Union Organizing in the Northern Canadian Mining Industry

Abstract

Mining was historically a highly unionized sector, including in the Canadian north. From the 1960s to the 1990s, there was near complete union coverage in mines in the northern territories, significantly increasing the share of wealth and political power claimed by northern mining workers. Today, only two of ten producing mines are unionized: the Ekati diamond mine in Northwest Territories (Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)) and the Mary River Mine in Nunavut (International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)). Drawing on archival research, document analysis, remediation site visits and interviews with Indigenous organizations, union organizers, servicing staff and officials, this paper explores the decline of unions in northern mining and pathways to revitalization. Shifts in labour practices such as the use of long-distance commuting, subdecontracting, Impact and Benefits Agreements (IBAs) and the shift to smaller, more highly skilled workforces have created a more challenging organizing environment. These external challenges are compounded by internal union issues, including not prioritizing northern organizing and failing to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and governments. Potential strategic and shifts include targeting the remediation phase of mines and catering and housekeeping workers to gain a foothold in the sector, locating choke points in the fly-in fly-out production process, building coalitions with First Nations and investing in offices and permanent organizing staff in northern cities.