Albert "Ginger" Goodwin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Albert Goodwin May 10, 1886 Treeton, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | July 27, 1918 (aged 31) "Mount Ginger Goodwin" west of Cumberland, British Columbia, Canada |
| Cause of death | Single gunshot/head trauma |
| Resting place | Cumberland cemetery 49°38′15″N 125°00′24″W / 49.637485°N 125.006775°W |
| Monuments | Memorial headstone |
| Other names | Ginger Goodwin |
| Citizenship | British-Canadian dual national |
| Occupation(s) | Coal miner, labour activist |
| Years active | 16 |
| Known for | Advocacy of workers' rights, his controversial death, martyrdom |
| Political party | Socialist Party of Canada (SPC) |
| Movement | Labour |
| Criminal charge | Evading conscription into the Canadian Army |
| Criminal penalty | State-ordered apprehension |
| Criminal status | Killed during apprehension |
Albert "Ginger" Goodwin (May 10, 1887–July 27, 1918), nicknamed Ginger for his bright red hair, was a migrant coal miner who advocated for workers' rights and promoted the cause of unions in British Columbia, Canada.[1] Angered by the working conditions in coal mines, Goodwin sought to increase wages and improve working conditions, and fought companies that disregarded workers' rights.[2] He participated in and led multiple strikes, and served as a delegate for the British Columbia Federation of Labour and as an organizer for the Socialist Party of Canada.[3] In the years following his increased activism and involvement with labour unions, Goodwin fell under scrutiny for his opposition to military conscription during World War I. He was killed by a police officer in 1918.[3] There is debate on whether Goodwin was a victim of murder or if his death was the result of the officer's self-defence.[1] His death sparked a one-day general strike in Vancouver on August 2, 1918, which was the first general strike ever held in Canada.[3] The strike was a precursor of the Winnipeg general strike of 1919 and other labour conflicts.
- ^ a b Stonebanks, Roger. (2004). Fighting for dignity : the Ginger Goodwin story. St. John's, NL: Canadian Committee on Labour History. ISBN 1894000064. OCLC 53305977.
- ^ Parker, Keith (Spring 1997). "Ginger Goodwin: Union Organizer". B.C. Historical News. 30: 24.
- ^ a b c Leier, Mark (1997). "Plots, Shots, and Liberal Thoughts: Conspiracy Theory and the Death of Ginger Goodwin". Labour/Le Travail. 39: 215–224. doi:10.2307/25144113. ISSN 0700-3862. JSTOR 25144113. S2CID 142190350.