The Canadian Seaman's Union was a

trade union A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

which organized among sailors. Affiliated with the

Trades and Labor Congress of Canada The Trades and Labor Congress of Canada was a Canada-wide central federation of trade unions from 1886 to 1956. It was founded at the initiative of the Toronto Trades and Labour Council and the Knights of Labor. It was the third attempt at a n ...

, it was established in 1936 and gained prominence during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. After the war, it was red-baited and crushed by opposition from the Canadian government, shipping companies, and the

Seafarers' International Union The Seafarers International Union or SIU is an organization of 12 autonomous labor unions of mariners, fishermen and boatmen working aboard vessels flagged in the United States or Canada. Michael Sacco was its president from 1988 until 2023. Th ...

Presidents

:1935: Pat Sullivan :1947: Harry Davis

References

Defunct trade unions in Canada Trade unions established in 1936 Trade unions disestablished in 1950 Seafarers' trade unions Water transport in Canada 1936 establishments in Canada {{Canada-trade-union-stub