The United Steelworkers (USW) District 6 Conference, “We’re Ready,” started off strong this morning in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, with more than 450 members, staff and guests.
Hailing from Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Shelley Savoury, USW Local 1976-551 unit president, is the conference’s master of ceremonies, setting the tone with her local expertise, warmth and humour.
Danny Pottle, from the First Light St. John’s Friendship Centre, gave an Inuit welcome and blessing to open the conference.
USW District 6 Director Myles Sullivan gave a keynote address, reflecting on the conference theme, “We’re Ready,” and emphasizing the work that USW members do back home and will be doing in the future.
“It means we’re ready to bargain strong collective agreements,” said Sullivan. “We’re ready to organize and welcome new members from all sectors of the economy – to join our union. We’re ready to educate our members to give them the skills they need to carry out the work of our union. We’re ready to empower and mobilize our activists and to build strong local unions. We’re ready to fight for better health and safety conditions for our members – both at the bargaining table and in government.”
Sullivan credited the success of the District 6 to the tireless efforts of Steelworker members and the USW district, national and international leadership teams, particularly on the collective bargaining, health and safety and legislative fronts.
Kevon Stewart, Assistant to the USW District 6 Director, spoke about the ways the district membership is changing and how the district is working to equip members with the necessary skills.
“When we talk about being Everybody’s Union, we often think about it as a reference to the sectors and industries,” said Stewart. “We went from solely representing literal steel workers to representing those who work in mining, forestry, higher education, health care, hospitality, banking, nuclear, security and much, much, much more.
“The expansions of our sectors and industries have provided us with an increasingly diverse membership and pool of activists. But one of the things I am most proud of our union is the work that we have engaged in over the years has prepared us to welcome these changes. It starts with our union’s core principles: everyone deserves dignity, everyone deserves a fair shot, everyone’s in.”
USW National Director Marty Warren conveyed his appreciation for the work of local union leaders, activists and members in the room.
“Every day you show that Steelworkers are ready to take on difficult employers and to negotiate the best-possible collective agreements. You show you are ready to engage in political action to fight for laws and policies that help unions to defend workers’ rights and to fight for better working and living standards for all,” said Warren, who served as District 6 Director from 2013 to 2022.
“Every single day, in so many ways, you serve as the first line of defence for our members who are affected by powerful employers and by so many managers making ‘anti-union’ and ‘anti-worker’ decisions.”
Roxanne Brown, USW International Vice-President at Large, delivered a motivating address, emphasizing the importance of staying prepared to take on necessary fights
The USW and labour movement have won some key fights in public policy, including winning a U.S. industrial policy never seen before, introduced by the Biden Administration, Brown noted.
“Our union has taken on equally significant longstanding fights here in Canada and we’ve won – you’ve won. We’ve won by staying ready,” said Brown. She congratulated delegates on the recent success of federal anti-scab legislation becoming law.
In the afternoon, International Executive Board members took part in a panel discussion, moderated by Kevon Stewart, that featured International Secretary-Treasurer John Shinn, International Vice-President (Administration) Emil Ramirez, International Vice-President (Human Affairs) Kevin Mapp, and International Vice-President Luis Mendoza. The panel focused on leadership, mentorship and the changing demographics of our union and its leaders.
Some tips from leaders:
“You have to learn to listen. I have listened my whole career. I have had capable people around me and I have taken their advice.” – John Shinn
“Stay humble and stay true to who you are.” – Luis Mendoza
“Get as much education as you can. It is the equalizer for us in the labour movement.” – Emil Ramirez
In keeping with Newfoundlander tradition, the International Executive Officers were introduced to the concept of being “screeched in,” and all were excellent sports!
Missed the conference? Keep following online and check out the District 6 Conference keynote video.
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