Charles McGregor Stewart and Peter Campbell Munro

Street Railwaymen’s Union

Download Charles Stewart and Peter Munro, Part 1 [00:55:08] (.mp3)

Download Charles Stewart and Peter Munro, Part 1 transcript (.pdf)

Download Charles Stewart and Peter Munro, Part 2 [01:01:48] (.mp3)

Download Charles Stewart and Peter Munro, Part 2 transcript (.pdf)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a joint interview with Charles McGregor Stewart (1891-1968) and Peter Campbell Munro (1887-1971), who were active in the Street Railwaymen’s Union in Vancouver, British Columbia in the early decades of the 20th century. There are two unidentified interviewers, who are believed to be Paul Phillips and Bill Piket. A woman’s voice can be heard in places. In Part 1, Stewart and Munro discuss the impact of World War One on jobs and labour’s response to conscription in 1916. Munro relates the story of Ginger Goodwin’s shooting and the one-day general strike on the day of his funeral. The interview also includes discussion on the formation and activities of the One Big Union (OBU) and its relationship with the American Federation of Labor (AFL). They also touch on several strikes by the Street Railwaymen, including the sympathy strike with Winnipeg strikers in 1919. Internal differences in the union and the labour movement are also covered. They discuss their personal involvement in the labour movement and political organizations, including the Communist Party, the Socialist Party of Canada, support for the Canadian Labor Party, the CCF (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation) and the recently formed New Democratic Party. They discuss anti-Oriental sentiment in the early labour movement, and offer their perspectives on this issue.

Keywords (Part 1):

Street Railwaymen, Amalgamated Association of Street Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employees of America, conscription, First World War, B.C. Electric, motormen, Strikes, OBU, One Big Union, AFL, American Federation of Labor, Ginger Goodwin, Magnus Sinclair, Tim Buck, Bill Mahon, Roly Gervin, Barry Mather, Jack Harrington, Winnipeg General Strike, telephone operators, Vancouver Trades and Labor Council, Socialist Party of Canada, Canadian Labor Party, anti-Oriental, Machinists’ Union, organizing, racial prejudice, CCF (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation), NDP, New Democratic Party, Federated Labor Party, FLP, Independent Labor Party, ILP

Part 2 includes discussion of the relationship between the left-wing unions and the unemployed organizations during the Great Depression. Attempts by the unemployed organizations to gain representation on the Vancouver Trades and Labor Council were often rejected on the grounds that the organizations were affiliated with the Workers’ Unity League. Other topics include the impact of conscription during World War One and its effect on the labour movement. The speakers relate their experiences with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in the United States, including events in Spokane, Washington, and Butte, Montana.

Stewart was expelled twice from the Vancouver Trades and Labor Council due to his membership in the Communist Party.

Keywords (Part 2):

Street Railwaymen’s Union, unemployed organizations, unemployed councils, Block Committees, Central Council of the Unemployed, Depression, Hungry Thirties,  Tag Days, Prince Rupert, Relief Camp Project Workers Union, Workers Unity League, Socialist Party of Canada, conscription, Hod Carriers and General Laborers’ Union, Ginger Goodwin, The Clarion, The Red Flag, Communist Party, Industrial Workers of the World, IWW, Montana, Spokane, Butte, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Frank Little lynching, One Big Union, OBU, B.C. Electric Railway, longshoremen’s unions, Vancouver Trades and Labor Council, All-Canadian Congress of Labor, ACCL, BC Federation of Labor, post office sit-down, Reverend Matheson, Reverend Roddan, Church of the Open Door, expulsions, red-baiting, roadmen, international unions, Percy Bengough