Leaders from the United Steelworkers (USW) representing workers at Vale Inc. mines across Canada met over two days this week to develop joint strategies for collective bargaining, improving ongoing health and safety, and building global solidarity.
The meeting in Toronto pulled together USW leadership from across Canada, in advance of a new round of bargaining planned over the next few years.
USW Locals 2020 (Sudbury), 6166 (Thompson), 6200 (Port Colborne), 6500 (Sudbury) and 9508 (Voisey’s Bay) joined District 6 Director Marty Warren and District 3 Director Stephen Hunt to develop a plan of solidarity for all USW Locals in the Vale chain.
“While local unions respect one another’s autonomy, Vale is a global employer and the United Steelworkers understands that our strength on behalf of our members grows when we work together,” said a USW news release.
“The local unions already share strategies in health and safety and will be working towards expanding into all areas.”
At site after site, all USW leaders and members will work together to ensure that wages, benefits and working conditions continue to be enhanced and protected.
“Standing united is how we developed decent family-supporting wages and how we will maintain that progress,” said the release.
“The Local Unions are committed to developing a shared collective bargaining strategy with support and resources from USW District and National Offices.”
The Steelworkers also noted they will continue to build global alliances through organizations like IndustriALL and ongoing outreach to unions around the world that represent workers at Vale.
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