Sisters of ‘78 strike a chord with audiences, by Kate Procter

 

The opportunity to attend plays at the Blyth Festival is one of my favourite things about summer in Huron County. The Canadian stories that have been told for 52 consecutive seasons on this stage help us to understand our history, community, and humanity in a way that seems more relatable than by simply reading about it. No matter what the story or the period, the plays always have a way of tying into our current moment, giving much to reflect on. 

The Sisters of ‘78 by Hamilton playwright Kristen Da Silva is a powerful play telling the history of a group of Huron County women that I knew nothing about, but their courage and determination had a huge impact on women and all workers across the country. They changed Canadian labour law forever, as they fought for better wages, safer working conditions, union security, and protection from sexual harassment. The play brought this struggle alive and reminded us of attitudes and conditions for women that many of us can still relate to. 

“Widely recognized as a pivotal moment in both Canadian women’s history and Canadian labour history, the Fleck Strike reshaped conversations about workplace dignity, solidarity, and collective power,” described the Blyth Festival theatre program. “Their struggles feel remarkably contemporary, even decades later,” writes Mary Francis Moore, the play’s director. The sold-out show and audience reactions throughout reveal both the power of the story and the actors’ ability to bring it to life.

Fleck was an auto-parts plant in Centralia that made wire harnesses, which were then used locally in Ford plants. Most of the employees were women and the plant was referred to as the “butchershop” locally because of the number of injuries sustained by the workers. Along with low wages, the women were also subject to sexual harassment by male supervisors, rats and mice on the factory floor, and broken toilets. Many of the workers were young, unskilled, and working to support their children at a time when women were challenging traditions around marriage, work, and their own autonomy.

The strike lasted 163 days – 80 women walked off the job while 40 stayed and were bussed in past the striking workers. As the women were intimidated on both sides whether they went on strike or not, it was easy to see the dilemma and challenges as they struggled to find the best ways to support their families. In a small community, it was impossible to escape the tension as everyone was connected through families, church, sports, and even buying groceries.

The pressure mounted against the strikers, whose average age was 21. By the second month, 500 police officers in full riot gear were brought in to intimidate the striking women and their supporters. The Ontario police spent millions of dollars to police the strike, using helicopters and officers with cameras on rooftops.  Eventually, the women discovered that James Fleck, then the Ontario Minister of Industry and Tourism, was a part owner of the plant. 

The strike drew attention and support from United Auto Workers (UAW), the New Democratic Party (NDP) and feminist groups across the country. It marked a turning point for women, leading the UAW to fight for stronger protection for their female members. Eventually the striking workers won their fight, bringing greater union protection and more equal treatment regarding pay, better working conditions, and improved safety within the plant. Their strike influenced labour laws that are still protecting workers today. 

The Blyth Festival shines at bringing history to life by paying attention to the details. Clothing, sets, and especially music all help transport the audience to a specific moment in time. As various hits from the mid 1970s belted out from the speakers, recognition throughout the audience was obvious as people moved to the music. Applause and singing erupted as people got caught up in the story and related to the emotions behind the fight. Several people in the audience had participated in the strike themselves. 

At a time when division throughout our country and world feels like it is increasing daily, this play strikes a chord as it reminds us of the importance of community and fighting for what we know is right. People on both sides of the picket line were motivated by providing for their families and fear of retribution by a powerful company. “The play reminds us that progress often happens not through grand gestures, but through quiet acts of courage: speaking honestly, standing up for oneself, or daring to imagine a different future,” writes Moore. 

In case you missed the show at Blyth – you can still catch it as it is going on the road and playing at the Aquarius Theatre in Hamilton from September 30 to October 17. More at theatreaquarius.org. ◊