The David Yorke Labour History Collection: BC-Related Union Materials

The David Yorke Labour History Collection: BC-Related Union Materials is part of a larger collection that documents labour history across Canada and internationally. This sub-collection features dues buttons, delegate badges, convention ribbons, membership pins, agendas, photographs, constitutions, dues receipts, correspondence, pamphlets, and periodicals specifically related to labour unions in British Columbia. This content provides an emblematic history of local provincial organizations and illustrates the evolution of the provincial labour movement across the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. As the country, workforce, and economy grew, workers increasingly chose to align themselves with larger national unions.

The David Yorke Labour History Collection: BC-Related Union Materials is part of a larger collection that documents labour history across Canada and internationally. This sub-collection features dues buttons, delegate badges, convention ribbons, membership pins, agendas, photographs, constitutions, dues receipts, correspondence, pamphlets, and periodicals specifically related to labour unions in British Columbia. This content provides an emblematic history of local provincial organizations and illustrates the evolution of the provincial labour movement across the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. As the country, workforce, and economy grew, workers increasingly chose to align themselves with larger national unions.

Highlights

The David Yorke Labour History Collection: BC-Related Union Materials includes unions related to the province’s major industries—BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union, BC Electric Office Employees’ Association, BC Fruit and Vegetable Workers’ Union, and BC Loggers Union. Large public sector unions such as the British Columbia Government Employees Union, BC Teachers Federation, and BC Nurses Union are also represented. The BC Federation of Labour which played an active role in organizing and strike support, education, and campaigns on social issues and labour standards protection is also included. This content offers insight into the political and sociocultural landscape of British Columbia and illustrates the contribution of labour unions to the improvement of workers’ everyday lives. Researchers will be able to trace how local provincial organizations positioned themselves against or in collaboration with other provincial, national, and international labour organizations.

Copyright and Terms of use

  • This work is protected by copyright in Canada unless its copyright has expired. The user is responsible for doing their own assessment.
  • You may use this work as permitted by applicable licenses, fair dealing, and other exceptions under copyright legislation in your jurisdiction. For guidance on seeking further permissions, contact SFU Special Collections and Rare Books (scrb@sfu.ca).

Acknowledgements

SFU Library gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre's B.C. History Digitization Program.

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Displaying 76 - 90 of 445

B.C. Federation of Labourt C.C.L. Ninth Convention 1953 visitor ribbon.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCFed1944-Ribbons-SB49.10-12-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1953-01-10 to 1953-01-11
Description: Visitor ribbon from 9th annual B.C. Federation of Labour (C.C.L.) convention.

B.C. General Employees' Union BCGEU 1944-

MsC-222_Yorke_BCGEA-Felt-SB3.1-01-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1944 to 1969
Description: British Columbia Government Employees' Association pins and buttons. Top row: Five sterling members' pins. Bottom two rows: 20 year membership pin; Life member; past local president pin; convention delegate medals, Victoria 1955, Vancouver 1956; ornamental fob; badge for BC centennial 1958; membership buttons.

B.C. Liberal cuts.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCEmployees-Buttons-SB30.1-83-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: BCGEU button protesting Liberal government cuts to the forest service.

B.C. Loggers' Union membership card: Andrew Nabb.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCLU-OBU-Card1-01-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1919-03
Description: Membership card for B.C. Loggers' Union

B.C. Loggers' Union membership card: H.B. Richardson.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCLU-OBU-Card2-01-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1919-01
Description: Membership card for B.C. Loggers' Union

B.C. Nurses' Union vote no!

MsC-222_Yorke_BCNurses-Buttons-SB29.3-05-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 2001-06-05
Description: BCGNEU bargaining button advocating for a no vote on June 5, 2001.

B.C. Teachers' Federation.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCTeachers-Buttons-SB31.5-69-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: BCTF button with image.

Back to the table.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCTeachers-Buttons-SB31.4-27-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: Button advocating for returning to the bargaining table.

Banking on a future for Canada Post.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCTeachers-Buttons-SB31.1-012-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: CUPW button.

Bargaining for our future.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCTeachers-Buttons-SB31.5-12-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: BCTF bargaining button.

BC Ferries.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCFMWU-Buttons-SB30.2-06-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: BCFMU button.

BC Nurses' Union Update

MsC-222_Yorke_BCNurses-Text01-01-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 2006
Description: Spring 2006 issue of B.C. Nurses' Union Update periodical.

BCFL lobby to Victoria against Bill 39

MsC-222_Yorke_BCFed1944-Photo01-01-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1947
Description: Photograph of B.C. Federation of Labor members lobbying against Bill 39in Victoria, B.C., in 1947. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act (ICA Act, Bill 39, that aimed to restrict the rights and activities of labour unions.

bcgeu

MsC-222_Yorke_BCEmployees-Buttons-SB30.1-32-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: BCGEU button.

bcgeu

MsC-222_Yorke_BCEmployees-Buttons-SB30.1-61-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: BCGEU button.