Sedition, Labour Heritage Moment Video
In 1987, the Social Credit government in British Columbia introduced a new Labour Code that significantly impacted the labour movement. The new Code abolished the Labour Relations Board, replacing it with an Industrial Relations Council that held extensive authority to intervene in strikes and lockouts. It also rescinded union rights won over 50 years.
This video is part of our Labour Heritage Moments series.
Ken Georgetti describes the legislation as a direct infringement on free collective bargaining, predicting it would complicate the collective bargaining process, prolong strikes, and regress labour relations to the 1960s.
In response, the BC labour movement launched a strong counter-campaign, garnering public support through rallies across the province to persuade the government to amend the legislation. When their efforts to negotiate failed, they called a one-day general strike. Mike Dumler described it as an exceptionally successful event, drawing support from non-union workers and community groups that had no prior history of backing labour actions.
Premier Bill Vander Zalm retaliated with an unusual strategy on the day of the strike, serving several labour leaders with summonses. Georgetti recounted that his lawyer, John Baigent, informed him they were being charged with sedition, alleging an attempt to overthrow the government, to which Georgetti famously replied, “we’re just trying to overthrow the Labour Code!”. Mike Dumler recalled the headline “Labour leaders charged with seditious conspiracy” and immediately reassuring his family he wouldn’t go to jail.
Ultimately, the courts dismissed the case and ordered the government to cover the unions’ litigation costs. Despite the legal victory, the legislation was enacted. In response, the labor movement united to boycott the Code and actively campaigned to oust the Social Credit government. Their efforts proved successful, as the subsequent provincial election saw the New Democratic Party return to power with Mike Harcourt as Premier.