Footing the bill for new `goodies’

In the 1930s, there were three producing mines in the Bridge River area. The Union Brass pulled a long strike. When the dust settled, one mine reopened on a partial basis. There was no unemployment insurance or welfare in those days. In the 1940s, the Union Brass shut down the Kirkland Lake area. Many months later, a couple of mines reopened (half a dozen didn’t) on a reduced scale. No unemployment insurance or welfare in those days, either.

Today, there are lots of goodies: generous unemployment insurance, welfare, medicare, dental care, pensions, very high wages and lots of mechanized equipment. Very little real physical labor. None of these things existed 58 years ago when I went underground as a mucker. Basic pay was 37 cents per hour, $74 per month. Board cost $30, leaving take-home pay $44 a month.

Now, Cominco’s Sullivan mine has shut down (T.N.M., Jan. 29/90). Why? The price of metals has fallen to a point that bonuses could no longer be afforded. Union Brass’s “co-operative action” slows down to less than a third of previous production. That’s why the mine closed. L.E. Hansen Tsawwassen, B.C.