UNIONS: A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
The desire to improve conditions for the coal miners through union representation was a bitterly fought struggle. By 1919 labour revolt on a national level driven by a radical solution of the One Big Union to apply the right to strike to promote its interests worried government and put the OBU in a precarious position. According to its critics, the OBU's rumoured affiliation with communist philosophy threatened the safety of the country. Nevertheless, many coal miners in Inverness were attracted to its principles. The majority however, felt the United Mine Workers' of America Union would best represent their interests and officially joined the UMW in 1919. Within three years the conflict between the two unions would disrupt the community. The OBU protest/demonstration in 1919 had a two-fold purpose. The OBU sympathized with the workers' revolution in Russia (Bolshevik Revolution, Nov. 1917) and were protesting Canada sending in troops to overthrow the Red Army during the Civil War. Secondly, they were also attempting to secure their Union as the official Union in the Inverness coal fields. Note the Russian Bolshevik flag flying with the British Union Jack. By 1927 the One Big Union would be dismantled in favour of the United Mine Workers' of America.
In 1922, the UMW had initiated a closed-shop policy against OBU miners due to the continued action of OBU members and sympathizers parading the Communist Russian flag during a series of public demonstrations and demanding that the UMW introduce resolutions to support further control by the local union. Some UMW members were not satisfied with the policies being administered by UMW leadership. It was felt that local funds were leaving the community and were not being used to support local initiatives and repay local union debts. Miners wanted local autonomy to make decisions, and when they passed resolutions that did not coincide with the principles and constitution of the United Mine Workers of America they were severely reprimanded by the International Office headquartered in Pennsylvania. As a result, some miners broke UMW ranks and joined the One Big Union, citing an inability of the UMW to apply local funds to the mining community. In 1924, miners of the UMW Local used these funds for the district's needs. This move farther antagonized the relationship between the International and the Local. The International President, J.L. Lewis, revoked the district's charter, dismissed its executives, and set up a provisional district which was controlled by appointed officials. The actions of Lewis seem dictatorial and extreme and are not in keeping with the attitude of some local miners to his leadership. According to John A.MacNeil (1969), a veteran coal miner and union leader, when asked about J.L, Lewis union activities he stated that, "Lewis was the greatest union leader the workingman ever had. He was not only for the coal miner but worked for all people, " Some of the miners felt pressured and wanted to determine their own future as It related to their own community. They felt the One Big Union was to their advantage since it was based in Winnipeg and asked for fifteen cents in union dues as compared to eighty cents extracted by the U and W. The One Big Union also granted local autonomy to Its chapters.
Since the disagreement was between two major unions, the Company found Itself caught between two forces, The Company continued to employ miners from both unions until the time when negotiations for a new wage schedule, including a reduction of wages came into effect.
These negotiations resulted in an agreement between the Company and the U.M.W. concerning wages, but the U.M.W. insisted upon a "closed-shop" policy which in reality outlawed members of the O.B.U. The Company continued to operate the mine without recognition of the "closed-shop" policy and offered work to all of Its employees. The U.M.W. reacted by declaring a strike to pressure the Company to accept the "closed-shop" policy. Without the U.M.W. workers it was impossible to carry on the mining, operation. The Company was forced to give in to their demands since they feared for the safety of their property, U.M. W. workers implied that the Company employ only men who were members of their organization and produced a list of 360 names who would be willing to work the mines and provide sufficient maintenance men to protect the property The O.B.U., on the other hand, had only 212 workers and could not give any assurances in the event of a future strike.
Faced with these circumstances the Company seemed to have little choice but to conclude an agreement with the U.M.W. for the operation of the mine under a "closed-shop" policy. Although the Company accepted this arrangement it realized that it was practically impossible to carry on the successful operation at the mine and felt they would close the workings If a solution could not be found.
