Bøger af Graphic History Collective

Before the Golden Age of comic books, there was Mr. Block: a bumbling, boss-loving, anti-union blockhead, brought to life over a hundred years ago by subversive cartoonist Ernest Riebe.A dedicated labour activist and member of the Industrial Workers of the World, Riebe dreamed up his iconic, union-hating anti-hero to satirize conservative workers’ faith in the capitalist system that exploits them. This wickedly funny anthology of Riebe’s writings and comics is a treasure trove of radical 20th-century art and an essential addition to the bookshelves of comics lovers, historians, and labour activists alike.As income inequality skyrockets and the collective power of the working class is undermined, the lessons from Mr. Block’s misadventures and misbeliefs are as relevant today as ever. Building the new world from the ashes of the old demands many tools—and laughter will always be one of them.

Au mois de mai et juin 1919, plus de 30 000 travailleurs et travailleuses de Winnipeg, au Manitoba, quittent leur emploi. Ils mènent une grève pour diverses raisons -- de meilleurs salaires, le droit à la négociation collective, et plus de pouvoir pour la classe ouvrière. Les grévistes font les manchettes des journaux nationaux et internationaux, et ils inspirent d'autres travailleurs à mener des grèves de solidarité dans de nombreuses autres villes canadiennes. La grève générale de Winnipeg, qui aura duré six semaines, se solde finalement par une défaite. Elle est violemment écrasée par la police, en collusion avec des représentants de l'État et des dirigeants commerciaux de Winnipeg. Cent ans plus tard, la grève générale de Winnipeg demeure l'une des grèves les plus déterminantes de l'histoire du Canada. Cette bande dessinée revisite la grève pour présenter aux nouvelles générations les nombreuses leçons que l'histoire de la classe ouvrière a à offrir, notamment le pouvoir de la lutte des classes et de la solidarité, ainsi que la détermination des gouvernements et des patrons à employer des tactiques musclées pour écraser les mouvements ouvriers. La grève générale de Winnipeg est un rappel brutal que la classe ouvrière et la classe dominante n'ont rien en commun, et que l'État n'a pas peur de se couvrir les mains de sang pour protéger les intérêts du capital. Face à cela, les travailleurs et les travailleuses doivent compter les uns sur les autres et lutter ensemble pour faire renaître de ses cendres un monde nouveau, plus juste.

"After suffering the hardships and horrors of the First World War, workers and soldiers faced the agony of the post-war Canadian economy. With rising inflation, unprecedented unemployment, and an increasingly repressive state, the atmosphere was ripe for revolt. The Russian Czar had been overthrown just eighteen months ago and workers had revolution on their minds. On May 15, 1919 more than 30,000 workers in Winnipeg, Manitoba walked off the job and began a general strike that would last six weeks and change the course of Canadian history. The strikers' demands began with higher wages, collective bargaining rights, and more power for working people. As sympathy strikes broke out and more workers joined the call, the Winnipeg Strike Committee became a de-facto government Like so many labour actions before and since, the strikers were met with a violent end. On "Bloody Saturday" the Royal North-West Mounted Police charged into the crowd, killing two workers and injuring dozens more. One hundred years later, the Winnipeg General Strike continues to be a poignant reminder of the power of the state and capital over workers' lives and the brutal ends governments and bosses have and will use to crush workers' movements, and an inspirational example of the possibilities of class struggle and solidarity."--

Art has always played a significant role in the history of the labour movement. Songs, stories, poems, pamphlets, and comics, have inspired workers to take action against greedy bosses and helped shape ideas of a more equal world. They also help fan the flames of discontent. Radical social change doesn�t come without radical art. It would be impossible to think about labour unrest without its iconic songs like "Solidarity Forever" or its cartoons like Ernest Riebe's creation, Mr. Block.In this vein, The Graphic History Collective has created an illustrated chronicle of the strike--the organized withdrawal of labour power--in Canada. For centuries, workers in Canada--Indigenous and non-Indigenous, union and non-union, men and women--have used the strike as a powerful tool, not just for better wages, but also for growing working-class power. This lively comic book will inspire new generations to learn more about labour and working-class history and the power of solidarity.