Buster Foster

Harold “Buster” Foster was born in the early 1900’s. He was married in the 1920s in Alaska while working for Premiere Gold Mines. He was an engineer when he was burned in an accident in the 1930’s and was forced onto relief. During both World Wars he worked in the shipyards. He participated in the 1919 solidarity with with One Big Union in B.C. By WWII he was a steward for the union and supervised 35-40 women in the shipyards. He became a representative for the International Association of Machinists.

Audio Interview [1979]

Description

Foster discusses his accident and the relief system; life during the depression for an unemployed family man; harassment by social workers; working in the shipyards through both World Wars; the B.C. 1919 solidarity strike with One Big Union; supervising women during WWII; his concerns about two people in a family working when a shortage of jobs; the no-strike pledge and events leading up to the International Association of Machinists 7-day job action; the Richards Commission; conflicts in the I.A.M. over Canadian autonomy and control by the International over Canadian funds and policy.

Transcription

Full interview: Foster, Buster
Excerpts by Subject: Foster, Buster

Title: [Buster Foster – 1/4]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Foster, Buster

Subject: Women–Employment–British Columbia ; Women labor union members–British Columbia ; Women–Employment–British Columbia–History–20th century

Date Created: 1979-06-06

Type: Audio recording

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 audio cassette

Format: audio/mp3

Language: English

Identifier: OBJ_628_sideA_01

Is Part Of: Sara Diamond fonds

Series: Women’s Labour History Project

Source: Original Format: Simon Fraser University Archives. Sara Diamond fonds

Rights: Media provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy or otherwise use of this media must be obtained from the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archives.

Title: [Buster Foster – 2/4]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Foster, Buster

Subject: Women–Employment–British Columbia ; Women labor union members–British Columbia ; Women–Employment–British Columbia–History–20th century

Date Created: 1979-06-06

Type: Audio recording

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 audio cassette

Format: audio/mp3

Language: English

Identifier: OBJ_628_sideB_01

Is Part Of: Sara Diamond fonds

Series: Women’s Labour History Project

Source: Original Format: Simon Fraser University Archives. Sara Diamond fonds

Rights: Media provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy or otherwise use of this media must be obtained from the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archives.

Title: [Buster Foster – 3/4]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Foster, Buster

Subject: Women–Employment–British Columbia ; Women labor union members–British Columbia ; Women–Employment–British Columbia–History–20th century

Date Created: 1979-06-06

Type: Audio recording

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 audio cassette

Format: audio/mp3

Language: English

Identifier: OBJ_629_sideA_01

Is Part Of: Sara Diamond fonds

Series: Women’s Labour History Project

Source: Original Format: Simon Fraser University Archives. Sara Diamond fonds

Rights: Media provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy or otherwise use of this media must be obtained from the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archives.

Title: [Buster Foster – 4/4]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Foster, Buster

Subject: Women–Employment–British Columbia ; Women labor union members–British Columbia ; Women–Employment–British Columbia–History–20th century

Date Created: 1979-06-06

Type: Audio recording

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 audio cassette

Format: audio/mp3

Language: English

Identifier: OBJ_629_sideB_01

Is Part Of: Sara Diamond fonds

Series: Women’s Labour History Project

Source: Original Format: Simon Fraser University Archives. Sara Diamond fonds

Rights: Media provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy or otherwise use of this media must be obtained from the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archives.