The 1978 Inco strike was a pivotal moment in Canadian labor history. It was a six-week strike by 1,800 Inco nickel miners in Sudbury, Ontario, that ended with a significant pay increase and improved working conditions.
The strike was sparked by a dispute over wages and benefits, with the miners seeking a 25% increase to match inflation. The company refused, leading to a walkout on April 18, 1978.
The strike was marked by tense negotiations and a series of picket line confrontations between miners and company security.
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Strike Details
The 1978 Inco strike was a significant labor dispute that lasted for 59 days.
The strike began on February 15, 1978, and involved over 1,000 workers from Inco's Sudbury smelter and nickel refinery.
The workers were demanding better wages and benefits, as well as improved working conditions.
The main issue was the company's refusal to accept the union's proposal for a 20% wage increase.
The strike was led by the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 6500.
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Aftermath
The 1978 Inco strike had a profound impact on the local community, leading to significant changes in the way workers were treated by the company.
A major concession won by the strikers was Inco's "thirty-and-out" policy, which allowed workers with thirty years of service to retire with a full pension, regardless of age.
This policy was a major victory for the workers, providing them with a secure financial future.
Most miners also received a dollar an hour wage increase, a significant boost to their earnings.
Alcohol sales declined by 10% during the strike compared to the previous winter, likely due to economic reasons.
A study on alcohol consumption showed that over 35% of strikers and over 40% of their wives stopped drinking or drank dramatically less during the strike.
However, a small minority of strikers and their families drank more, possibly due to stress-induced behavior.
The local economy was catastrophically affected by the strike, with economic development efforts in the city picking up in the 1980s and 1990s as a result.
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