BC Labour Heritage Centre

Photo of man at podium

When Syd Thompson spoke, people listened. His voice was so loud, they had no choice. At the podium, the mic was always turned away from him lest he deafen those in the room.
Learn about the formidable labour leader in this month's newsletter.

mailchi.mp/labourherita...

On January 24 1996, the @bcfed.bsky.social recognized Corporate Tax Freedom Day representing the date each year when Canadian corporations have earned enough revenue to cover their taxes for the rest of the year. The "Race to the Trough" in 2026 was on January 4.

A Mining Town Scattered Residents, and Asbestos, to the Wind | The Tyee Cassiar exposed residents to asbestos for 40 years. But little has been done to follow their health outcomes.

Although the health impacts of asbestos exposure are well studied, little is known about the long-term effects of living and working in Cassiar.

The consequences of asbestos exposure can take 20 to 40 years to fully appear.

@amandafollett.bsky.social reports. #bcpoli

When journalist Roger Stonebanks set out to write a book on BC labour hero Ginger Goodwin, he felt that too much already written was "second-hand stuff". So he mailed 50 letters to every 'Goodwin' in the South Yorkshire directory, until he found a relative. mailchi.mp/labourherita...

January 2026 Newsletter

Meet BC labour hero Ginger Goodwin's Yorkshire family in our latest newsletter.

# History Three more early films have been posted, all from British Columbia. Visit and enjoy! The Moving Past, www.themovingpast.com
Archival films made between 1918 and 1930, about life, work and technology from a century ago. Access is free, donations are appreciated. Thank you, David

Learn about the women in Okanagan fruit packing plants where long hours, low pay, occupational disease and accidents pushed them to unionize. The December newsletter is here. mailchi.mp/labourherita... 🍎💪

Ep.33 - Apple Box Belles - On the Line: Stories of BC Workers The hard-working women in the Okanagan Valley's bountiful fruit packing plants from the 1920s to the 1970s became known as the “Apple Box Belles”. While much has been written about Okanagan fruit-grow...

Meet Alma Faulds and Lydia Bastion, women who built union solidarity in the bountiful fruit packing plants of BC's Okanagan Valley. www.buzzsprout.com/1312528/epis...

The day Led Zeppelin became part of the union. Learn about the historic 1975 Led Zeppelin rock concert co-sponsored by striking CUPE union members at a Vancouver radio station. Welcome back, Robert Plant! www.labourheritagecentre.ca/collection/t...

Show support for the original fighters against fascism. Organizers of the Mac-Pap Tribute are asking for volunteers to visit the graves of veterans around BC in the days leading up to November 11. If you can help please send an email to macpaptribute@gmail.com with your location.

Abe Mortimer: Black athlete, storyteller | Article Learn about the beloved Black pioneer Abe Mortimer, lumber worker, union man, athlete, soldier, storyteller, and Hall of Famer.

Read about the beloved Black pioneer Abe Mortimer, lumber worker, union man, athlete, soldier, storyteller, and Hall of Famer. www.labourheritagecentre.ca/collection/a...

October 24, 2005, BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) ended their two-week strike that defied a back-to-work order. Other unions, including CUPE school support workers, had walked off in sympathy. Mediator Vince Ready's recommendations were enough to end the impasse. Joshua Berson photos.

"Your ability to survive as a worker is through the union. There's no other way." - Vince Ready, miner, union organizer and renowned mediator.

New to the Oral History Collection. Find it at https://buff.ly/4ghTIqx

Interview: Fred Wilson, Creation of Unifor | Video Fred played an active role in the anti-globalization movement. He tells the story of the New Union Project and his role in it, which created the Unifor, largest private sector union in Canada, from…

The Trade Union Research Bureau was a singular organization in BC, opening its doors in 1945 with roots back to 1920. Created by Bert Marcuse, Eric Bee, and Emil Bjarnason, TURB provided research and advocacy. Fred Wilson worked at the TURB in the 90s. www.labourheritagecentre.ca/.../fred-wil...

Out to Fight Controls | Article Read about the one-day national general strike in 1976 when a million workers brought the country to a standstill.

On Thanksgiving, October 14, 1975, fretting over sky-high inflation and soaring wage increases, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announced Canada’s first peacetime wage controls. www.labourheritagecentre.ca/collection/o...

Three women standing with sign that reads On Strike C.L.C. - B.C.Fed. - N.U.P.G.E.

In 1977, ferry workers were the Marine Services component of @bcgeu. On April 27, 1979, @bcfmwu became the sole bargaining agent for all ferry workers, including licensed officers. This decision finally brought all ferry workers into one organization. 2/2

Three women standing on picket line. Sign reads Marine Services BCEU On Strike.

October 7, 1977 BC ferry workers defied a government-imposed cooling-off period and went on strike against the 'new' BC Ferries Corporation. The workers stayed out until they had an acceptable negotiating process in place. 1/2

Go behind the seams of Vancouver's garment industry! Join the "Lunch and Learn" Thursday, October 9. The October newsletter has all the goods on sweatshops and radical journalism. mailchi.mp/labourherita...

Episode 10: 'Pins & Needles' - A 1930's Garment Workers' Musical - On the Line: Stories of BC Workers In September 1938, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) brought their theatrical musical hit “Pins and Needles” to Vancouver, BC, where it played to glowing reviews. Among the…

The cast of "plain, simple, common, ordinary everyday men and women who work hard for their living" were unionized garment workers from New York. 'Pins and Needles' received glowing reviews when this musical was performed in Vancouver in 1938.
www.buzzsprout.com/1312528/epis...

Vancouver is not known today for its garment industry but some prominent factories (staffed largely by women), put the city on the map in the early part of the 20th century.
www.tickettailor.com/events/vanco...

Definitely worth listening to this episode on Amazon and Uber organizing in BC.

Episode 1: Joe Naylor - On the Line: Stories of BC Workers At the annual Miners Memorial Weekend held in Cumberland, British Columbia each June, participants lay roses at the grave of the famous labour martyr Ginger Goodwin. Nearby his distinctive headstone,…

An unsung hero of this province's early labour movement, socialist coal miner Joe Naylor took Ginger Goodwin under his wing and the two became fast friends. www.buzzsprout.com/1312528/epis...

Butchers pose in meat market.

Headline: Meatless Days Threatened by Packing House Strike

Headline: Rail workers refuse to move cars for Swift's

Headline: Packing plants in 16 cities shut down, meat counters running short

"NO MEAT, NO WORK" With three large packinghouses on strike in September 1947, the Woodworkers and Mine-Mill unions warned that if the strike wasn't resolved, logging and mining camps couldn't operate.

The strike was ended after a few tense weeks. The workers won an 11% raise.

Episode 2: The 1931 Fraser Mills Strike - On the Line: Stories of BC Workers Nearly 90 years ago, in the dark years of the Great Depression, union membership and the number of strikes in B.C. fell dramatically; but every now and then, against all odds, workers took a stand. It...

During a strike almost 100 years ago at Fraser Mills, French Canadian, British, Scandinavian, Japanese, Chinese, and South Asian sawmill workers showed unprecedented solidarity in the face of overwhelming odds, winning some, but not all, their demands. www.buzzsprout.com/1312528/epis...

Links to purchase and upcoming launches in the September newsletter. mailchi.mp/labourherita...

The Art of Solidarity: Labour Arts and Heritage in Canada

Leading from the Heart, Judy Darcy

35 Accords

John Horgan in his own words

Four great reads for your autumn bookshelf.

Episode 7: Bea Zucco's Fight for Silicosis Compensation - On the Line: Stories of BC Workers April 28th marks Canada's annual Day of Mourning. Of course, industrial accidents are not the only risk workers face; occupational diseases, brought on by hazardous workplace conditions, have also…

Occupational diseases from hazardous workplace conditions have claimed a terrible toll. In 1956, Bea Zucco fought for (and won) WCB benefits for her hardrock miner husband who was stricken with silicosis. www.buzzsprout.com/1312528/epis...

Former BCGEU President Stephanie Smith wanted people to say 'my union' not 'the union,' like it was something completely separate from them." She talks about this, as well as organizing, bargaining, and COVID-19.
See the whole interview here: vimeo.com/StephanieSmith

As the Ironworkers bridge collapsed around him, Ken Johnstone kept working. Read his story and more BC labour history in today's newsletter. mailchi.mp/labourherita...