On May 3, 1927, a Board of conciliation was appointed to investigate the dispute between the two unions. This investigation resulted in the R.S. McLellan "Minority Report" (1927) which came out in favor of the United Mine Workers of America. The report emphasized four major features of the U.M.W.
L The Majority of the mine workers at Inverness are new members of (he U.M. W. in the proportion of 360 in 212.
2.The U.M. W. has already been accepted and recognized by the Company and is operating the mine under a definite written contract to furnish sufficient men for mining operations, and to supply under all circumstances the number of maintenance men required to keep the mine clear of water and otherwise protect the property.
3.The vast majority of the mine -workers in Nova Scotia are members of the United Mine Workers of America and this organization is generally recognized as the miners organization in his province,
4. The Province of Nova Scotia constitutes a separate District with complete autonomy' under the International Constitution and the District is governed by a District Executive elected by popular vote of the membership, under the Presidency of Mr. J.W, MacLeod, who is generally regarded as the fairest, ablest, and most reliable labour leader -we have ever had in Nova Scotia.
The R.S. McLellan Report was quite emphatic on the O.B.U. disbanding in order that peace and harmony be achieved. When the Conciliation Board asked the O.B.U. to state their objectives to joining the U.M. W. they listed the following reasons:
1.The alleged misapplication of funds in the U.M. W. local at Inverness in 1924, and the failure of the Local and District officers to account for same upon demand.
2.The check-off of Union dues and assessments at the colliery office and distribution of monies thus collected,
3.Dissatisfaction with the present local officers of the United Mine Workers.
4.The question of autonomy, the local branch of the O.B. U. at Inverness not being subject to any District or International interference.
The Local members of the O.B.U. had just cause for feeling isolated and disgusted with the U.M.W. For example, they felt cheated by the international officers who collected funds and did not provide an accounting of such monies. The U.M.W. eventually instituted a new system of auditing and checking funds. With respect to distribution of monthly dues it appeared that the U.M.W. were collecting too much from the workers (eighty cents as compared to fifteen cents collected by the O.B.U.). However when the O.B.U. objected to the local officers of the U.M.W. the U.M.W, agreed to elect a new slate of officers if O.B.U. members joined their union. Probably one of the most important criticisms expressed by the O.B.U. was the freedom to control their internal affairs. There was no doubt that the International Executive of the U.M.W. interfered with the local affairs of the District. As was previously mentioned the District Union passed a resolution liking the District with the Red International of Moscow in 1922 and in 1923 broke a contract with, the British Empire Steel Corporation (BESCO) by coming out on strike in sympathy with the Steel Workers of Sydney. The International President, Mr. J.L. Lewis was not amused and set up a provisional District to carry out the contracts as signed with BESCO.
The "Minority Report" submitted by R.S. McLellan in 1927 praised the leaders of the Local representing the O.B.U. when he stated, "...lam not unmindful of the fact that there are many good and fine men among the membership of the O.B. U.... This is particularly true of the gentleman who acted as chief spokesman for their representatives before the Board. He is indeed the type of man that any labour union or either organization might well be proud to have in its ranks..." The Report was sympathetic to the members of the O.B.U. but for the best interests of the town it felt that the only practical and satisfactory solution to the union problem was to dissolve the O.B.U. and request a return to work. The inquiry by McLellan was submitted to the Minister of Labour, Ottawa, on May 25,1927 and did little to ease the friction between the two sides Both groups resented each other and the pain, caused by the friction was to linger for many years.
This matter was further complicated by continued financial losses for the mine and an announcement by the Eastern Trust Company that it was about to abandon the Inverness workings by 1932. The town was in a desperate situation and about to enter one of its most controversial chapters. Old union wounds had not healed and the various factions disagreed as to how to proceed.
Several town meetings were called and a series of solutions offered. One group, under the influence of Father Ronald L. MacDonald, proposed a coal co-operative and anti-union structure that would be operated under a board of directors. The second faction were miners who were supporters of the One Big Union, and believed the co-op plan was doomed to failure. Spokesmen for the O.B.U. were Neil Alan MacLean and Michael McVeigh with counsel from lawyer, Alex H. MacKinnon. The union's position emphasized the previous losses of revenue and the poor conditions of the mines. The co-op had a provincial grant of $25,000. and government support. Once the coal dust settled, the mines were under the control of Father Ronald L's Coal Co-operative . The opposing factions both contributed to the resulting turmoil and uncertainty of 1933. The mines were in a mess, the community split, and the spirit broken. A new Liberal Government intervened.
