"A crippling strike in May,1937 shut down the mine for months. The company was non-unionized and employed at a wage of $4.75 and $5.25 a day." (News Herald, May 29, 1937) "Strikers reported to be members of the International Miner's and Smelterer's Union, a branch of the CIO" (News Herald, May 26, 1937) Company owners wouldn't budge because they felt the strike was instigated by outside union agitators, the CIO (Committee for Industrial Organization), who had organised other miners strikes around the province.

D.W.B. Burnett, president of the Cariboo Quartz Mining Company, was quoted in The Province saying: "...he could not believe the men had gone on strike of their own accord just on the question of a wage demand. He declared the company's men have always been paid top wages, and in addition to a bonus last Christmas, they were given an unasked for wage increase only three months ago." ( Province, May 1937)

Construction of The Wells Community Hall was under way when the strike began, but it must have been The opening of the new hall is described in this article written May 25, 1938 in the Western Canadian Mining newsletter:

"It is very questionable if there is any other mining town within the Dominion of Canada that can boast of the equal to the Community Hall, located in the centre of Wells, B.C. , and the greatest credit must be given to the directors of the Cariboo Gold Quartz Mine for having erected such a valuable institution.

The spacious theatre dance hall with its modern stage, two splendid banqueting halls, gymnasium and electric equipped kitchen, shower baths all make for the greatest comfort under what actually is pioneer environment.

Shareholders in this Cariboo-lode gold dividend paying property can consider the investment laying such a splendid endeavour is actually a bonus to them inasmuch as same makes for contentment amongst their employees, and is a medium of good relationship and friendship between employers and employees, particularly in stress periods."

By the tone in this article it's apparent emotion was running high, and when the hall opened it must have been a bittersweet event everyone. Indeed, most people would readily agree that in most cases the early union advocates were wholly justified in organising unions. Coal mining was particularly bleak for workers, and the sub-human working and safety conditions have been well documented in North America and Great Britain. Coal Miners in the Crows Nest Pass area of British Columbia were treated "like dogs". Union wars over coal-mining never got as bad as it did in the Eastern States, but conditions in B.C. were no better. Employees of the Cariboo Quartz Gold Mining Company were denied treatment at the company-built Wells Hospital during the strike.