Workers everywhere are joining ‘Everybody’s Union’

From Starbucks coffee shops, to university campuses, to heavy industry, workers in all sectors of the economy are joining the Steelworkers, exemplifying the motto that the USW is indeed Everybody’s Union. Recent USW organizing successes include:

Starbucks, B.C. and Alberta
The breakthrough victory by Starbucks workers in Victoria, B.C., who joined the USW in 2020 has inspired employees at many of the coffee chain’s other outlets to unionize to improve their working conditions. Recent victories include:

• Two Starbucks stores in Sherwood Park, Alta., where workers joined USW in two separate votes in August.
• Starbucks workers at the Calgary Millrise Centre won their vote to join USW in July, establishing the first unionized Starbucks in Alberta.
• Workers at a Starbucks store in Langley, B.C., joined the USW in July, under B.C.’s new single-step certification laws.
• Workers at a Starbucks store in Surrey, B.C., joined the Steelworkers in June. The Langley and Surrey workers have joined forces as members of the same USW bargaining unit.

“This is an exciting time for our Starbucks crew to be uniting with the USW – a moment in history. I look forward to a united and strong future with the USW,” said Sara Doran, a barista at one of the unionized Sherwood Park stores.

The USW is supporting workers at several other Starbucks stores who are mobilizing to join the union and to overcome the corporation’s notorious anti-union tactics.

Magotteaux foundry, Magog, Que.
When management changes contributed to deteriorating labour relations, one worker recalled how a union organizer had left business cards at the plant – two years earlier. The card was found, contact was made with the USW and workers were soon mobilizing to join Local 7531. The victory was led by two workers, Oscar Pinto and Pascal Gaudreault. The plant manufactures steel grinding balls for ore crushers in mining operations.

Vale, Sudbury, Ont.
Security guards working at Vale’s mining operations in Sudbury became Steelworkers in September after voting overwhelmingly to join the USW. The 49-member bargaining unit includes permanent and casual employees alike.

Sodexo, Prince George, B.C.
Sodexo workers, who provide catering and facilities management services at Centerra Gold’s Mount Milligan Mine, voted 92.9% to join the USW in June. About 70 workers joined the union after struggling with numerous issues, including a lack of benefits, coverage for personal protective equipment and uncompetitive wages.

Maxi-Metal, Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, Que.
In a swift and entirely internal organizing campaign, workers decided to join USW Local 9153 to address deteriorating labour relations and working conditions. The wisdom of their decision was soon confirmed when the locally owned company, which manufactures fire trucks and utility vehicles, was bought by an American corporation.

University of Toronto, residence dons
In an emphatic statement, residence dons at the University of Toronto’s Mississauga campus voted 100% to join the USW in September. The 52 student workers, who act as a critical resource for students in university residences, join colleagues at other University of Toronto residences as members of USW Local 1998.

Alutrec, Laurier-Station, Que.
Three years after a single Alutrec employee first contacted the Steelworkers about the prospects of unionizing, a groundswell of support in the workplace led to workers deciding to join the union. Engaging Latino workers in the plant, which manufactures transport truck trailers, was a key factor in the campaign’s success.

This article was featured in the Winter 2022 edition of USW@Work. Click here to download and read the full magazine.

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