Mine Workers' Union of Canada

MWUC was founded in 1925, as Alberta rank and file unionists broke away from the United Mine Workers of America District 18.

[2] By September 1926 MWUC was the largest miners' union in Alberta, with around 4,000 members in fifteen camps.

The Bienfait-Estevan miners lived in miserable conditions, but the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada had paid little attention to them.

MWUC was able to mobilize a large majority of local miners, preparing for a strike.

The mine owners rejected negotiations, and the mayor of Estevan prohibited manifestations by MWUC.