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The Local Labour Council Throughout The Years

The workers however, had had enough. The mayor was roughed up slightly, 15 strikers were arrested, 12 men and 3 women, stones were thrown, tomatoes, etc.

The President of the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada intervened and urged acceptance of Hepburn's offer.

The workers reluctantly returned to work. Most of the charges against the strikers were withdrawn or failed.

An aftermath of the strike was that one year later the plant was closed for four months before the outbreak of the Second World War and the buildings were given over to the wrecker's hammer. The only building remaining standing today is the old weave shed now used as a warehouse by the G. Wittaker Company. The original Woollen Mill in Peterborough, the oldest, was built in 1862-63.

Again a war came along to work its devious effects on the labour movement. In the years following the Dominion Woollens and Worsteds strikes industrial union organization had not progressed very rapidly in Peterborough. It took the Second World War with its consequent demands on manpower and production to give the needed stimuli to industrial union organization. One of the things that helped was that legislation in principle required an employer to give recognition to a union, where a majority of the employees desired it. The legislative provisions requiring the employer to bargain also assisted at that time.

It must also be noted that the changes in production demands and techniques, the change in employer attitude which eroded the craftsman principle and deemed the worker another tool in the production chain, thus bringing boredom to the workplace, also sharpened the appetite of the workers for a say in their wages, their working conditions, their health, their security and their future.

When industrial union organization came to Peterborough it came fast and many plants were organized. Notable among them were the Canadian General Electric, the Outboard Marine, the Quaker Oats Company, the Canada Packers Company, the Raybestos Brinton Carpet Company, Peterborough Canoe Company, Ovaltine, Western Clock Company, and others. Civic employee groups were also organizing into unions and the city outside workers and employees of the Sanitation Department were among those joining the throng along with the employees of Civic Hospital.

In early 1945 the organized workers of Peterborough again saw the need to have a central body for organized labour in the community and the Allied Labour Council of Peterborough and District was formed. The constitution is dated May 1st, 1945.

A rather faded picture from the Peterborough Examiner of 1946 shows a picture of the Council and lists the members of that day as follows: Fred Gandy, President; Mr. Gandy was a member of the Canadian Postal Employees Union. Bob Ward, United Electrical Workers, Corresponding Secretary; many old timers will remember Bob Ward. Albert E. Borland, Treasurer, Canadian Postal Union; Mr. Borland for many years was one of the strongest exponents of credit unionism and co-operatives in the central Ontario area. 0. R. Kidd, Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Employees, Corresponding Secretary; Mr. Kidd and Mr. Gandy were also the first labour representatives on the Peterborough Unemployment Insurance Board of Referees. W. Robinson, Local 524, U.E., C.I.O., Sergeant-at-Arms; S. J. Rowe, Local 22, Federated Association of Letter Carriers; G. A. Rowbotham, Local 140, C.B.R.E.; T. J. Stenton, Local 432, I.A.T.S.E.; H. C. Lord, District Council the Civil Service Union; W. J. Faiers, Mill Drivers Union, Local 883; Tom Markwick, Local 210, United Packinghouse Workers of America, C.I.O.; K.G R. Pound, Local 210, U.P.W.A., C.I.O.; 0. J. Meagher, Federated Association of Letter Carriers; P. Adamson, Local 432, I.A.T.S.E.; 0. Smith, C.B.R.E.; H. Keene, Mill Drivers Union, A.F.L.; S. R. Scott, Brotherhood of Express Employees; K. Sliter, Local 524, U.E., C.I.0.; G. N. Cowan, Trent Canal Employees; F. Wallwork, Local 248; International Typographical Union; H. Dormer, Local 248, International Typographical Union.

The Allied Labour Council was a sounding board for organized labour in municipal matters and a rallying point for organizational activities for a number of years. It is significant that the organized labour movement in Peterborough did not easily divide. The Allied Labour Council contained within its ranks members from international unions affiliated to the Congress of Industrial Organizations, also members from the American Federation of Labour and national unions affiliated to the Canadian Congress of Labour and the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada. The union movement in Peterborough worked harmoniously together when the union movement throughout North America was wracked with fratricidal strife. Eventually a division did develop for other reasons and the Council dissolved.