Items

• Women's Labour History Project Guide to the Collection (1978-1979) Prepared by Sara Diamond

  Women's Labour History Project Guide to Collection (1978-1979) prepared by Sara Diamond including women's labour history project interviewees and descriptions.
• Anne Marshall Interview

  An interview of Anne Marshall conducted by Sara Diamond. Marshall discusses her early life and move to B.C; her first introduction to trade unionism in 1924 when she met supporters of the Longshore strike at her waitressing job; protection and integration of immigrant workers; equal pensions for women; piecework; racism; wages and hours of work; policing the contracts.
• Suzie Fawcett Interview [Women's Labour History Project]

  An interview of Suzie Fawcett conducted by Sara Diamond. Fawcett discusses the difficulty of attaining training as a working class woman; waitress work at the Hotel Vancouver; working conditions in CNR owned hotels; the HREU’s attempt to organize the hotel in 1942; subsequent radicalization of staff; the Canadian Brotherhood of Railway and Transport and General Workers organizing CNR hotels; improvement in wages; Fawcett’s opposition to political unionism; raising two children while working full-time.
• Anita Anderson Interview

  An interview of Anita Anderson conducted by Sara Diamond. Anita describes how she and her sister’s politics and radicalization were influenced by the Longshore strike; Yugoslavian cultural activities in Vancouver; working as a busgirl; organizing waitresses with the Hotel and Restaurant Employee Union; blacklisting; the Yukon in the 1940’s.
• "Union Women Speak"

  This is a union-made newsletter that includes 5 articles: A union report of the Committees formation, a comparison of benefits of a union vs non-union member, union democracy, bank organizing, and leafleting.
• "Why is there so much month left at the end of the money?"

  A flyer by SORWUC that informs its members of the newly voted wage proposal, followed by a monthly budget estimation.
• "Join Us!"

  A flyer calling bank women workers to join the United Bank Workers union. It also discusses several benefits if join the union and answers FAQs.
• "is your paycheque a secret?"

  A flyer that discusses the lack of salary discussion from employers as an attempt to underpay women. It calls women to unionize and get protection as a group.
• Information Day on Women and Work

  A flyer of a full-day event timeline and information of a women's labor union event called "Information Day on Women and Work".
• "How Much Overtime Do You Do?"

  A flyer that cites office and bank workers' dissatisfaction with overtime work, as well as bargaining suggestions.
• "How many times have you been passed for promotion?"

  A flyer that discusses unfair job advancement that is gendered and insecure for seniored bank workers. It also lists suggestions for seniority acknowledgment.
• "But won't we have to punch a timeclock?"

  A flyer that talks about the benefits of unionization and calls for office workers to unionize.
• "A union means we go on strike?"

  A flyer that debunks myths about unon strikes like them being an economic problem or union organization automatically means workers on strike.
• United Bank Workers Report / Union Democracy? Try SORWUC!! / Bank Organizing / Leafletting Observed

  A report by Barb Ross from SORWUC Local #2 on a CIBC branch in Vancouver applying for unionization. An Article by Pat Barter from SORWUC Local #1. An Article by Mellody Rudd from AUCE Local #2. An Article by Anne Moody from AUCE Local #2. All written works expose the importance for women to union and the feminist weight of SORWUC.
• Update on the Bimini Strike

  An Article by Joan Woodward in Priorities Vol 5 Numer 12, December 1977. It provides more details on Bimini's strike, it explains the "fading away" operation from the employer through an interview with a waitress, Margot Holmes. The workers awere asking for benefits and a fair contract.
• Bimini's Strike

  An Article by Ardith Roscoe in Priorities Vol 5 Numer 11, November 1977. In the index page, the title appears as "Bimini's Strike" but on the article page it is "Boycot Bimini's." The article presents the begining of the strike, information on strike vote, and context to the actions.
• Priorities, August 1977: Letters re SORWUC Local 2

  A Letter by Tor (from Whitehorse) and a Letter by Elizabeth Godley (SORWUC's National Secretary) in Priorities Vol 5 Numer 10, October 1977. While the first letter is enthusiastic and projects hope from a waitress in Yukon, the second article works as a solidarity piece to the United Bank Workers (UBW).
• Victory for Women

  An Article by Cynthia Flood in Priorities Vol 5 Numer 06, June 1977. An article about bank workers rights as they received the right to unionize branch-by-branch.
• Wages Against the Housework; United Banks Workers

  A review by Ardith Roscoe and an interview by Sandra Boucher with Jackie Ainsworth and Dodie Zerr in Priorities Vol 4 Numer 12, December 1976. While the review discusses wages for houseworkers, the interview is about organizing banks in downtown Vancouver.
• Letters from the Cabinet's Wide Representation; Report from the NDP Women's Policy Conference

  A short letter (no author) and an article as report form by Melodie Corrigall and Shelly Dillon in Priorities Vol 1 Numer 09, September 1973. The letter lists the vast groups which the members are from. In Corrigall's part of the report, they present Jackie Ainsworth of WWA spoke about the attempted strike at Denny's––first strike of waitresses in 30 years.
• Women's Committee Policy Paper

  An article by the BC NDP Standing Committee on Women's Rights in Priorities Vol 1 Numer 08, August 1973. The article explores women's rights and fight in the party (NDP), as it lists the party's goals and claims the sexism that exists towards women outside and within the party.
• Shoppers Drug Mart/Don't Shop at Shoppers!!

  An article (creator withheld their name) in Priorities, Vol 1 Number 06, June 1973. It narrates the history of Shoppers strike in 1972-3.
• Denny's: the Picket Stops

  An article by Gillian Campbell in Priorities, Vol 1 Number 05, May 1973. Article provides updates on the case of strike action at Denny's.
• Women at Work

  An article by unknown writer in Priorities, Vol 1 Number 03, March 1973. A general view on labour action happening in BC at that time: Wardair Stewardesses' strike, Shopper's Drug Mart worker’s fight for unionize, and Denny's Restaurant boycott.
• Women In Focus Society

  Women In Focus (WIF) was a project of the University of British Columbia’s Women’s Office Collective. In September 1974, recent graduate Marion Barling with Jeanette A. Auger began a media production training program under that name. Financed by the Secretary of State, Women In Focus launched a series of workshops to train women in audio-visual production through the newly established community cable station, Cable 10. The aim was to produce a series of half-hour cable shows reflecting women’s experiences. The result were 32 episodes covering a broad range of topics. The Women In Focus series was broadcast on Cable 10’s 1975-1976 season and made up the Women In Focus Audio-Visual Library available through the Women’s Office at U.B.C.. In July 1976, Women In Focus was evicted by the Student Administrative Committee, citing the amount of space they occupied as being “untenably excessive.” Women In Focus moved to #4-45 Kingsway in the Johnson Block, sharing space with the Women’s Research Centre of the B.C. Women’s Studies Association. It relocated to #6 at the same address as “The Women In Focus Production & Distribution Centre”, Vancouver’s first all-woman media production and distribution centre. They were incorporated on July 4, 1977. Founding members were recorded as Marion Barling (Producer, Film & Video), Yvette Perrault (Community Organizer), Corinne Angell (Audio Technician), and Judi Morton (Journalist). WIF expanded their distribution catalogue over the next few years to include international works by “feminist women”, In 1979 they opened “Women In Focus Gallery” where they held regular exhibitions of visual art and media. WIF moved again in 1981 to 456 West Broadway, 2nd Floor, near Cambie Street where they operated until 1989. A 45% rent increase from their landlord, the City of Vancouver, forced them to move. Their final location was 857 Beatty Street. Women In Focus Society was dissolved in 1992.