Estevan Mercury Articles on 1931 Miners Strike

Photo submitted by B. Schoff.

Introduction:

The history of the mine riots of 1931 can be traced through these headlines, and the stories that will follow the headline links. The riot was preceded by the formation of an unrecognized union in the Bienfait/Estevan area in the latter half of the summer of 1931. The mine owners and operators refused to recognize the union, as the mine workers' union was associated with communism and communist activities. After simple discussions about the unions failed, the mine workers went on strike and organzied a protest march to take place on September 29, 1931. The intent of the march was for miners and their families to drive and walk from Bienfait into the heart of Estevan, stopping only to hold their protest at the courthouse. Once the members of city council heard of the plans, an emergency meeting of the city council was convened on the morning of September 29, and a bylaw was passed that would prevent both striking miners and mine operators from protesting in the town. The march went forth as planned by the miners, and was met at the city limits of Estevan by a patrol of RCMP. Reports of exactly what happened vary, but what is known is that a riot broke out, and the melee that followed continued for nearly forty-five minutes. After the riot was broken up by RCMP reinforcements, two miners were dead, and another would die in the hospital later that day, and many others people including miners, RCMP, and even civilians who had watched the fray were injured. Following this riot, the mine operators had little choice but to begin negotiation of settlement to the strike, and although the miners union was still not recognized, settlements were reached that were mutually agreeable to both the miners and the operators.

Pre-Riot Articles:

Pre-Riot Editorials:

Post-Riot Articles

Post-Riot Editorials

Estevan Riot content digitized by David Thompson, Digitizer for Estevan CAP, funded by Young Canada Works in Heritage Institutions, 2000.