[1][2] It was caused by a variety of factors including rising costs of living, unemployment, intensity of work, the unwillingness of employers to recognize unions, and the ongoing international revolution.

[4] Inspired by the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia and the Spartacist uprising in Germany, labour unions in Canada grew increasingly militant.

[9] Italian revolutionary Antonio Gramsci proclaimed that in Canada, "Industrial strikes have taken on the overt character of a bid to install a Soviet regime".

[13] Organizations such as the Socialist Party of Canada and the Industrial Workers of the World saw significant increases of popularity, attracting many to the ideas of syndicalism, socialism, and communism.

The radical faction was also supportive of the Bolshevik Revolution, which alienated them from the Canadian government and sections of the middle class who were otherwise sympathetic of the labour movement.

The moderate faction, which made up a majority of the Trades and Labour Congress leadership argued that the purpose of unionism should be to negotiate only for material gains such as working hours and wages.

The radical faction demanded the 6000 Canadian soldiers deployed to fight the Russian communists be recalled, where as the moderates were silent on the issue.

Private George Palmer addressed a mass meeting of the Calgary Great War Veterans’ Association on 2 November 1918:“Are we going to permit a few greed-sodden drones, men who know not nor ever did know the meaning of the words patriotism and sacrifice to have the ruling of our lives?

It’s the rotten corrupt system that allows men to accumulate millions while others starve.”[20]The strike was ultimately successful, with the railway workers receiving the concessions they demanded.

The remaining workers continued to strike for an additional three weeks before the towns employers agreed to recognize the union, engage in annual collective bargaining, and a nine-hour day with no reduction in pay.

[28]Brandon, Manitoba, voted on 20 May to begin a general strike that costed over 10,000 striker days- one of the highest per-capita rates in the country.

When 350 strikers, including 36 WWI veterans marched through Brandon's streets, the city council called in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The Calgary general strike is the largest labour dispute in the city's history, costing 31,700 striker days and lasting four weeks.

Police famously confiscated and destroyed every book bound in red leather, leading to an incident where mounties accidentally burnt dozens bibles.

[34] The strike was called off on June 25, after the events of Bloody Saturday, but not after earning shorter hours and higher wages for mechanists, moulders and other metal workers.

[18] Chinese immigrant workers also participated, making the strike multiracial- which was a notable fact in Canada's predominantly white labour movement.

[40] The striking workers reached a compromise with employers on May 29, accepting a 48-hour week with a 40-hour guarantee, overtime pay, seniority benefits, and a formal grievance procedure.

Five goons broke into strike leader John Sullivan's house and attempted to physically assault him, but were unsuccessful due to an armed miner intervening.

These actions caused a major riot in working class districts; 300 false fire alarms were set off, scabs were violently assaulted, and sent Thiel operatives to the hospital.

The Montreal Trades and Labour Council (MTLC) denounced the teamsters' tactics, revealing a divide between rank and file workers, who favoured a more radical approach, and salaried union officials, who were more moderate.

[49] In early 1922, the British Empire Steel Corporation (or "BESCO") in Nova Scotia reduced the wages of coal miners by one-third.

Led by J.B. McLachlan, they responded by reducing production by one-third, and by the end of the summer about half of the wage reduction was withdrawn.

Provincial police were deployed to forcefully disperse the workers, who had congregated to picket the steel plant gates in Whitney Pier.

[52] Over the next two years, the coal miners would strike on and off, culminating in 1925 when BESCO refused to negotiate a new contract with the union and reduced working days.

What became known as the Battle of Waterford Lake ended with the deployment of 2000 Canadian army soldiers, who dispersed the miners and restored BESCO's control.

[56] After a royal commission reported in 1926, BESCO was forced to recognize the coal miners' union and negotiate through collective bargaining with the UMWA.

The One Big Union faced severe repression, being restricted when Prime Minister Arthur Meighen extended the wartime ban on political and labour groups, Section 19.

Their conflict with the more powerful Trades and Labour Congress of Canada and the affiliated American Federation of Labor further weakened the OBU.

George Armstrong, one of the organizers of the Winnipeg general strike, was elected to the Manitoba Legislature as a member of the Socialist Party of Canada.

J.B McLachlan became leader of the Workers' Unity League, the largest and most active labour union during the Great Depression and direct affiliate of the Communist Party of Canada.