The Saint John Railway Company, controlled by MontrÄalers, was one of the region's more aggressive anti-union employers. When a branch of the Amalgamated Street and Electric Railway Employees Union was formed in May of 1914, union organizers were fired. The employees walked out in protest and the company attempted to maintain service with non unionized workers, prompting large scale demonstrations supported by the considerable might of the Saint John Trades and Labour Council. On 23 and 24 July, two street cars were overturned and their windows broken. The "riot" forced the company to recognize the union and reinstate the dismissed leaders. What had seemed impossible just days before was accomplished within hours of the demonstration.
As the service sector expanded and came increasingly under control of governments, public sector unionism assumed greater importance. Unionization there prompted discussion of public ownership in important services like electric power and urban transportation. In the process, society was forced to reconsider the limits of both government and union power as they related to economic development. The right to strike was one of the essential questions that had to be resolved.
