Union Zindabad! — South Asian Canadian Labour History in British Columbia

W
e are honoured to have been entrusted
by the South Asian Studies Institute at
the University of the Fraser Valley to undertake
this research. Never has the history of South
Asian Canadians and their relationship to the BC
labour movement been studied in this manner.
I am personally grateful to Dr Anushay
Malik whose knowledge of South Asian history
provided background and context of which
we would not otherwise have been aware. Her
enthusiasm and expertise have been invaluable.
Bailey Garden, the BC Labour Heritage
Centre’s Project Manager has been relentless in
her encouragement, excitement and talent in
shaping the book and the accompanying exhibit.
Henry John, Kaden Walters, Al Lundgren and
John Mountain at the IWA Archives also deserve
our appreciation for passionately preserving the
union records we were able to draw upon for
research. Our thanks also to Craig Berggold for
his generosity with the Canadian Farmworkers
Union Collection and connecting us with many
individuals from that historic period.
The ground-breaking research conducted for
this project has both benefited from and been
challenged by the immensity of the task. By
necessity, the result of our work over the past
year is an overview. We accept these limitations
Preface
and are satisfied to leave many avenues open for
future study and research.
The stories of working people in British
Columbia have historically been overshadowed
by traditional colonial and capitalist-centered
narratives. Our archives and history texts are rich
in praise of the capitalists and owners, while woefully
short of stories of the workers whose labour
created the province’s wealth.
We are also painfully aware that the labour
movement in BC was a willful participant in
early racist attitudes, exclusionary policies and
actions. We cannot shy away from this fact.
History records mistakes as well as triumphs. We
acknowledge these mistakes and we commit to
ensuring they are not repeated.
The South Asian Canadian population in
BC has a long and complex relationship with
the labour movement. From early exclusionary
practices to a recognition that racism is a tool
of the boss to divide workers, the tenacity and
strength of the community has always been forward
looking. As a result, the labour movement
has benefited from strong South Asian Canadian
leaders, activists and members.
Donna Sacuta
Executive Director
February 2022
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