Labour Heritage Moments

In 2002, BC’s Liberal provincial government broke its promise to healthcare workers by tearing up their collective agreements, paving the way for widespread contracting-out and privatization in health care. This video is part of our Labour Heritage Moments series.

Ginger Goodwin's murder is a cornerstone of BC's labour history, resonating for over a century. Goodwin is remembered as BC’s first labour martyr, a leader who took a principled stand against a war he didn't believe in, advocating instead for...

The story of the "Bows and Arrows" Indigenous longshoremen is a prominent part of BC's labour history. A significant portion of British Columbia's early workforce until the late 19th century was Indigenous, excelling in various physically demanding jobs including mining,...

In the 1960s, court injunctions became a prevalent tactic used by employers to control labour. This led to frequent jailings of union leaders for defying these injunctions. Sean Griffin humorously recounts a common anecdote of a judge granting an injunction...

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...

The Great Depression of the 1930s severely impacted British Columbia, leading to a widespread economic collapse and mass unemployment across Canada. Many young men traveled to the West Coast, seeking refuge from the hardship in the milder climate. This video...

In 1983, the British Columbia Social Credit government announced the closure of the Tranquille Institution in Kamloops, BC, a facility housing over 300 residents with developmental disabilities, as part of a broader cut in social services. This video is part...

Asbestos is the leading cause of death in today’s workplace. Because diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis can take decades to appear, it will continue to be a killer for many more years. This video is part of our Labour...

In the 1940s, British Columbia's sawmills and logging camps were marked by racial division and discriminatory policies targeting workers of Chinese, Japanese, and South Asian descent, often supported by the labour movement at the time. The International Woodworkers of America...