#workfare

"Unemployed At Mass Meeting Decided To Continue Strike," Drumheller Review. May 17, 1934. Page 1 & 6. ---- At Tuesday afternoon's unemployed mass meeting held at the Wye grounds here, it was unanimously decided to continue the relief workers strike, until a showdown is secured with the Alberta Government. Different ones at meeting did not vote, but the show of hands from the crowd of one hundred and fifty demonstrated by the Central Council of the Unemployed, found favor with those present. One brave fellow put up his hand as against the motion to approve of the Central Council's recommendation to continue strike.

President George Moore gave a detailed report of Monday's conference with Relief Commissioner A. A. Mackenzie, the final outcome of which was that Mr. Mackenzie stated that nothing could be done until the relief workers went back to work.

James Fyfe, secretary of the Central Council, made a strong plea for continuance of strike, claiming that the entire Valley was solid for a continuance of strike. He stated that F. C. Moyer M.LA, had no intention of interfering in strike and claimed that there would be no let up on strike until the men's demands were met. He said there was not one scab in the Valley, while he added that the Central Council had received a telegram that three thousand relief work ers were on strike in Edmonton and were prepared to organize a march on Honorable O. L. McPherson to assist the Drumheller strikers. The ex-service men, he added, who had clubbed them two years ago had ask-ed them to be permitted to lead the mass parade being held on Thurs. day. He claimed the city merchants would honor their relief slips even though relief slips were not issued on May 16. He also advised that Mr. McPherson had advised the Central Council that there would be no relief slips issued on the sixteenth unless men went back to work,

F. C. Moyer, M.L.A, for the Drumheller constituency upon being ask-ed by the chairman to address meeting stated that so that there would be no misunderstanding he would say that he was in perfect accord with the Central Council of the unemployed, when they think that there are grievances, needing adjustment. How-ever, he added the whole difficulty is the ways and means to be taken to secure these adjustments. Mr. Moyer stated that he did not care if every man were against him, he would speak his mind. He did not believe the strike method to obtain the necessary adjustments, in fact he felt it was the wrong method in dealing with the government.

He had had a suggestion as regards a line of action but in view of the Edmonton relief workers, coming out on strike in sympathy with the strikers of the Drumheller Valley, it would be perfectly foolish of him to ask these on strike to go back, after they had called out Edmonton. He did not think that the men would get anywhere with the Government through their strike, while force would not have any influence on the Hon. Mr. McPherson. However, the Central Council had decided on strike and if after they found they could not secure anything through their strike, he would still be willing to talk things over with them, and do what he could, but, as long as strike methods were used he would make no proposals. At the conclusion of his talk, Mr. Moyer answered different questions regarding relief matters.

Albert Allen asked the chairman, if it was a fact that the merchants would give the relief goods during strike, without the usual relief orders from government and the statement previously made that merchants were solidly behind strikers was qualified by one of the strike committee, who stated merchants would help them, but could not do it indefinitely and the merchants did not want to feel sore if they had to cease helping them.

A parade will be held through the city on Thursday, to the Provincial relief headquarters in the provincial building, slips have not been is-sued. President Moore stated it would be a peaceful parade, with no red flags, and with certain returned men heading parade carrying union Jack.

By Stephen Millies

Both Giuliani and Trump were made national figures by the capitalist media. The same newspapers and magazines that are now mocking Giuliani were for years his biggest cheerleaders. They ignored his racist campaign to defeat David Dinkins, who was the only Black mayor New York City has ever had. 

Camps for Trans-Canada highway workers, all of whom were unemployed men on relief in Ontario forced to build roads for their meagre welfare. All from the Toronto Star, issues of September 26, September 12 and October 2, 1931. 

Notably these photos have all been produced from negatives that were painted or retouched for publication.  

Toronto Public Library, Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

1) One of the box-like buildings of frame and tarpaper. A canvas top or tent will be placed over this to complete it. TSPA_0018484F.

2) Trans-Canada highway camps to house workers on the North Bay-Pembroke section of the Ontario route are nearing completion. TSPA_0018482F

3)  Forerunners of Highway camps; This board-walled tent camp is typical of those which probably will be built along the northern Ontario route of the trans-Canada highway to house the workers erecting buildings of a more substantial type for the road-workers. TSPA_0018481F.

Road Work, Verdun.  6 septembre 1938. Conrad Poirier, BAnQ, P48,S1,P2885.

"DRIVE LAUNCHED TO GIVE JOBS TO MANY VETERANS," Hamilton Spectator. July 11, 1933. Page 7. ---- Salvage System is Successful in Toronto ---- Capt. Osborne-Dempster Proposes It Here ---- Men Are Removed From Dependence on Relief ---- A plan that will take 50 war veterans off relief immediately, and which, it is hoped, will take off at least twice that number, is to be launched in this city within the next week, Capt. W. J. Osborne-Dempster, M.C., head of the Veterans' Salvage Corps, of Toronto, announced yesterday. With arrangements completed for warehousing and a market for their goods, it only remains for the welfare board to forward the names of 50 veterans on relief to the Salvage Corps headquarters and the work will start. The plan is to have a squad of veterans call on householders throughout the city and arrange with them to collect their old news-papers, magazines, rags and bottles, and when lists are prepared at least six truck drivers will be sent by the welfare commissioner to the salvage corps for collecting the waste material. The collection will be made daily the same as the unit is working in Toronto, and where in seven weeks $2,000 in material has been gathered. The men work on a percentage basis, with 87 cents of every dollar being paid to employees, while the 13 cents goes for overhead, such as rentals for ware-housing, telephone expenses and other incidentals.

Successful. in Toronto When Captain Denipster started this work in Toronto, where at present about 300 veterans are employed, he found that the salvage of the city was not even scratched and estimates that at least five dollars' worth of material is thrown out every year by householders of any city. The salvage corps also wishes it understood that they do not interfere with commercial enterprises which are contracted to collect material from firms, but only wish to collect articles which are at present wasted and which could make money for men on relief. The business is run on a strictly cash basis, as the material is sold every night, with nothing held over.

“Le secours direct ef l'entretien des rues,” La Presse. March 10, 1933. Page 3. ---- On se demande pourquoi la ville, de ce temps-ci, n'emploie pas de huit à dix mille hommes pour maintenir les rues en bon état, plutôt que d'en engager que de 2,000 à 3,000? Ne pouvait-on former des équipes à même l'armée des chômeurs? La somme des secours directs eût été réduite d'autant.

Mais la ville répond que le Secours Direct coûte moins cher, un journalier à l'ouvrage gagnant en une journée ce qu'un chômeur reçoit en une semaine.

Et la neige? On la range le long de la chaine des trottoirs, quitte au soileil à faire sa part.