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1943-1972 (Creation)
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Physical description
9.5 m of textual records
ca. 125 photographs
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Administrative history
The International Union of Mine, Mill And Smelter Workers (Local 598) was organized at Sudbury, Ontario in 1935 for such purposes as bringing about better working conditions and higher pay scales for its membership, as well as settling disputes, grievance, and sickness, accident, or death claims against the companies by unionized employees.
It originated from within the membership of the early Western Federation of Miners (W.F.M.), formed in British Columbia in 1895. Subsequent to the challenges of the early years of the W.F.M., a charter for Local 598 in Sudbury was granted in 1942 by its governing body, and by the International President, Reid Robinson. In 1943, Robert Carlin was elected as President, and in 1944, this local was certified as the collective bargaining agency for the employees of the International Nickel Co. of Canada Ltd., ( INCO), and of Falconbridge Mines in Sudbury.
In 1949, the I.U.M.M.S.W. was expelled from the Canadian Labour Congress (C.L.C.), marking the beginning of many years of dissension, both within Local 598 itself, as well as between the I.U.M.M.S.W. and the United Steelworkers of America (U.S.W.A.). In 1967, a merger was negotiated between the two unions, and all locals, with the exception of I.U.M.M.S.W. Local 598 in Falconbridge, joined the U.S.W.A. Until 1993, Local 598, representing approximately 2,000 hourly-rated employees of Falconbridge Nickel Mines, was the only remaining local of what was once a large union. In 1993, following two years of discussion, Local 598 merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union (C.A.W.) and adopted the name " Mine Mill/ C.A.W. "
Past Presidents of Local 598 are as follows: Robert Carlin, 1943-1945 ; James. L. Kidd, 1945-1947; Nels Thibeault, 1947-1952; Mike Solski, 1952-1959; Don Gillis, 1959-1969; Jim Tester, 1969-1974; Emil Prudhomme, 1974-1977; Joe McDonald, 1977 ; Jack Gignac, 1977-1980; Emil Prudhomme (2nd term), 1980-1982; Ed Leger, 1982-1984; Rick Briggs,1984-1995; Roly Gauthier, 1995 - 2001; Rick Grylls, 200.
Custodial history
The fonds was transferred to the Laurentian University Archives in May of 1993 from the University of British Columbia, which had originally received the records from Mike Solski.
Scope and content
The International Union of Mine Mill and Smelter workers fonds consists of minutes, financial records, membership lists, correspondence and documentation regarding collective bargaining and agreements, and election material. Also included are grievance reports, printed material in the form of briefs, constitutions, pamphlets, press releases and handbooks, as well as bulletins, newspapers and clippings. Newspapers represented in this fonds include The 598 News, The Mine Mill Herald, The Miner’s Voice and the Sudbury Star, among others.
The records of this fonds provide information about the structure, services and activities of Local 598 of the IUMMSW, from its inception in 1942 until 1972. The struggles of Mine Mill, Local 598 (Sudbury) to survive, amidst accusations of Communist domination, as a result of USWA raids, and subsequent to the expulsion from the CLS, are well documented, as are their activities with respect to other locals of the union in Ontario.
The 17 series are: Minute Books; Falconbridge Minutes; Notebooks; Financial records; Negotiations; Certifications; Grievances; Job Posting Notices; General Correspondence; Subject Files; Legal Files; Membership Lists; Printed Material; Press Office; Newspapers; Memorabilia; Ephemera.
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Arrangement
The records are kept in the order given by the archives of the University of British Columbia.
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Some documents are digitized.
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Some documents may be restricted.
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Finding aids
A finding aid was provided by the University of British Columbia in 1993 and is available at Laurentian University Archives.
Associated materials
At Laurentian University Archives:
P070 George Prusila fonds
P144 Mercedes Steedman fonds
P192 Fonds Jean Gagnon
Accruals
A first accrual was received in 1993. Two accruals were received in 1998.
General note
The fonds contains historical language and content that may be offensive, and may cause distress to researchers, such as language and representations used to refer to racial, ethnic and cultural groups. Items in the fonds, their content, and their descriptions reflect the time period when they were created and the view of their creator at the time.
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Revised: 2023-04-12