On this day in 1918, Canadian socialist and labor activist Albert "Ginger" Goodwin was murdered by police while avoiding his draft into World War I by hiding out in the hills of Cumberland, British Columbia.

Born in Yorkshire, England on May 10th, 1887, Goodwin immigrated to Canada in 1909, at the age of 19, working as a coal miner in Nova Scotia.

In Canada, he organized with the Socialist Party of Canada and became a notable labor leader during the 1912–1914 Coal Miner's Strike against Canadian Collieries. Following the strike, he was blacklisted and was forced to move away from Cumberland to find work.

In 1916, he joined the Mining and Smelter workers Union and was elected as Secretary for the Trail chapter. Following his involvement with trade unions, Goodwin entered politics running as a candidate for the Socialist Party of Canada in the 1916 British Columbian election, although he did not win.

As World War I broke out, Goodwin became an outspoken advocate against the draft, initially refusing to sign up. When conscription became law in 1917, Goodwin was classified as fit for military service even though earlier health concerns had previously rendered him temporarily unfit. By then he had enemies not only in management and the government but also in the union of which he had been president. After twice vainly appealing his reclassification, he and several other draft evaders hid in the bush near Cumberland, where they were provided with supplies by people from the town. Police Constable Dan Campbell tracked Goodwin down and killed him. Campbell was charged with manslaughter but was exonerated before a grand jury, meeting in camera.

Goodwin's friends, both then and in the years since, have pointed out many discrepancies in the official record. On the day of his funeral, August 2, the Trades and Labor and Metal Trades Council of Vancouver called all members out for 24 hours to protest "the shooting of Brother A. Goodwin." The overwhelming response gave BC its first general strike.

"War is simply part of the process of Capitalism. Big financial interests are playing the game. They'll reap the victory, no matter how the war ends."

  • Albert Goodwin

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  • Catherine_Steward [she/her]
    ·
    2 years ago

    less than an hour after burying my dog i get that call from HR informing me that I've been fired

    you cant make this stuff up lmao

      • Catherine_Steward [she/her]
        ·
        2 years ago

        i did say only a few days ago that i was disappointed i hadn't been fired, so it certainly doesn't hurt. but i was just thinking, like, damn, this would be the worst day of my life if i depended on that job for real

          • Catherine_Steward [she/her]
            ·
            2 years ago

            no idea yet. i was fired for walking out when my manager told me that he planned to go home early and that i wouldnt be allowed to stay for my entire shift. he said id have to leave at like 1 in the morning, which means calling my ride to wake her up in the middle of the night and drive for 20 mins to come get me. personally i dont think its reasonable to expect me to work for 3 hours of my 8 hour shift and then go home, especially under those specific circumstances, but that's for the government to decide at this point i guess