New Westminster Waterfront Strike 1935
A strike by longshore workers in 1935 was a show of solidarity with other waterfront unions in Vancouver, Powell River, and Port Alberni in response to the Shipping Federation’s refusal to negotiate.
New Westminster’s mayor, Fred Hume, initially tried to mediate the dispute but later took a strong stance to keep the port open. Following a violent clash between Vancouver police and striking longshore workers at Ballantyne Pier in Vancouver on June 18, 1935, which involved tear gas, mounted police, and even machine guns, the situation became more polarized. In New Westminster, the city quickly formed a new labor association, the ‘Royal City Waterfront Workers’ Association, to replace the striking union members. A high fence was installed around Pacific Coast Terminals, manned by special constables, and strikebreakers were brought in.
The strike continued through the summer and fall, straining the small municipal police force. On September 3, 1935, twenty-one striking workers were arrested by the New Westminster Police, charged with intimidation and unlawful assembly, and spent a night in jail. These arrests were a deliberate effort to end picketing. The New Westminster Waterfront Workers Association eventually agreed to stop picketing in exchange for the charges against the arrested workers being dropped.
The Royal City Waterfront Workers Association later became International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 502 in 1944.
This booklet was written by Chris Madsen to coincide with the dedication of a heritage plaque in 2017. The plaque is located at Quayside Park, 1260 Quayside Dr, New Westminster, BC.