About this episode
On this day, 22 May 1992 the Royal Oak Mines company locked out members of the Canadian Association of Smelter and Allied Workers (CASAW) union at its Giant Mine in Yellowknife, Canada. CASAW members had been due to go on strike the following day after rejecting a contract which would tie their pay to fluctuations in the price of gold.
Management swiftly escalated tensions by hiring scab replacement workers, which had not been done in a mining dispute in Canada in over 50 years. The company brought scabs in from across Canada, sometimes using helicopters to bring them across picket lines. The company also hired Pinkerton private detectives and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to intimidate strikers.
Strikers fought back by throwing rocks at mine buildings, and on one occasion raiding the premises and breaking windows, for which Royal Oak sacked 38 strikers. As time dragged on, a handful of CASAW members began to cross picket lines and return to work themselves.
On September 18, a bomb exploded in the mine next to a rail line, killing nine scabs. After a 13 month criminal investigation, it transpired that the bomb was planted by a striking CASAW member, Roger Warren, who confessed to the crime but stated his intention was to scare the scabs and embarrass the company.
The Canada Labor Relations Board then ordered an end to the strike and lockout in November 1993, and CASAW members voted overwhelmingly to accept a contract very similar to the one they had previously rejected. 130 of the strikers then returned to work at the mine.
Warren was later imprisoned, until being granted April in 2014. Two other strikers were imprisoned for other acts of sabotage at the mine for sentences of 2 1/2 and three years respectively.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/7869/giant-mine-lockout
Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
Management swiftly escalated tensions by hiring scab replacement workers, which had not been done in a mining dispute in Canada in over 50 years. The company brought scabs in from across Canada, sometimes using helicopters to bring them across picket lines. The company also hired Pinkerton private detectives and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to intimidate strikers.
Strikers fought back by throwing rocks at mine buildings, and on one occasion raiding the premises and breaking windows, for which Royal Oak sacked 38 strikers. As time dragged on, a handful of CASAW members began to cross picket lines and return to work themselves.
On September 18, a bomb exploded in the mine next to a rail line, killing nine scabs. After a 13 month criminal investigation, it transpired that the bomb was planted by a striking CASAW member, Roger Warren, who confessed to the crime but stated his intention was to scare the scabs and embarrass the company.
The Canada Labor Relations Board then ordered an end to the strike and lockout in November 1993, and CASAW members voted overwhelmingly to accept a contract very similar to the one they had previously rejected. 130 of the strikers then returned to work at the mine.
Warren was later imprisoned, until being granted April in 2014. Two other strikers were imprisoned for other acts of sabotage at the mine for sentences of 2 1/2 and three years respectively.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/7869/giant-mine-lockout
Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
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