Changes

The Provincial Workmen's Association began in 1879 as a miners' union; in 1898, faced by a challenge from the [[Knights of Labor]], it sought to embrace unions in all the industries of the province. The first local union of the [[United Mine Workers]] was established in 1908. After a struggle for control of the labour movement among the miners, the Provincial Workmen's Association was dissolved in 1917, and by 1919 the [[United Mine Workers]] had triumphed in the coal areas of the province. Success was credited to the aggressive leadership of legendary J. B. McLachlan (1869-1937), who left the coal mines of Scotland to migrate to Canada in 1902, became a Communist (1922 to 1936) and promoted a strong union and a tradition of independent labour politics. McLachlan’s battles with the American UMWA leadership, particularly the dictatorial [[John L. Lewis]], demonstrated his commitment to democratic unionism for the miners and a fighting union, but Lewis won and outsted McLachlan from power.<ref> Frank (1999)</ref>  Women played an important, though largely ignored, role in the union movement in Newfoundland's Cape Breton coal towns during the troubled 1920's. Women did not work in the mines but acted as family financiers and engaged in an array of other supportive activities. Women's labor leagues organized a variety of social, educational, and fund-raising functions. Women also violently confronted scabs, policemen, and soldiers. They had to stretch the food dollar and show inventiveness in clothing their families. In effect, the union movement relied extensively on women.<ref>Steven. Penfold, "'Have You No Manhood in You?' Gender and Class in the Cape Breton Coal Towns, 1920-1926." ''Acadiensis'' 1994 23(2): 21-44. Issn: 0044-5851  </ref>

The Provincial Workmen's Association began in 1879 as a miners' union; in 1898, faced by a challenge from the [[Knights of Labor]], it sought to embrace unions in all the industries of the province. The first local union of the [[United Mine Workers]] was established in 1908. After a struggle for control of the labour movement among the miners, the Provincial Workmen's Association was dissolved in 1917, and by 1919 the [[United Mine Workers]] had triumphed in the coal areas of the province. Success was credited to the aggressive leadership of legendary J. B. McLachlan (1869-1937), who left the coal mines of Scotland to migrate to Canada in 1902, became a Communist (1922 to 1936) and promoted a strong union and a tradition of independent labour politics. McLachlan’s battles with the American UMWA leadership, particularly the dictatorial [[John L. Lewis]], demonstrated his commitment to democratic unionism for the miners and a fighting union, but Lewis won and outsted McLachlan from power.<ref> Frank (1999)</ref>  Women played an important, though largely ignored, role in the union movement in Newfoundland's Cape Breton coal towns during the troubled 1920's. Women did not work in the mines but acted as family financiers and engaged in an array of other supportive activities. Women's labor leagues organized a variety of social, educational, and fund-raising functions. Women also violently confronted scabs, policemen, and soldiers. They had to stretch the food dollar and show inventiveness in clothing their families. In effect, the union movement relied extensively on women.<ref>Steven. Penfold, "'Have You No Manhood in You?' Gender and Class in the Cape Breton Coal Towns, 1920-1926." ''Acadiensis'' 1994 23(2): 21-44. Issn: 0044-5851  </ref>

In 1936 union organizers from the [[CIO]] launched a new successful organizing drive at the Dominion Steel Company (DOSCO) plant in Sydney under the auspices of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC). This effort drew the support of steelworkers in a way that previous organizing attempts had not. However, the militant and self-reliant traditions of the steelworkers collided with the cautious strategies and bureaucratic practices of the appointed SWOC leadership in the U.S. and Canada. As steelworkers at Sydney showed great solidarity in their struggle with DOSCO, they also resisted what they saw as undemocratic and highly accommodationist practices by the union's national and international leadership.<ref> Ron Crawley, "What Kind of Unionism: Struggles among Sydney Steel Workers in the SWOC Years, 1936-1942." ''Labour'' 1997 (39): 99-123. Issn: 0700-3862 </ref>  

In 1936 union organizers from the [[CIO]] launched a new successful organizing drive at the Dominion Steel Company (DOSCO) plant in Sydney under the auspices of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC). This effort drew the support of steelworkers in a way that previous organizing attempts had not. However, the militant and self-reliant traditions of the steelworkers collided with the cautious strategies and bureaucratic practices of the appointed SWOC leadership in the U.S. and Canada. As steelworkers at Sydney showed great solidarity in their struggle with DOSCO, they also resisted what they saw as undemocratic and highly [[accommodationist]] practices by the union's national and international leadership.<ref> Ron Crawley, "What Kind of Unionism: Struggles among Sydney Steel Workers in the SWOC Years, 1936-1942." ''Labour'' 1997 (39): 99-123. Issn: 0700-3862 </ref>  

After 1940 the labour movement has spread throughout Nova Scotia. Although most Nova Scotia branches affiliated with the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada after it first entered the province in 1902, there were a growing number of Canadian Congress of Labour affiliates in later years. In 1956 these two groups merged to form the Canadian Labour Congress. In 1987 there were about 105,000 union members, almost half of them affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress.

After 1940 the labour movement has spread throughout Nova Scotia. Although most Nova Scotia branches affiliated with the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada after it first entered the province in 1902, there were a growing number of Canadian Congress of Labour affiliates in later years. In 1956 these two groups merged to form the Canadian Labour Congress. In 1987 there were about 105,000 union members, almost half of them affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress.

Labour legislation includes the Canada Trade Union Act of 1872 which made labour organizations more respectable, and the Nova Scotia Trade Union Act of 1937. It established the right of employees to organize and set the procedure for collective bargaining. Laws regulating the conditions and terms of employment are contained in a Labour Standards Code passed in 1972.

Labour legislation includes the Canada Trade Union Act of 1872 which made labour organizations more respectable, and the Nova Scotia Trade Union Act of 1937. It established the right of employees to organize and set the procedure for collective bargaining. Laws regulating the conditions and terms of employment are contained in a Labour Standards Code passed in 1972.

===Historical resources===

===Historical resources===

Historical libraries, in addition to research library at Dalhousie University at Halifax, include the Public Archives of Nova  Scotia and  the Nova Scotia Legislative Library.  The museum of the  Public Archives of Nova Scotia exhibits important documents, paintings, and  relics of the province's history. Other museums include the Nova Scotia Museum,  the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, all at  Halifax; and fisheries museums at Lunenburg and at North East Margaree.  The six national historic parks are: Fort Anne at  Annapolis Royal, the site of early Acadian settlement; Fortress of Louisbourg,  on Cape Breton Island, with the ruins of a walled city erected by the French in  1720-  1740; Port Royal near Annapolis Royal, with a restoration of the  Habitation built in 1605; Grand Pre in "the Evangeline  country"; Alexander Graham Bell, with a museum, at Baddeck; and Halifax Citadel, at Halifax. Important historic houses and buildings include the Perkins House, at Liverpool, which was built in 1766;  the Ross-Thomson House, at Shelburne, which was erected in the 1780's; Uniacke  House, built at Mount Uniacke near Halifax, in 1813-1815; the Wolfville Historic House at Wolfville; and Clifton (Haliburton Memorial Museum), the Windsor home  of Judge Thomas Chandler Haliburton, author of the "Sam Slick" stories.

Historical libraries, in addition to research library at Dalhousie University at Halifax, include the Public Archives of Nova  Scotia and  the Nova Scotia Legislative Library.  The museum of the  Public Archives of Nova Scotia exhibits important documents, paintings, and  relics of the province's history. Other museums include the Nova Scotia Museum,  the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, all at  Halifax; and fisheries museums at Lunenburg and at North East Margaree.  The six national historic parks are: Fort Anne at  Annapolis Royal, the site of early Acadian settlement; Fortress of Louisbourg,  on Cape Breton Island, with the ruins of a walled city erected by the French in  1720-  1740; Port Royal near Annapolis Royal, with a restoration of the  Habitation built in 1605; Grand Pre in "the Evangeline  country"; Alexander Graham Bell, with a museum, at Baddeck; and Halifax Citadel, at Halifax. Important historic houses and buildings include the Perkins House, at Liverpool, which was built in 1766;  the Ross-Thomson House, at Shelburne, which was erected in the 1780's; Uniacke  House, built at Mount Uniacke near Halifax, in 1813-1815; the Wolfville Historic House at Wolfville; and Clifton (Haliburton Memorial Museum), the Windsor home  of Judge Thomas Chandler Haliburton, author of the "Sam Slick" stories.