Arvida Strike (1941)

Thu Jul 24, 1941

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Image: Alcan facilities in Arvida, Saguenay (Quebec, Canada).

On this day in 1941, 700 workers from the aluminium company Alcan in Arvida, Québec went on a wildcat strike - more than 4,500 workers illegally occupied the factory the next day and had to be forced out with federal troops.

The catalyst for the strike were cuts from pay envelopes the previous day, as well as a stifling heat wave. Since the industry had been classified as essential to the war effort, the strike was illegal under federal law.

When the Minister of Munitions and Supply told the press that 300 men had seized the factory and “enemy sabotage” was suspected, two companies of soldiers were sent to Arvida to “protect” the factory.

Work resumed four days later, with negotiations taking place with the union acting as an intermediary. The company made amends several days later by giving a slight increase in salaries and cost-of-living bonuses.