Undated button of the Food and Service Workers of Canada (FASWOC). FASWOC represented the cleaners, almost all Portuguese immigrant women, who went on strike at the First Canadian Place in Toronto in 1984. After six weeks, the strike ended in victory.

Honouring Portuguese Immigrant Cleaners’ Activism on Labour Day

Rise Up is pleased to encourage and facilitate the growing interest among current researchers, educators, and activists in the rich history of feminist activism in Canada from the 1970s to 1990s. An important example is the impressive labour mobilization of the Portuguese immigrant office-cleaners in 1970s and 1980s Toronto

Filed under: immigration, racialized & women of colour, work & labour

Date published: