Looking to the past

MULLAN — Like its modern counterpart, the last strike at the Lucky Friday Mine near Mullan in 1981 began with a secret ballot and nearly unanimous support from miners to take to the picket lines.

More than 35 years later, members of the same union voted once again to strike, this time after 10 months of negotiations with Hecla left the two parties at a standstill over a new contract the company calls its “last, best and final” offer.

In an effort to examine the previous strike at Lucky Friday that lasted over two months, The News-Press dug into the archives of The North Idaho Press at the Wallace Public Library. The old issues of the newspaper give insight into the underlying issues and emotions at the heart of the strike, and serve as a telling reminder of the challenges associated with finding common ground solutions during a time of conflict.

On March 21, 1981, United Steelworkers Local 5114 members began their strike at the Lucky Friday Mine after rejecting by secret ballot a 44-cent-per-hour wage boost and a three-year wages and benefits package with Hecla Mining Company recommended by their negotiating committee.

“Economics appear to be the main issue, although neither side has taken an official position on the strike,” an article in the North Idaho Press, published March 24, states.

The article also announced that a negotiation between the two parties, without a negotiator, would take place the same week.

By April of 1981, there was still no progress in negotiations between Hecla and United Steelworkers, even after a meeting with federal mediator Glenn Burgeson. A joint union-management press release on April 2, 1981 said that the federal mediator was informed of the issues that led to the strike, but “no significant progress” was made and no further negotiations were scheduled.

“Like a damp and dreary spring, the strike at the Lucky Friday Mine at Mullan may be settling in for a spell,” the North Idaho Press wrote in an article entitled “Lucky Friday: No progress.”

As April progressed, Hecla Mining Co. announced it would meet with Burgeson for what it called an “information session” related to the strike, which was entering its fourth week.

David Wolfe, then assistant to Hecla president William Griffith, told The North Idaho Press on April 20, 1981, that he wasn’t sure whether representatives of USWA Local 5114 also would attend.

“We don’t want people to think that this is a resumption of negotiations,” Wolfe said. “because it isn’t. It’s strictly an information session.”

The newspaper article also notes that a shaft construction project that was underway at the mine was not shut down by the strike.

By May 11, 1981, talks had stalled between striking Lucky Friday miners and Hecla. An article in The North Idaho Press stated that company officials and the bargaining committee of United Steelworkers Local 5114 met, but achieved no significant progress toward an agreement.

“Insiders report a difference of about 50 cents an hour between union and company positions, and say the key issue is economics,” the article, entitled “Strike talks stall,” states.

On May 26,1981, The North Idaho Press announced the end of the 60-plus day strike with a simple lead — “The strike at the Lucky Friday mine is finished.” According to the article, United Steelworkers Local Union 5114 accepted an offer from Hecla which, in an open letter provided to both the striking miners and area news organizations, was described as the “final” offer.

The vote, according to the article, was 114 to 44 in favor of the new contract.

However, among the 44 who voted against the contract, the article states there was obvious discontent:

“‘You want a shot for Art Brown?’ one member asked as he extended his middle finger.

‘He bought every vote in there,’ the man said when asked about the gesture. (Art Brown is vice president of operations for Hecla)

‘They were bought for $800,’ said another man who was brooding over a cup of coffee. He was referring to Hecla’s offer of $800 when the employee returns to work.

The man said he had voted for the original offer but once the decision to strike was made he was willing to go for what the local union members wanted.

The men lost $5,000 in wages for $800, he said.”

Mark Grubham, president of local 5114, told The North Idaho Press that the object of the strike was to match the contract that miners at the Sunshine mine has gotten. Hecla, he added, “never did plead poverty,” but “just wouldn’t do it.”

The union-approved agreement included seven new benefits:

1. $100 boost in sign-ups from $700 to $800.

2. The addition of one holiday, increasing the yearly holidays from 10 to 11.

3. The company will subtract the hours on strike from 2000 and divide the remainder into the gross earnings for the year in calculating average pay for vacation and holiday pay.

4. A grace period of 15 calendar days to return for work.

5. Team and individual bidding on gypo work.

6. Pay all employees returning to work on Tuesday for the Memorial Day holiday.

7. Employees who were on strike during their birthday will have an extra day added to their vacation.

Pay increases for the miners, the article adds, were not changed from the original offer. The agreement reached provided a 44 cents across the board increase.

“In its last letter to the striking employees Hecla said ‘is it worth staying out on strike for what you might hope to gain?’” the article concluded. “They decided it was not worth it.”