VOTING FOR ONE BIG UNION: APRIL 1919

Though opponents of the general strikes that occurred in May, 1919, would label them  an OBU-led conspiracy, One Big Union organization did not precede their outbreak. The Western Labour Conference from March 13 to 15 merely endorsed the idea and supported a referendum among union members along with election of a committee for “carrying out the necessary propaganda to make the referendum a success.” The referendum was held throughout April by 188 union locals, mostly in western Canada, who enrolled 41,365 workers. The votes went 24,239 to 5975 in favour of creating the OBU. Arrangements were made for a founding convention on June 4.  But well before that convention, the OBU idea inspired workers who believed that organizational class solidarity was required to win social justice for workers.