Mining Lore

The inspiration for revolution Unhealthy working conditions and low wages led asbestos miners to launch a strike that left a lasting legacy in Quebec’s history

Unhealthy working conditions and low wages led asbestos miners to launch a strike that left a lasting legacy in Quebec’s history

By Mehanaz Yakub

June 21, 2021

The striking miners fought to guarantee their safety from toxic asbestos dust present in the mines, among other demands. Courtesy of the Public Archives of Canada.

When the clock struck midnight on February 14, 1949, the normally quiet streets of the small town of Asbestos, Quebec, were packed with nearly 2,000 workers from the Jeffrey Mine who were ready to go on strike.

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