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AMALGAMATED
MINE WORKERS OF NOVA SCOTIA CONTINUED
No miners would return to work until Livingstone and McLachlan
were released and all charges against them dropped. McLachlan
was later convicted for 'serious libel'; the basic legal decision
in McLachlan's case was that although what he had said might
be true, his words were calculated to stir up unrest and therefore
he was guilty as charged. McLachlan and Livingstone were released
on bail.
Silby Barrett, who was more conservative than the latter two,
was appointed president of District 26 and followed orders from
Lewis at the International. The men were ordered back to work
by July 28th. It should be noted that Glace Bay Mayor Dan "Willie"
Morrison was completely supportive of the strike. With no relief
in site, police patrolling, and McLachlan and Livingstone in
jail on trumped up charges, the miners' spirit was extinguished.
Movement back to the pits was slow but sure, with staunch supporters
remaining out longer.
When
the miner's contract expired in January of 1924, the union wanted
a new contract comparable to 1921 rates, but a notice of a 20%
reduction in wages was posted for all miners, in addition to
a large increase in the price of house coal. So although the
International didn't sanction a strike, the miners walked out.
Barrett took over the leadership of the strike, negotiating
an agreement with the company and issuing relief to miners and
families. An agreement was reached which raised wages for the
men, but the miners' only effective weapon, the removal of maintenance
men during strikes, was prohibited in the new contract. Also
they could no longer support the Labour Herald with union funds.
The members 5,617 to 3,145 voted down this agreement.
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