BC Labour Heritage Centre
@bclhc.bsky.social
Working people and their unions in BC. https://www.labourheritagecentre.ca
Show support for the original fighters against fascism. Organizers of the Mac-Pap Tribute are asking for volunteers to visit the graves of veterans around BC in the days leading up to November 11. If you can help please send an email to macpaptribute@gmail.com with your location.
November 5, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Show support for the original fighters against fascism. Organizers of the Mac-Pap Tribute are asking for volunteers to visit the graves of veterans around BC in the days leading up to November 11. If you can help please send an email to macpaptribute@gmail.com with your location.
October 24, 2005, BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) ended their two-week strike that defied a back-to-work order. Other unions, including CUPE school support workers, had walked off in sympathy. Mediator Vince Ready's recommendations were enough to end the impasse. Joshua Berson photos.
October 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
October 24, 2005, BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) ended their two-week strike that defied a back-to-work order. Other unions, including CUPE school support workers, had walked off in sympathy. Mediator Vince Ready's recommendations were enough to end the impasse. Joshua Berson photos.
In 1977, ferry workers were the Marine Services component of @bcgeu. On April 27, 1979, @bcfmwu became the sole bargaining agent for all ferry workers, including licensed officers. This decision finally brought all ferry workers into one organization. 2/2
October 7, 2025 at 11:37 PM
In 1977, ferry workers were the Marine Services component of @bcgeu. On April 27, 1979, @bcfmwu became the sole bargaining agent for all ferry workers, including licensed officers. This decision finally brought all ferry workers into one organization. 2/2
October 7, 1977 BC ferry workers defied a government-imposed cooling-off period and went on strike against the 'new' BC Ferries Corporation. The workers stayed out until they had an acceptable negotiating process in place. 1/2
October 7, 2025 at 11:37 PM
October 7, 1977 BC ferry workers defied a government-imposed cooling-off period and went on strike against the 'new' BC Ferries Corporation. The workers stayed out until they had an acceptable negotiating process in place. 1/2
Go behind the seams of Vancouver's garment industry! Join the "Lunch and Learn" Thursday, October 9. The October newsletter has all the goods on sweatshops and radical journalism. mailchi.mp/labourherita...
October 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Go behind the seams of Vancouver's garment industry! Join the "Lunch and Learn" Thursday, October 9. The October newsletter has all the goods on sweatshops and radical journalism. mailchi.mp/labourherita...
Vancouver is not known today for its garment industry but some prominent factories (staffed largely by women), put the city on the map in the early part of the 20th century.
www.tickettailor.com/events/vanco...
www.tickettailor.com/events/vanco...
September 25, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Vancouver is not known today for its garment industry but some prominent factories (staffed largely by women), put the city on the map in the early part of the 20th century.
www.tickettailor.com/events/vanco...
www.tickettailor.com/events/vanco...
"NO MEAT, NO WORK" With three large packinghouses on strike in September 1947, the Woodworkers and Mine-Mill unions warned that if the strike wasn't resolved, logging and mining camps couldn't operate.
The strike was ended after a few tense weeks. The workers won an 11% raise.
The strike was ended after a few tense weeks. The workers won an 11% raise.
September 11, 2025 at 6:12 PM
"NO MEAT, NO WORK" With three large packinghouses on strike in September 1947, the Woodworkers and Mine-Mill unions warned that if the strike wasn't resolved, logging and mining camps couldn't operate.
The strike was ended after a few tense weeks. The workers won an 11% raise.
The strike was ended after a few tense weeks. The workers won an 11% raise.
Four great reads for your autumn bookshelf.
September 7, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Four great reads for your autumn bookshelf.
Former BCGEU President Stephanie Smith wanted people to say 'my union' not 'the union,' like it was something completely separate from them." She talks about this, as well as organizing, bargaining, and COVID-19.
See the whole interview here: vimeo.com/StephanieSmith
See the whole interview here: vimeo.com/StephanieSmith
September 4, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Former BCGEU President Stephanie Smith wanted people to say 'my union' not 'the union,' like it was something completely separate from them." She talks about this, as well as organizing, bargaining, and COVID-19.
See the whole interview here: vimeo.com/StephanieSmith
See the whole interview here: vimeo.com/StephanieSmith
As the Ironworkers bridge collapsed around him, Ken Johnstone kept working. Read his story and more BC labour history in today's newsletter. mailchi.mp/labourherita...
September 4, 2025 at 5:18 PM
As the Ironworkers bridge collapsed around him, Ken Johnstone kept working. Read his story and more BC labour history in today's newsletter. mailchi.mp/labourherita...
This weekend, we gathered in Nanaimo to unveil a plaque remembering the 23 workers who were killed in 1951 when an airplane taking them home from the ALCAN project in Kitimat crashed. It was an event that shook the entire province. With gratitude to those who shared this solemn occasion.
August 17, 2025 at 8:57 PM
This weekend, we gathered in Nanaimo to unveil a plaque remembering the 23 workers who were killed in 1951 when an airplane taking them home from the ALCAN project in Kitimat crashed. It was an event that shook the entire province. With gratitude to those who shared this solemn occasion.
Read about the Nanaimo airplane crash that killed 23 workers in 1951. The passengers and crew were returning to Vancouver from the ALCAN construction project in Kitimat. The crash will be remembered with a new heritage plaque on August 16. mailchi.mp/labourherita...
July 31, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Read about the Nanaimo airplane crash that killed 23 workers in 1951. The passengers and crew were returning to Vancouver from the ALCAN construction project in Kitimat. The crash will be remembered with a new heritage plaque on August 16. mailchi.mp/labourherita...
Coln talks about that experience in his oral history interview, and he brought in this copy of the B.C. Building Tradesman magazine for us to see.
July 21, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Coln talks about that experience in his oral history interview, and he brought in this copy of the B.C. Building Tradesman magazine for us to see.
Ginger Goodwin's headstone at the Cumberland Cemetery has received a facelift. Unauthorized alterations and vandalism have been corrected, as has the date of Goodwin's death. It will be another 6-8 months before the cleaning process is complete.
We expect the sandstone will look like new again. 1/2
We expect the sandstone will look like new again. 1/2
July 18, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Ginger Goodwin's headstone at the Cumberland Cemetery has received a facelift. Unauthorized alterations and vandalism have been corrected, as has the date of Goodwin's death. It will be another 6-8 months before the cleaning process is complete.
We expect the sandstone will look like new again. 1/2
We expect the sandstone will look like new again. 1/2
"The more forcefully you exclude us, the more we are exploited by the capitalists." Japanese Camp and Mill Workers' Union wanted to be included in the labour movement in order to combat Asiatic Exclusion, but were refused. Learn about this story in our July newsletter. mailchi.mp/labourherita...
July 4, 2025 at 1:06 AM
"The more forcefully you exclude us, the more we are exploited by the capitalists." Japanese Camp and Mill Workers' Union wanted to be included in the labour movement in order to combat Asiatic Exclusion, but were refused. Learn about this story in our July newsletter. mailchi.mp/labourherita...
June 25, 1919 the Winnipeg General Strike came to an end. Workers in BC who supported the Winnipeg strikers returned to work, with the notable exception of the Vancouver's women telephone operators, who remained out for another 13 days.
Praise came from the labour press. #bclab #bchist #labourhist
Praise came from the labour press. #bclab #bchist #labourhist
June 27, 2025 at 4:20 AM
June 25, 1919 the Winnipeg General Strike came to an end. Workers in BC who supported the Winnipeg strikers returned to work, with the notable exception of the Vancouver's women telephone operators, who remained out for another 13 days.
Praise came from the labour press. #bclab #bchist #labourhist
Praise came from the labour press. #bclab #bchist #labourhist
Listen to three women who were the first to drive transit in Vancouver. Unlike wartime workers in shipyards and factories, these women kept their jobs after World War II, thanks to their union. This, and much more in today's newsletter! #bchist #bcpoli mailchi.mp/labourherita...
June 6, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Listen to three women who were the first to drive transit in Vancouver. Unlike wartime workers in shipyards and factories, these women kept their jobs after World War II, thanks to their union. This, and much more in today's newsletter! #bchist #bcpoli mailchi.mp/labourherita...
Promo Code VFC25NEVER
June 3, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Promo Code VFC25NEVER
HAPPENING TONIGHT IN VANCOUVER. On the 90th Anniversary of the start of the On-To-Ottawa Trek, Juan Bello's documentary featuring hundreds of archival photographs will be shown at the VIFF Centre. 1/3
June 3, 2025 at 4:36 PM
HAPPENING TONIGHT IN VANCOUVER. On the 90th Anniversary of the start of the On-To-Ottawa Trek, Juan Bello's documentary featuring hundreds of archival photographs will be shown at the VIFF Centre. 1/3
Though military use left the Blair Rifle Range severely contaminated, read how the property was part of0 the social upheaval of the Great Depression when it was a relief camp for single unemployed men. #bchist #bclab #unions Read the whole story: www.labourheritagecentre.ca/wordpress/wp...
May 31, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Though military use left the Blair Rifle Range severely contaminated, read how the property was part of0 the social upheaval of the Great Depression when it was a relief camp for single unemployed men. #bchist #bclab #unions Read the whole story: www.labourheritagecentre.ca/wordpress/wp...