1981 in Canadian Working-Class and Labour History (and things to look for in 1982)

Abstract

The last year was quite significant for Canadian work in this field. Three conferences of considerable importance highlighted the year and each was quite different. In addition the year brought significant developments for the two organi zations of labour historians in the country and for their publications. Finally the year brought recognition to the field for previous publications, saw a number of important new titles appear, and held out the promise of major works to appear in 1982. To begin with the conferences. The Third Blue Collar Workers Conference was held at McMaster University in Hamilton in May. This four-day conference brought together academics from numerous disciplines which was refreshing, but even more important it was also attended by numerous political activists and trade unionists. This mix had not worked well at the second conference held in Windsor in 1979, where there was much uncreative tension about the relevance of even po litically committed scholarship. These tensions were not apparent in Hamilton. In stead both academics and labour activists seemed to realize in the dreary and threatening economic and political climate that they had much to offer each other. Memorable sessions were held on contemporary shop floor struggles, on the la bour history of Hamilton (Canada's Pittsburgh), and on memories of the great steel strike of 1946. A social/political evening at The Steel workers Hall also rein forced the tangible reality of the contemporary scene as Hamilton's USWA mem bers were well on their way toward a bitter conflict with Stelco which culminated in a four-month strike.