Vancouver's 'Red Menace'of 1935: The Waterfront Situation

Abstract

Focuses on the labour turmoil in Vancouver in 1935, in particular the communist/leftist-led strikes of relief camp workers and especially of longshoremen. Examines the hostility toward the strikers of the Vancouver mayor (who coined the term "red menace"), media coverage, and the employer-side Citizen's League. Argues that studies show that the rhetoric of red menace was greatly exaggerated and did not correspond to the reality of the workers' demands.