Feminist Advocates Hit the Picket Line: The Early Days of Shelter Work
(A study of Saskatoon Interval House)
At the end of June 1988, the fifteen workers at Saskatoon’s Interval House, one of Canada’s first shelters for women fleeing from domestic violence, voted in favour of striking.
The shelter’s Board of Directors retaliated by locking out the workers and threating to close the shelter.
Tense labour relations ensued for months.
What led the shelter workers to take such drastic action?
How did they merge their feminist activism with their fight for better working conditions?
This study is currently in its earliest stages. Dr. Quinlan is interested in speaking with former employees and board members.
If you worked at Saskatoon Interval House in the late 1980s or early 90s, and have memories you wish to share, please email: quinlanprojects@usask.ca
or call 306-227-4039.
Thank you.