Political Organizing ~ Worker Organizing

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2022: Week 43 (ORGANIZED)

Earlier this month I attended the CUPE National Sector Conference in Ottawa on behalf of my union local. I am unsure how many were in attendance, but there were thousands across the different sectors.

"Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada's largest union, with 715,000 members across the country. CUPE represents workers in health care, emergency services, education, early learning and child care, municipalities, social services, libraries, utilities, transportation, airlines and more" 1

At this conference there were breakout rooms for each sector, and lots of cross-sector opportunities. We joined the Red Dress walk at the Parliament & came together to discuss diversity needs in the workplace. The energy was palpable.

I attended the library sector with about 40 other folks from libraries across Canada. The stories shared by my library colleagues were exactly the same regardless of community size or province. This was both sad and encouraging. 

My #1 takeaway from this conference was the issues we are dealing with in library can no longer be explained away as society problems. 

They are now library problems that need library solutions.

Not unexpectedly the talk turned to politics, and how politicians have the means and ability to make change. 

After that week we all returned with new ideas and thoughts about making a difference.

The ability to make change needs organizing. 

That is how the union movement first began - the need to ORGANIZE!

This got me to thinking about my great grandmother, Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson who was part of starting the political party, The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF),  when it was founded in 1932.

"The CCF aimed to alleviate the suffering that workers and farmers, the ill and the old endured under capitalism, seen most starkly during the Great Depression, through the creation of a Co-operative Commonwealth, which would entail economic co-operation, public ownership of the economy, and political reform." 2

Great grandma Elizabeth (some called her Lizzie) is the 2nd from the left in the front row wearing the white hat and shirt. 

This photo can be found all over the internet, in old books & encyclopedias, and on the wall of my home.

"The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) was founded in Calgary in 1932 as a political party to represent progressive farmer, socialist and labour forces, and to implement their agenda of nationalization of key industries, universal old-age pensions, health insurance, children’s allowances, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation and other social welfare measures. J. S.Woodsworth, a long-serving Member of Parliament and social welfare activist, became the CCF’s first President at its initial convention in Regina in 1933. At the provincial level, the CCF government in Saskatchewan implemented important social welfare measures in 1944, and the first provincial medicare plan in 1962. At the federal level, the CCF never formed a national government, but its policies contributed greatly to the national hospital and medical services insurance programs." 3

"After much discussion, the CCF and the Canadian Labour Congress decided to join forces to create a new political party that could make social democracy more popular with Canadian voters. This party, initially known as the New Party, became the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1961." 4

I became a fan of the NDP before I was old enough to vote after meeting Corky Evans who was not yet the MLA for my Kootenay hometown of Nelson.  

I met Corky on the step of my first rented apartment. 

He was going door to door for the upcoming election. 

When I said I wasn't old enough to vote he didn't treat me like a child. 

He continued to talk to me like I had value to the political movement of the day. He stood there with static cling causing his pant leg to be attached to his sock about 4 inches up his leg. 

I was fascinated by this man who was a politician, actually wanted to hear what I had to say, and didn't appear to care about his static cling. 

The next day I contacted his campaign office to ask about volunteering.

This was the first time I got an inside look at the election process, but it wasn't the last. I have spent many election nights with an inside look volunteering for my candidate of choice often hauling my family members along. 

In researching for this blog I discovered that Corky didn't win that night. 

For me that obviously didn't matter since I hadn't remembered. 

I'm sure he felt differently!

I believed the NDP messaging then & I still do. 

I didn't realize I followed in my great grandmother's footprints.  

I also didn't realize that Corky ignited in me a passion to try to make a difference in the world I live in. 

I wonder if that was his intent when he talked to that too young to vote young person on the steps that day. 

In 2002 my sons & I visited Great Grandma Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson. 

We spent some time honouring her life with flowers & cleaned her grave marker. 

The CCF wasn't without controversy. 

If you are interested in learning more about how and when the CCF became the NDP or the history of the party check the sources below. 

When you discover your ancestor's impact on the world as you see it!!!

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1 About Us. CUPE. Canadian Union of National Employees. Retrieved October 25th 2022 from https://cupe.ca/about-us

2 Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Wikipedia.  Retrieved October 25th 2022 from 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-operative_Commonwealth_Federation

3 Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Canadian Museum of History. Retrieved October 25th 2022 from 
https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/hist/medicare/medic-2k03e.html

4 Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Wikipedia.  Retrieved October 25th 2022 from 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-operative_Commonwealth_Federation

Sources:

The CCF’s Regina Manifesto, Canadian Dimension. Originally published May 7th 2018, Retrieved October 28th 2022 from
https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/the-regina-manifesto-1933-co-operative-commonwealth-federation-programme-fu

Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Learning. CBC History. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from 
https://www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP13CH3PA1LE.html

Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (1932-08-01 - 1961-08-02). Profile. Political Parties. House of Commons. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from
https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/Parties/Profile?partyId=2027

Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/co-operative-commonwealth-federation

Co-operative Commonwealth Federation political party, Canada. Brittanica. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from 
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Co-operative-Commonwealth-Federation

Corky Evans. Wikipedia. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corky_Evans

A Study in Continuity and Change. The CCF in Saskatchewan. Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan. Originally published February 2nd 1943. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from
https://www.saskarchives.com/CCF_in_Saskatchewan

What Does the CCF Stand For? Maclean's Magazine. Originally published September 1st 1943. Retrieved October 28th 2022 from
https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1943/9/1/what-does-the-ccf-stand-for

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

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