Labour History Association Newsletter, 1977-1982

The Labour History Association was formed within the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) in 1976. It produced this series of newsletters which remain a valuable source of labour history in British Columbia.They focus on promoting and integrating labour history into the British Columbia education system.

Key topics covered include:
● Historical Events and Movements:
○ The Great Depression, including events like the On-To-Ottawa Trek and the Regina Riot.
○ “Bloody Sunday” (June 19, 1938) and its commemoration.
○ Significant strikes and unionization efforts in various industries such as fishing (e.g., the 1936 Rivers Inlet strike) and mining
○ The history and activities of unions
○ Discussions on child labour in Canada.
● Key Figures in Labour History:
○ The publications frequently feature articles and reports by and about prominent figures.
○ There are pieces on historical figures such as
■ Al Parkin (a labour journalist)
■ Ginger Goodwin
■ Helena Gutteridge
● Educational Resources and Curriculum Development:
○ A significant portion of the content is dedicated to providing resources for teachers, including lesson plans on topics like
■ “Bloody Sunday”
■ “Fishermen and Unions”
■ “A Great Debate”
● Union Statistics and Reports: The newsletters include statistics on unions and reports on union activities, such as Quebec Teachers negotiating in a Common Front.
● Oral History and Local History: There is an emphasis on collecting and sharing oral histories, as seen in interviews (e.g., with Syd Thompson), and promoting the use of local and regional resources for teaching labour history.

In 1983, the Labour History PSA ceased to exist and turned over its assets to the BC Social Studies Teachers’ Association. These materials were digitized by the BC Teachers’ Federation in 2019.