International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers (Canada)

The International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers dates to 1893 when a small group of miners created the Western Federation of Miners in Idaho. The Rossland Miners' Union (1895) became Canada's first recorded local in 1895. In 1916 the WFM changed its name to the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers and constitutional amendments in 1955 firmly established the Canadian section of the union. The Union expended much energy in jurisdictional disputes and contended with raids from the International Steelworkers of America. The two unions merged in 1967.