Labour History - Photographs

Group photo of members of IWA Local 1-357 walking the picket line at North Mitchell Lumber in Agassiz.

Partial list of 72 unions and MLAs who supported the franchise for South Asian Canadians in 1947.

Newspaper clipping titled, "Labour leader to address Sikhs," published on The Province, January 12 1943, 5. more

Election results regarding the Yukon Lumber, published in The Barker.

Photo of the International Woodworkers of America (I.W.A) delegation to the B.C Legislature in Victoria to demand voting rights for South Asians. The delegation was sponsored by the I.W.A in 1943. The delegation includes Didar S. Bains, Naranjan S. Sidhu, Naginder S. Gill (Secretary of the Khalsa Diwan Society), Garib S. Lehli, Phangan S. Gill, Sir Harold Holland, Harold Pritchett, Mohinder S.… more

The story at a glance published by the BC Lumberworker.

International Woodworkers of America BC Locals map by the BC Labour Heritage Centre.

Pamphlet titled, "Beware: Racial and Religious Hatred Seeks to Destroy Trade Unionism," by the Canadian Congress of Labour. more

Canadian Congress of Labour pamphlet titled, You Belong to a Minority.

Photo of Ranjit Singh and delegates at the IWA District Council No. 1 Convention in Vancouver. Ranjit Singh, seated at right, received an enormous ovation from delegates when he contrasted the Canadian and Indian labour movements.

Photo of Tara Singh Bains with two unidentified individuals.

Photo of BC Teachers' Federation President, Jinny Sims, speaking to supporters at one of the many rallies held during the 2005 teachers' strike. more

Group photo of Siddoo family and other women at the Kapoor Sawmill in Burnaby, BC. Kartar K. Sangha (standing at right) is identified as the company cook.

Group photo of Harry Bains, 3rd Vice President (standing third from the left) and unidentified IWA executives.

Preparing wedding geat, Sikh Temple, Paldi in 1955.

Group photo of women and children in Paldi, BC. The community consisted entirely of workers and families at the Mayo Lumber Company.

Group photo of IWA Shop Stewards at Richmond Lumber.

Photo of IWA members during a protest.

Group photo of South Asian hospitality union members during strike against Toigo's White Spot. Many South Asian women became members of unions in the hospitality industry, working in hotels and restaurants such as White Spot. more

Photo of United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union (UFAWU) members at the union meeting in Steveston.

Windermere Unit members turned up at Trizec Corp. head office in downtown Vancouver in April to demonstrate against the corporation's racist practices. The workers were protesting the higher wages being paid to white non-union people at the Vancouver health care facility during the strike. more

Photo of unidentified women processing pickled herring in Richmond, BC.

Portrait of Surjit Brar, member of Hospital Employees' Union. more

Photo of farmworkers protesting for justice and demanding their own union.

Photo of United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union shoreworkers strike.

Photo of South Asian strawberry pickers in the Fraser Valley, BC.

Photo of farmworkers' cabins in the Fraser Valley, BC. more

Photos of Jim Kinnaird, Mike Kramer, and Gerry Stoney addressing a union meeting. Jim Kinnaird, BC Federation of Labour President, Mike Kramer, BC Federation of Labour Secretary- Treasurer and Gerry Stoney (bottom left photo), President of IWA Local 1-357 (New Westminster) addressed a union meeting. Stoney was the key connection between the CFU and the BC labour movement.

Photo of CFU organizers, Raj Chouhan and Judy Cavanaugh.

Photo of Raj Chouhan (at microphone) and Charan Gill (seated).

Photo of Farm Workers' Organizing Committee (FWOC) meeting in the Fraser Valley, BC. The main objective for the FWOC was to expose the conditions of farmwork for seasonal workers in the Fraser Valley. The approach was to work with farmworkers, to lobby the government and to undertake public education. more

Contract system eliminated at Bell Farm, The Canadian Farmworkers Union bulletin. The agreement was a major breakthrough for seasonal farmworkers as it provides an end to the labour contract system at this farm.

Contract system eliminated at Bell Farm, The Canadian Farmworkers Union bulletin. The agreement was a major breakthrough for seasonal farmworkers as it provides an end to the labour contract system at this farm.

Photo of Farm Workers' Organizing Committee rally. more

Photo of unidentified farm workers during protest in Abbotsford, BC.

Photo of women farmworkers protesting for better working conditions.

Photo of a series of Canadian Farmworkers Union buttons. The rising sun button was the new CFU logo designed by President Raj Chouhan and unveiled at the first convention.

Photo of a trailer with posters of Canadian Farmworkers Union, Fraser Valley, BC.

Photo of unidentified individuals from the Vancouver Sath Theatre. Vancouver Sath Theatre Collective performed two plays 'A Crop of Poison' and 'Picket Line' (both written by Sadhu Binning and Sukhwant Hundal) for the CFU cultural programme called Picket Line Tour. Over 1,000 people attended four venues in the Fraser Valley. 'A Crop of Poison' (Jahar di Fasal) is… more

Photo of Canadian Farmworkers Union (CFU) members during a union protest. Sarwan Boal was savagely beaten on his way home from a banquet celebrating the union's first certification at Jensen Mushroom Farm in July. more

Portrait of Farm Workers Organizing Committee President, Raj Chouhan, stands in front of vandalized storefront office window.

Photo of unidentified women in discussion.

Poster by Canadian Farmworkers Union inviting volunteer tutors to teach English to farmworkers.

Victories, Canadian Farmworkers Union. CFU's short summary of activities for six months in 1982. more

Bhangra Giddha dancers at CFU Anniversary Celebration.

Newspaper clipping from Pacific Tribune titled, Rally urges labour action on racism.

Public meeting invitation, Canadian Farmworkers Union.

Photo of Raj Chouhan, President of Canadian Farmworkers Union, speaking as a delegate at the BC Federation of Labour Convention.

Photo of Canadian Farmworkers Union representatives at the 1983 Solidarity Rally at Empire Stadium.

Public meeting invitation in Lao language, Canadian Farmworkers Union.

Photo of protestors of BC Organization to Fight Racism outside of the office of Social Credit Premier, Bill Vander Zalm, MLA.

A report of the B. C. Human Rights Commission on the farmworkers & domestic workers by the Human Rights Commission of British Columbia.

This is a racisim-free zone sticker, BC Federation of Labour.

Cover page of BC Federation of Labour news, Vol 1, No. 3 dated September 1980. Includes a front-page image of a local Ku Klux Klan rally in 1980. This publication was distributed to every union in the province.

Photo of South Asian drivers at Yellow Cab one-day strike. Indo-Canadian drivers at Yellow Cab stage a one-day strike in protest over racist comments from a supervisor, reflecting a long-standing practice of racism at the cab company. The drivers, members of the Ad Hoc Committee of Lower Mainland East Indian Taxi Drivers and Owners, were supported on the picket line by BC unions.

Photo of South Asian truckers and independent owner-operators at the protest convoy from Abbotsford to Surrey in a campaign to stop trucking companies from whipsawing drivers to push wage rates down.

Photo of protestors at the International Longshore and Warehouse Union rally at the Portside Park.

Photo of South Asian, Japanese and Caucasian workers at Seymour Lumber Company in North Vancouver.

Photo of sawmill workers at Seymour Lumber Company in North Vancouver.

Photo of International Woodworkers of America (IWA) members at the final membership meeting of Local 1-217.