place on the [2nd of
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August](Timeline_of_Libertarian_Socialism_in_North_America "wikilink")
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[1918](Revolutions_of_1916_-_1923 "wikilink"), it lasted only one day.
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It was part of a broader strike wave in Canada and the USA.
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## Background
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The strike had several causes, including:
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- Anger at conscription
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- Increased cost of living and stagnant wages caused by [World War
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I](World_War_I "wikilink")
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- Banning of strikes and socialist media
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- The [October Revolution](October_Revolution_\(Russia\) "wikilink")
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in Russia
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- The killing of trade union and anti-war activist Albert "Ginger"
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Goodwin by a private police officer
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## Events
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The strike occurred after the killing of union activist Albert Goodwin,
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and soldiers immediately tried to repress the strike, claiming it to be
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a [Bolshevik](Bolsheviks "wikilink") conspiracy. Three hundred soldiers
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ransacked union officers and forced a union secretary to kiss the Union
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Jack (the flag of the [UK](United_Kingdom "wikilink")). Although most
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union leaders resigned, all were reelected in the ensuing union
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elections. |