USW National Health, Safety, Environment and Human Rights Conference

Hundreds of USW delegates gathered in Gatineau,Que., in October for the USW National health safety, environment and human rights conference, known as Justice 2024.

The conference started with a moving blessing by Claudette Commanda, an Algonquin Elder, Indigenous rights activist and University of Ottawa Chancellor.

“Without justice, will there be healing, will there be equity? Without justice, will there be a good day and a better day tomorrow, in the future?” asked Commanda. “Keep on working for justice. Keep on doing that good work.”

Quebec Director Dominic Lemieux spoke about having a broad understanding of the concept of justice, including extending our union militancy to the issue of temporary foreign workers, who are often exploited and have little hope of becoming permanent residents and citizens.

USW National Director Marty Warren provided an overview of key health and safety, environment and human rights initiatives across the union, including the revamped Stop the Killing, Enforce the Law campaign, the Raising the Bar on Women’s Health and Safety campaign, the National Anti-Racism Committee, the National Indigenous Committee and the National Steel Pride working group.

“Some of the most complex and challenging work that we face as justice activists is related to the climate and environmental problems that are becoming more pressing each day,” said Warren.

“We can’t shy away from these challenges and that’s why our union is at the forefront of the intersection  

between decarbonization and good jobs. We know we can have a future with good resource and manufacturing jobs, while we build a cleaner and sustainable economy.”

A vital part of the conference was the emphasis on continuing to work on the Stop the Killing campaign, including hearing from local union leaders whose workplaces have been sites of occupational fatalities, such as the explosion at the Come By Chance refinery in Newfoundland that left one member dead and several others badly injured, the devastating Lakeland and Babine sawmill explosions in B.C. where a fatal explosion and fire ripped through the mill, killing and injuring members and National Steel Car in Hamilton, where three members were killed on the job in 21 months.

In addition to the plenary session, conference delegates participated in informative skills-building workshops.

On the closing day, participants heard from District 3 Indigenous Engagement Co-ordinator Julia McKay on the National Day of Action on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (October 4), joined by Jason Prokopchuk (Local 7689), Jean-Yves Couture, District 5 staff representative, and Dan Bertrand (Local 6500).

Members of the National Anti-Racism Committee and the Steel Pride Working Group presented, and the new Human Rights Committee was unveiled. The union’s international constitution mandates local union Human Rights Committees.

The conference concluded with a look back at 50 years since the influential Elliot Lake wildcat strike in northern Ontario.

Whether it comes to health and safety, homophobia, transphobia, anti-Black, anti-Indigenous or any other form of racism, an injury to one is an injury to all!

Find photos from Justice 2024 at: usw.ca/photos

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