A Victoria contributes to Canadian history records with the release of his second book about the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919.

Michael Dupuis is a retired history teacher and historian whoB次元官网网址檚 been interested in the strike since 1973, when he did his masters thesis on the subject at the University of Ottawa.

The Winnipeg General Strike saw nearly 30,000 men and women walk off the job to demand higher wages, improved working conditions, a 44-hour work week and collective bargaining rights. The strike brought leaders together from across Western Canada, and while their efforts would ultimately fail at the time, Dupuis said it was a turning point in the country for labour and middle class rights.

B次元官网网址淚 realized this strike was a real good example of employers who had everything B次元官网网址� they had money, they had power B次元官网网址� and the workers were second class, a resource that was exploited,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he strike lasted six weeks. They held out.B次元官网网址�

His latest non-fiction book titled, The Winnipeg General Strike B次元官网网址� Ordinary Men And Women Under Extraordinary Circumstances, is a follow-up to his first book on the same subject. Published in 2014, WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 General Strike B次元官网网址� Reports from the Front Lines, focused heavily on journalistsB次元官网网址� accounts of the event.

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He said the powerful members of Canadian society B次元官网网址� which often included the press B次元官网网址� painted the workers as radicals and communists.

B次元官网网址淭here was a lot of fear of them.B次元官网网址�

When asked how the impacts of the strike have lasted, Dupuis said the workers turned to political action.

They elected MLAs and mayors who supported their rights and some of the leaders in the labour movement formed a political party called the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), which in 1973 became the New Democratic Party.

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B次元官网网址淐ollective bargaining became more common after that too,B次元官网网址� he said, although there was a period of negative ramifications for business and workers in Winnipeg.

Dupuis is headed to Winnipeg in May for the 100th anniversary of the strike. He was invited by the provincial government to do some few talks and promote his book.

B次元官网网址淥nce one of these big things loses legs, it kind of drops off the radar. I have a feeling the same thing will happen after the 100th anniversary of the strike,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really honoured to have been invited. And the major force behind the commemorative activities is the labour movement.B次元官网网址�

Since his second book was released in December, it has sold nearly 1,100 copies. The Winnipeg General Strike B次元官网网址� Ordinary Men And Women Under Extraordinary Circumstances can be purchased at MunroB次元官网网址檚 Books and the Indigo at Mayfair Shopping Centre.

Dupuis has also done consulting work for historical movies and CBC television programs on subjects such as the Halifax Explosion and the Titanic.

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nina.grossman@blackpress.ca
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