Occupations

Key Workers

When the mines were working steady, there were three 8-hour shifts with the two day shifts being for production and the night shift for maintenance. Night shift was a smaller crew who did such jobs as repairs, pumping, timber supplies and track laying. Others did nothing but rock dusting by hand which could take the full shift. Dusting calcium chloride (limestone) was necessary to keep the coal dust down to prevent explosions. Later dusting was done mechanically.

Bratticeman

Underground worker. Controls the ventilation direction.
Salary in 1914: $3.30 per 8 hours

Bucker

Underground worker. Made sure chutes were pulled (clear) of coal daily; had to have legs like cast iron; used a bucking stick – a hockey stick worked well or jumped into the cute and pushed with legs; if it would not run, he worked very hard to get it to run; miners would train any water they came across into their chute as it made the coal slide easier but the bucker often got soaked.
Salary not known.

Bucker Boss

Underground worker. Co-ordinates buckers and coal car loading and which chutes to take the trains to keep a good flow of coal and keep the miner’s chutes empty.
Salary not known.

Carpenter

See also Mine Carpenter Outside worker. Did general required carpentry work.
Salary in 1916: $3.85 for 10 hour day.

Company Man

Not a “union” man. Worked for the company.
Salary varies with the job, unknown amount. It would appear this was a short time job, occupation varied.

Driver

Underground or outside worker. Operated horse teams to haul coal.
Salary in 1910: $3.03 per 8 hours.

Driver Boss

Underground worker. Has charge of all drivers, chutes loaders, spraggers, trappers, and others engaged in hauling coal.
Salary not known.

Examiner

Person who is the holder of a first, second, or third class certificate, appointed to inspect the working places in the mine and the roadways and approaches thereto, and other accessible parts of the mine and to see that such are safe before a shift is allowed to enter such working places or other parts of the mine; shall make inspections and carry out such duties as are required by Act and Regulations made thereunder; when making his inspection before work commences, chalk his initials and date of inspection at the face of every working place in the district under his charge and shall see that all entrances of anyplace which may be found unsafe are fenced off.
Salary not known.

Fan Man

Also Fan Boy
Outside worker. Kept ventilation fan operating.
Salary not known.

Fire Boss

Underground worker. Certificate required.
Salary: $110.00 to $115.00 per month.

Inspector

Includes Chief Inspector, Assistant Chief Inspector, Assistant District Inspector & Electrical Inspector. Inspectors shall visit every mine in his district as often as his duties permit and the exigencies of the case require.
Salary not known.

Machinest

Outside worker. Qualified tradesman.
Salary in 1916: $3.40 to $3.85 for a 10 hour day.

Manager

Originally the head man at a mine was called the superintendent or, at times, an overman. Later he was called general manager or manager. He was a company employee who hired, fired and negotiated with the union, but his main task was the planning and over-seeing the development and exploitation of the coal seams. He was assisted by the pitboss and other senior officials.
The qualifications required to acquire a first class certificate to become a mine manager were:

• Must be at least 25 years of age;
  
• Must be a holder of a Mine Rescue Certificate of Competency; have a certificate from a medical practitioner showing candidate has taken a course in first aid and ambulance work.
  
• Must have at least 5 years experience in underground mining of which at least one year of work at the working face or in work elsewhere in a mine of such kind which in the opinion of the Board is sufficient to give him a practical knowledge of coal mining;
  
• Or 4 years underground as noted above and, in addition, at least 1 year in a machine shop or engineering shop or electric engineering shop;
  
• Or holder of a diploma or degree in scientific and mining training granted by an educational institution approved by the Board and at least 3 years underground coal mining experience and worked in coal mining in Canada for at least 2 years of that period, and not less than 1 year engaged in work at the working face or in work elsewhere in a mine of such kind which in the opinion of the Board is sufficient to give him practical knowledge of coal mining.
  
• Must posses knowledge of:
  
  • 1. Coal and Mines Act Regulations Act
    
  • 2. Gases, shot-firing and Safety Lamps
    
  • 3. Theory and Practice of Ventilation
    
  • 4. Practical work, First Aid and Mine Rescue Work
    
  • 5. Machinery
    
  • 6. Surveying, Leveling Geology
    

Mine Carpenter

Underground worker. Accompanied coal trips to mail haulage tunnel.
Salary not known.

Miner

Employed underground at the working face in a mine to cut, shear, or loosen coal or rock from the solid, either by hand or machinery, and possessed of a certificate of competency as such, and includes a loader and any other workman employed at the working face, but does not include a person employed or about any operations incidental to the extraction of coal by removing the strata.
Salary in 1914: $3.30 per 8 hours.

Miner - Contract

Underground worker. Mined coal and was paid by the ton.
Salary in 1914: $3.50 to $6.00 for 8 hours.

Miner - Wet places

Underground worker.
Salary in 1914: Received an extra $.50 a day while working in wet areas.

Overman

Person in daily charge of the underground workings of any mine or any portion of a mine, next in authority to the manager or assistant manager.
Salary not known.

Pit Boss

Underground worker. Needed Second Class Certification, overseer of mine under the mine manager.
Salary not known.

Pumpman

Underground worker. Operated and installed underground pumping systems.
Salary not known.

Rope Rider

Underground worker. Accompanied coal trips to main haulage tunnel.
Salary in 1916: $3.03 per 8 hours.

Timberman

Underground worker. Person employed underground in a mine in charge of timbering operations at the working face or on any roadway or in any other place and possessed of a certificate of competency.
Salary in 1914: $3.30 per 8 hours.

Timber Packer

Underground worker. Took timbers to the miner’s rooms.
Salary in 1914: $3.03 per 8 hours.

Track Layer

Underground worker. Advances or removes train track.
Salary in 1914: $3.30 for 8 hours. His helper would receive $2.75 for 8 hours.

Boys would receive full salary at the age of 18.