As the focal point of Canada's commercial system, Montreal had a very active service industry. During the boom before World War I many construction workers were employed on buildings for the commercial sector. By the 1920's the construction industry was more organized but workers were still, by and large, unable to bargain collectively. Construction work had changed with the introduction of new machines, but it continued to employ many workers, particularly carpenters, bricklayers, and plumbers. As skilled craftsmen, these workers could expect higher wages, but they were still adversely affected by the seasonal nature of most construction work. No worker, skilled or unskilled, was protected by unemployment insurance.
