Labour Action and Plant Closure

Craig Bit employees soon joined the United Steelworkers of America. In 1979, Kennametal Inc. of Pennsylvania took over Craig Bit and the plant was renamed “Kenroc '' a few years later. In 1985, Kenroc was bought by Secoroc AB, a Swedish company. These transitions led to restructuring and several series of layoffs.

Changes in ownership coincided with changes in worker mentality regarding labour negotiation practices. In 1987, Kenroc employees went on strike, demanding higher wages, longer contracts, and better insurance for their spouses. The strike lasted 9 weeks and resulted in a wage increase of 50 cents an hour, longer contracts, and survivor benefits for spouses.

In July 1990, Kenroc received $550,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to enhance job security, increase production, and expand the plant to 72,000 square feet.

Despite the increased size of the plant and efficiency of its equipment, the cycle of layoffs continued. Kenroc workers went on strike again in April 1993, demanding greater job security, higher wages, and revised seniority rules. The strike was resolved a month later after the company agreed to grant workers 3 year contracts.

82 workers striking outside of Uniroc’s North Bay office in April 1993.

North Bay Museum, Nugget Collection.

In 1994, Kjell Carlson, the Swedish president of Uniroc, flew in from Sweden to North Bay to announce the plant’s closure. The following August, Uniroc shut its doors permanently.

The impact of the Craig Bit company is apparent on the site today. After the plant closure, the property was purchased by the city of North Bay. The years of industrial activity contaminated the soil, thereby lowering the value of the property. In 2018, the city sold the land to New Vision Properties for only $25,000.