Highlights of History of Local 179

• In early 1900’s work was done on the Provincial Legislature Building in Regina
• In 1913 project to build a hospital for the insane in Battleford
• Co-op Refinery opened in 1935
• Uranium discovered in 1936 at Goldfields
• Uranium City established as abase for Uranium mining 1952
• Mid 1950’s brought the province-wide rural electrification program that enabled many farm families to install water-pressure systems and indoor plumbing. It was a good time to be a plumber. Outhouse burning parties became a sort of rural rite of passage during that time.
• Most of the United Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters and Gasfitters of American locals, known as the U.A., were chartered in Saskatchewan with few members. Regina Local Union 179 was started with thirteen charter members in 1906. The members of this first U.A. Local in Saskatchewan shared many of today’s concerns. The following excerpt from “On the Side of the People” shows that not much has changed in 100 years.

  “The United Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters and Gasfitters of America had similar strong support among a much larger membership when it chartered locals in Regina, Moose Jaw and Saskatoon starting in 1906. The UA, as the Plumbers’ union is currently known, dispatched members to building sites, kept the membership aware of employment opportunities across western Canada, and offered an impressive range of services to members, including affordable insurance plans, loans at low interest, and payment of dues for members who had a prolonged illness. The UA local’s minute books also mention the existence of an early “Good and Welfare” fund, which on occasion would be used to send a carton of cigarettes to a hospitalized brother who liked his smokes.”

  - On the Side of the People
  A History of Labour in Saskatchewan, Pg. 40
  Jim Warren and Kathleen Carlisle