Canadian unions have a long history of struggle and victories, dating back to the early 1800s.
Throughout the 19th century, education was a luxury and not a right. Most workers could not read or write and very few written records documenting their struggles and conditions exist today. The records we do have, however, show a big division between skilled (or “trade”) workers and unskilled workers. An unskilled worker usually could not earn enough money to house and feed a family. Women (paid half as much as men) and children (paid about one-third a man’s wage) worked to supplement the household income. Read more…