Topic 3: Unionization

Why did workers in Quebec begin to form unions in the late 19th century?

Working conditions in plants and factories were difficult:

Workers worked between ten and twelve hours a day, six days a week

most workers earned less than $10. a week

factories employed women and children and paid them lower wages

employers were not concerned with the health and security

of their workers

Unionized workers would go on strike to try and improve their working conditions. Many of
these were brutally repressed since neither the church nor the government supported the
union movement. The union movement did eventually have an impact on labour legislation in Quebec.

In 1885, the Quebec government passed laws which

prohibited employers from hiring girls under the age of 14 and boys under the age of 12
limited working hours to 60 hours for women and children and 72.5 hours for men

Try the following questions on unions and social changes (emigration, urbanization, unionization) in Quebec following the first phase of industrialization.