Toronto Trades and Labour Assembly

A Nine Hour Work Day

In the mid-19th century, there was no limit to the hours someone could work in a day. Many labourers worked long days, sometimes as long as 12 hours, six days a week. In February 1872, J.S. Williams, a local printer and the president of the TTLA, led a meeting where members agreed that work days should be shorter and standardised to nine hours.

The following month, Williams, along with other members of the Toronto Typographical Union, went on strike. A month later 10,000 workers and supporters paraded on the streets of Toronto to advocate for a nine-hour work day. Unfortunately, the current Ontario legislation allowed employers to send their workers to jail for disobedience or organising union meetings. The police arrested 24 organisers, including Williams, on a charge of conspiracy. The resulting public outcry led to the passing of the Trades Union Act, which legalised unions in 1872. Although the Toronto Typographical Union won their battle for a nine-hour work day, it would take until 1944 for the Government of Ontario to enact legislation for an eight-hour work day.

Toronto Trades and Labour Assembly

The Great Depression Work Test

Labour rights continued to play an important role in the development of welfare organisations during the 20th century. During the Great Depression, many Torontonians found themselves without work. Numerous organisations, including the East York Workers’ Association, and the Single Mens’ Unemployed Association, were created to promote the rights of the unemployed. By 1931, over 36,000 people (or 17% of the city’s wage earners) were unemployed in Toronto. The city’s charities could not keep up with the need. The situation became so bad that the Toronto Brick Company repurposed some of their brick kilns into beds for workers who were without a place to sleep.   

To provide more housing, local philanthropist J. Allan Ross funded the creation of a 600-bed shelter on Wellington Street. Conditions in the shelter were intentionally poor. As Albert Laver, Toronto’s Welfare Commissioner, stated “[we don’t] want to make it too comfortable for them.” This stemmed from concerns over “pauperism”, the belief that if the situation was too good people would continue to rely on the government instead of getting a job.

To further deter pauperism, the city created a work test for unemployed men living at these shelters. Unemployed men would receive food and shelter, but no wages, in exchange for working seven hours a week on city projects. In November 1938, a group of 300 men using Toronto’s shelter system protested the test arguing that they should be paid for their work. But the work test continued. After years of protest around the country, the Canadian government finally enacted a national unemployment insurance program in 1940. Although the program originally only covered 40% of workers, the program expanded over the course of the 20th century and continues to be an important part of the fabric of Canadian social welfare.

Toronto Trades and Labour Assembly

Worker’s Health and Safety

On March 17, 1960, five Italian-born labourers became trapped during the construction of a water main in Hogg’s Hollow, North York. Exposed to noxious gas, intense heat, and water, all five workers died. On March 31, a governmental investigation began into the Hogg’s Hollow Disaster. The inquest found that the construction company had pushed work ahead knowing that conditions were unsafe. The company also did not provide basic safety equipment, such as hard hats, or workplace training. Ultimately, the inquest concluded that the tragedy was largely preventable.

The Italian Immigrant Aid Society, along with members of the Italian immigrant community, raised funds for the families of the deceased, while local unions banded together to protest for better working conditions. In August 1960, local union leaders organised a meeting of 2000 workers at the Italian-Canadian Recreation Club on Brandon Avenue. This coalition of unions, known as the Brandon Group, led strikes across the city, including one in May 1961 that included highway and subway workers. As a result of the inquest and union outcry, Premier Leslie Frost created the Royal Commission on Industry Safety. Their report led to the creation of the Industrial Safety Act in 1964. The act ensured employers had to make reasonable efforts to ensure that employees were safe at work. This act also became the foundation for much of Ontario’s health and safety legislation today.

Toronto Trades and Labour Assembly

Additional Resources

Heron, Craig. “Toronto Trades Assembly.” Labour150, 2021.

Italian Fallen workers Memorial. Breaking Ground: The Hoggs Hollow Tragedy.

Toronto and York Region Labour Council Website, “Our History.”

UFCW. Early Union History Timeline.