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 136 - 150 of 445

CUPW the fight begins now!

MsC-222_Yorke_BCTeachers-Buttons-SB31.1-026-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: CUPW button.

Current disputes: volume 36, number 11. September 22, 2011.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCFed1956-Text14-01-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 2011-09-22
Description: B.C. Federation of Labor Current Disputes newsletter (v. 36 n. 11, September, 2011) detailing current strikes and lockouts.

Cut the cuts.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCTeachers-Buttons-SB31.4-07-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: Button protesting cuts to Vancouver Community College (VCC).

Cuts hurt! Restore women's services.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCEmployees-Buttons-SB30.1-37-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: BCGEU protesting funding cuts for women's services.

Defend the right to strike.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCTeachers-Buttons-SB31.1-013-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: CUPW button.

Defend the right to strike.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCTeachers-Buttons-SB31.1-019-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: Button defending the right to strike for postal workers.

Diane Wood for President.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCEmployees-Buttons-SBTB53.23-04-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: BCGEU campaign button for Diane Wood for president.

Diane Wood.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCEmployees-Buttons-SBTB53.23-18-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: BCGEU campaign button for Diane Wood.

Diane.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCEmployees-Buttons-SBTB53.23-05-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: BCGEU campaign button for Diane Wood.

Diane.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCEmployees-Buttons-SBTB53.23-22-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: BCGEU campaign button for Diane Wood.

Did you know…

MsC-222_Yorke_BCMWU-Text01-01-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1983
Description: Pamphlet advocating for fairness in wages published by B.C Ferry and Marine Workers' Union.

Diversity solidarity strength.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCEmployees-Buttons-SBTB53.23-09-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: BCGEU campaign button for Diane Wood.

Do not contract out our children's future.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCTeachers-Buttons-SB31.4-09-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: Button protesting contracting out.

Don't buy any Seagram's products.

MsC-222_Yorke_BCFED1956-Text08-01-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1975
Description: Brochure describing 1975 lockout of 240 workers at Seagram's B.C. distillery.

Don't importune me!

MsC-222_Yorke_BCTeachers-Buttons-SB31.1-006-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: Unknown year in the century of the 1900s to Unknown year in the century of the 2000s
Description: CUPW button.