The Strike That Broke: Roslyn Miners Sign the Company’s Contract
The Northern Pacific Coal Company opens its books, blacklists the strike leaders, and brings in Black miners from Franklin and British Columbia as the union’s resolve cracks.
ROSLYN, Aug. 2.—[Special.]—The Northern Pacific Coal Company opened their office today for signatures to contracts to go to work, and 100 men signed, among the number being fifteen or twenty colored miners who have just arrived from Franklin and British Columbia. The men were instructed to report for work on Monday next. The company has blacklisted a few of the local miners, those being the leaders and others who have exhibited the most antagonistic spirit toward the interests of the company. The Miners’ Union held another meeting this afternoon, but the proceedings have not been made public. Organizer Norton reports a failure to interest the miners on the west side to the extent of going out, and this has had a dampening influence on the feelings of the local miners. It is believed that the majority of the men in the camp will have signed the contract within the next few days, irrespective of union restrictions.
“The company has blacklisted a few of the local miners, those being the leaders and others who have exhibited the most antagonistic spirit toward the interests of the company.”
The Roslyn strike broke when the company signed enough men and blacklisted the organizers, while importing Black miners from Franklin and British Columbia as strikebreakers. More than a century later, Washington labor still wrestles with the same playbook: divide workers by race and immigration status, then wait out the union.
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