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 This job advertisement was donated to the Atikokan Mining Attraction by the family of Charles Pelletier. We have noted that Mr. Pelletier carried this ad in his wallet from the time he came to Atikokan until he passed away. |
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The United Steelworkers of America The expansion of mining operations at Steep Rock Lake and the subsequent increase in the work force attracted the attention of the United Steelworkers of America and in 1944, Steep Rock Iron Mine employees were organized as Local 3466 with Roy Ellis as first president. He was succeeded by Joe Shannon who resigned to go on staff at the mine. Bruce Lindesay took over as president, to be followed by Peter Sweeney in 1947, and Owen Lindsay in 1949. |
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Construction of a union hall was considered a priority and after the removal of tons of rock from the site at the corner of Main and Marks St., a flat topped basement structure was erected in 1951 at a cost of approximately $80,000.00 by Claydon Construction Co. A great deal of volunteer labour by union members helped to keep costs down and the union used its not inconsiderable powers of persuasion to get special rates and prices of building materials. A four lane bowling alley was installed for immediate use and another four lanes added the following winter. President James Hill was master of ceremonies at the official opening which was attended by C. H. Millard, national Director of the United Steelworkers, Toronto. A second story containing auditorium, conference hall, kitchens and offices was added in 1960. By 1954 the work force at the mine had grown from 500 to 1100 men and underground miners were coming from Timmins and Kirkland Lake to seek employment. Ivan Boyd served as union president after James Hill and was succeeded in turn by Tom Pooley who served as president from 1951-54. When the Co-operation Wage Study was initiated in 1956 he served as chairman for 20 years until his retirement from Steep Rock Iron Mines. He was succeeded as president by Alex O'Neill who became the first full-time president of the local, all preceding presidents being employed at the mine with time off allowed to attend to union business.
A general meeting of Steelworkers Wives was called on March 1, 1960 to form an organization to be known as the Steelworkers Auxilliary. Thirty-nine women attended the meeting which was addressed by Henry Gareau, district representative of the U.S.W.A. John Hamrak was president of the U.S.W.A., Local 5855, representing employees of Caland Ore Co, at the time of the mine closure. After the closure of the two mines, the union hall was sold to private interests and became known as the Prospect Hall. (The structure continues today as the Iron Mine Restaurant, with a large artifact placed outside – the shovel bucket from a P&H shovel, placed by the Atikokan Mining Attraction).
From From Canoes to Chryslers : A history of Atikokan, 1882-1982 / compiled by Mary Nault. 1983, Volume I |
