Challenging the common belief that Quebec's labour militancy began after World War II, Evelyn Dumas uncovers a deeper, often overlooked history of working-class struggle during the 1930s and 1940s. Using rich oral histories from workers in transportation, textiles, and other key industries, Dumas brings to life the voices of strikers—both leaders and rank-and-file activists—and vividly captures the mood, courage, and political awakening of the era. The Bitter Thirties in Quebec is a powerful act of historical recovery and a vital contribution to the story of labour in Quebec.