1

John Sawchenko (Character representation)



Credits:
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

2

Hygrade #2 Surface Plant
Between 1934 - 1950
Drumheller, Alberta


Credits:
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

3

At first the strike seemed harmless. I walked out only because everyone else was walking out. I voted One Big Union because most everyone else was. It was the middle of the slack season anyway?it's not like I was loosing out any.

There's talk that the United Mine Workers of America isn't backing us up. As a miner you know that there are risks involved with goin' in there, but you also now what could make it safer. If the UMWA was going to shy away from safety issues were they even in it for us?

Soon a new union came to town, one that was willing to back us. The union was a new all-Canadian outfit called One Big Union. Problem was the mine owners weren't interested because they had an arrangement with the UMWA. So even though we miners supported the OBU the mine operators would not listen, our voice as not heard.

Things got worse. Men were coming back from war by then. Problem was they had no job to come back to. The vets saw that the aliens or immigrants were filling up the jobs at the mines and they didn't like it. The mine owners helped the veterans, and the veterans helped the mine owners by becoming "mine protectors". They called em specials or strike busters?we called em' arses.

The specials would show up at your home looking for you to be a scab for the day. Some men put up a fight and got beat for it. Not me though - I was scared. If my name was up I didn't fight?I'd seen what happened if you did.

4

Mine camp cookhouse
1914
Rosedale, Alberta


Credits:
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

5

Wayne local union UMW of A. Represented in the May Day parade
1930's
Drumheller, Alberta


Credits:
Wayne Community Association