One hundred years ago today labour icon Ginger Goodwin led a strike at the Trail smelter.
Goodwin was then secretary of the Mill and Smeltermen’s Union and a BC Federation of Labour vice-president.
In November 1917, the union demanded an eight-hour day for all smelter workers, down from nine hours. When the company balked, 1,500 men walked off the job.
The strike lasted more than a month during which smelter workers received no wages.
They finally capitulated and returned to work.
Meanwhile, although Goodwin had been declared unfit for military duty, during the strike was reclassified as fit. He went into hiding.
The following year he was shot and killed by a special constable near Cumberland, prompting BC’s first general strike.
The provincial government ultimately legislated the eight-hour day for smelter workers which took effect in 1919.
