At the 55th USW National Policy Conference in Toronto in April 2023, Steelworkers activists from across the country adopted dozens of resolutions to shape our union’s policies for improving the working and living standards of our members and all workers.
Following the conference, USW leaders, staff and activists have been working diligently to implement these resolutions. This work affects issues ranging from Indigenous engagement and reconciliation; health and safety; fair trade and sustainable jobs; and strengthening human rights and labour solidarity around the globe. Examples include:
* Responding to several resolutions related to trade, the economy and workers’ rights, our union ramped up our political advocacy, demanding action to combat unfair trade, to create a national industrial strategy, to defend key industries and create sustainable jobs, and to strengthen collective bargaining power. These efforts have led to successes that include:
• A new federal anti-scab law, benefiting tens of thousands of Steelworkers and hundreds of thousands of other workers.
• Many USW victories in unfair trade cases; the imposition of new tariffs on imports of steel, aluminum and electric vehicles from China; and new “melt-and-pour” regulations to prevent illegal dumping of foreign products in our markets.
• Expanding our Stand Up for Steel campaign (see related article on page 11).
• Building solidarity with Mexican trade unionists, including filing a CUSMA rapid response complaint alleging anti-union actions by a Canadian mining company.
* Progress also has been made on several resolutions aimed at engaging and empowering our union’s Indigenous members and advancing our work on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada:
• Creating the USW Indigenous Engagement Guide, a new resource to help local unions engage and build respectful relationships with our Indigenous members and with Indigenous nations and communities.
• Extending the USW Indigenous Engagement Co-ordinators pilot project.
• Expanding our Unionism on Turtle Island course across the country.
* Our work in response to resolutions on issues affecting USW women and other equity-seeking groups includes:
• Expanding the groundbreaking national campaign, Raising the Bar on Women’s Health and Safety.
• Creating and supporting the USW Women in Industry Network.
• Expertise and support to local unions to develop pay equity plans in response to federal legislation.
• Supporting and empowering the USW National Anti-Racism Committee and creating the USW Steel Pride Working Group.
Our union remains committed to implementing the ambitious policy agenda set out by our members.
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