About 50 union members joined a Strike Tour on May First.
To celebrate International Workers Day, the Winnipeg Labour Council organized the free bus tour. WLC President Melissa Dvorak has been a huge supporter of remembering the Strike and promoting the lessons the strikers provide contemporary unionists.
The bus tour goes though Winnipeg where certain events took place during the Strike. Each location of the tour told a story about how the strikers confronted the exploitation of workers at the time. Tour guides were Melisa Dvorak (Winnipeg Labour Council), Kevin Rebeck (Manitoba Federation of Labour), Paul Moist (former national President Canadian Union of Public Employees) and Geoff Bergen (Canadian Labour Congress). Dennis Lewycky, author of Magnificent Fight, also helped dramatize the numerous personal stories embedded in the Strike history.
The Tour included a stop at the Ukrainian Labour Temple. Tim Gordienko spoke to the unionists about the immigrants who started the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians and how the Temple was built. He also described some of the recent renovations and how the community is using the facilities regularly now.
Participants on the Tour said they found hearing more about the Strike was inspiring. One person said she thought it was important to learn more about how social benefits and union rights got their start over a hundred years ago.
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