Under the banner of the One Big Union (OBU), about 6,500 miners in the province walked off the job during a dispute over wages, the cost of living allowance, and working and living conditions. Thirteen mining companies in the valley were given permission to hire war veterans as “special constables” to persuade the strikers to return to work. These strike busters were paid ten dollars a day and offered free alcohol to end the OBU strike.