In the early 20th century, several unions represented workers in the mining industry in the United States and Canada, and there was interest in encouraging co-operation between them.
[1] The department was founded on February 8, 1912, at a conference in Indianapolis.
Among its early plans was a joint recruitment campaign, in Utah, New Mexico, and southern Colorado.
In 1914, the post of president of the department became salaried, and an office was opened in the AFL Building in Washington DC.
[1] The department was disbanded in 1922, due to disagreements on strategy between the leadership of the AFL and the United Mine Workers of America union.