Crowsnest Pass Strike

What union were the Crowsnest Pass miners part of initially

The United Mine Workers of America

What problem did the Crowsnest Pass miners have with the UMWA?

The American Union was not answering their requests. Furthermore, the union had lowered hours and wages for workers in an attempt to respond to the Great Depression, which made life even worse for the miners

What did the miners do in response?

They joined the Mine Workers Union of Canada, which was mostly made of moderates but which had a left-wing manager take over in 1932

Which league did the MWUC join?

The Mine Workers Union of Canada joined the Workers Unity League, which was sponsored by the Communist Party of Canada

What did the MWUC do to protest the working conditions?

They organized a strike that lasted for 7 months

Who achieved their ends?

Both sides claimed victory at the end, but the biggest significance was that the strike signified a communist, collectivist group becoming a strong voice against capitalists