Union representing laid-off workers makes no apology for helping enforce Canadian law
TORONTO – The American CEO of the company that owns the Stelco steel mills laying off Canadian workers accused the United Steelworkers union (USW) of “colluding” with the federal government.
“Damn right we’re colluding with Ottawa,” said USW national director Marty Warren. “Like a witness colluding with the police to catch a crook, we make no apology for helping enforce Canadian law.”
In unhinged comments, Lourenco Goncalves, CEO of Stelco owner Cleveland-Cliffs, made wild accusations that the USW was colluding with Ottawa, which in turn was colluding with the USW. “I would never expect that the Canadian government would be colluding with the union against the ownership of the company.
“I could expect that in South American countries, but not in Canada,” he said. “It’s a big surprise.”
In reply, Warren said the real surprise is that Goncalves is surprised.
“Mr. Goncalves made several commitments to the federal government while seeking approval to buy Stelco, one of North America’s most efficient steel facilities.
“He swore he’d maintain employment levels at 2024 levels but is laying off up to 500 workers.
“He pledged to expand shipments of Stelco products yet admits to investors that he bought a competitor to keep it out of the U.S. market.
“And he promised to defend Canada’s exemption from President Trump’s tariffs – in his words, because Canada plays by the rules – yet before Congress and in the media has championed those very same tariffs.”
Warren said far from Ottawa agreeing with Steelworkers that Cleveland-Cliffs must honour commitments made with corrupt regimes elsewhere, it’s quite the opposite.
“It’s not the Steelworkers or Industry Minister Mélanie Joly who resemble some hypothetical despot,” he said. “It’s buying an asset, idling it to benefit yourself, and deciding that laws which apply to everyone else don’t to you.
“It should be obvious that Canada and the Steelworkers will fight back.”
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First published on globeandmail.com on October 22, 2026 By Marty Warren, Special to the Globe and Mail Marty Warren, the Canadian national director of the United Steelworkers union. As I write, more workers at Hamilton’s Stelco steel mill are being laid off. In all, the plant’s U.S. owner, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., will cut up to 500 jobs. This, […]
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