Violence isn’t “just part of the job”

USW directors’ statement for December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

On December 6, 1989, 14 women were murdered at Montreal’s École Polytechnique because they wanted to work in an occupation historically dominated by men.

Gender-based violence and harassment continue to threaten the safety, dignity and equality of women and gender-diverse workers. Research by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) reveals that gender diverse workers (82%) and women (76%) experience higher rates of harassment and violence at work compared to their colleagues.

In addition, a report on harassment and violence in Canadian workplaces revealed 843 reported occurrences of third-party (clients, patients, customers, etc.) violence and harassment in 2022, reflecting a whopping 41% increase from 2021.

Canada’s unions are calling on all levels of government to make work safer for everyone by:

• Co-ordinating a tripartite national strategy to implement ILO C-190 that includes measures to address the specific challenge of growing violence and harassment from third parties; and
• Conducting a national public awareness campaign about third-party violence and harassment as part of Canada’s National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence and the implementation strategy for ILO C190.

In addition to these demands, there are things trade unionists can do. Educate ourselves and our union members. Use our local union structures to address workplace violence and workplace harassment. Strengthen our collective agreements. Participate in Elevating Action, a collaboration between the USW, White Ribbon and the Canadian Football Players Association (CFLPA) to tackle gender-based violence.  

December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action to end Violence against Women. Let’s remember all those who have lost their lives to gender-based violence. And let’s continue to work hard to ensure that everyone is safe at work and at home and recommit ourselves to ending gender-based violence in all its forms in our communities.

Learn more about the CLC’s research on violence and harassment at work here.

Find USW resources on addressing domestic violence, workplace violence and harassment at usw.ca/womenofsteel.

Let us also remember the names of the 14 women murdered in this act of violence and misogyny:

• Geneviève Bergeron (born 1968), civil engineering student
• Hélène Colgan (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
• Nathalie Croteau (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
• Barbara Daigneault (born 1967), mechanical engineering student
• Anne-Marie Edward (born 1968), chemical engineering student
• Maud Haviernick (born 1960), materials engineering student
• Maryse Laganière (born 1964), budget clerk in the École Polytechnique’s finance department
• Maryse Leclair (born 1966), materials engineering student
• Anne-Marie Lemay (born 1967), mechanical engineering student
• Sonia Pelletier (born 1961), mechanical engineering student
• Michèle Richard (born 1968), materials engineering student
• Annie St-Arneault (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
• Annie Turcotte (born 1969), materials engineering student
• Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz (born 1958), nursing student

In solidarity,

Marty Warren
USW National Director

Scott Lunny
USW District 3 Director

Nicolas Lapierre
USW District 5 Director

Kevon Stewart
USW District 6 Director

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