The United Steelworkers union (USW) is stepping up its fight against U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Canadian exports, calling them a reckless economic attack that threatens workers, their families and the communities that depend on the jobs under attack by the U.S. president.
“These tariffs are a direct assault on Canadian workers and the federal government must act decisively,” said Marty Warren, USW Canadian National Director. “We need strong and immediate responses from the federal government, both in terms of retaliatory measures and support for workers who could and will be affected by the U.S. president’s harmful policies. We also need to start reviewing our industrial policies now, to reduce our dependence on the U.S., starting with domestic procurement policies for projects financed with public money. Canada cannot afford to hesitate – we must send a clear message: we will not be intimidated.”
The Canadian Steelworkers are not alone in this struggle and the union is also fighting these tariffs on the other side of the border, where American workers and industries will also feel the effects. USW International President David McCall has made it clear that “Canadian and American workers are not in competition – we build goods together.”
The USW International Board recently adopted a unanimous resolution condemning these tariffs and the fact that they will hurt workers on both sides of the border and disrupt vital supply chains between our two countries.
USW District 3 Director Scott Lunny, representing workers across Western Canada, is calling on provincial governments to step up with direct support for affected workers and businesses alongside federal action.
“Provinces have a role to play in ensuring that workers impacted by tariffs and tariff threats are not left behind,” said Lunny. “That means leveraging provincial procurement rules to prioritize Canadian-made products, working with affected industries to mitigate the fallout and strengthening worker protections. Provinces have to support the federal government and keep the pressure on until the threat of tariffs from Trump are off the table.”
USW/Syndicat des Métallos Quebec Director Dominic Lemieux warned that Trump’s tariffs could have a devastating impact on key manufacturing sectors and called for unity in the fight against the measures.
“Quebec is a major exporter of steel, aluminum, lumber and manufacturing products. These tariffs threaten thousands of jobs in our cities and regions,” said Lemieux. “We need a united front in this fight. Quebec workers won’t stand idly by while Trump’s trade war threatens their livelihoods, and we expect the same from our elected representatives, regardless of their political stripe.”
USW District 6 Director Kevon Stewart, representing Ontario and Atlantic Canada, emphasized that Trump’s tariffs are a betrayal of North American workers and that USW members on both sides of the border are standing together against these attacks.
“Trump is playing politics with workers’ livelihoods, but the reality is that Canadian and American steelworkers rely on each other,” said Stewart. “These tariffs don’t just hurt Canadian jobs – they threaten manufacturing and supply chains across the U.S. as well. We’re pushing back hard in Canada and we’re standing shoulder to shoulder with our American union brothers and sisters to fight these reckless policies.”
The fight is just beginning
The USW is continuing its fight on both sides of the border – pressuring the federal and provincial governments to defend Canadian jobs, engaging with allies in the U.S., and mobilizing workers across the country to push back against Trump’s reckless trade war.
“Steelworkers are not backing down,” said Warren. “We are demanding real action from our governments, we are standing with our allies in the U.S. and we are making it clear: Canada will not be pushed around. Canadian workers built this country. We’re not going to let Trump tear it down.”
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
“Premier’s Eby’s approach in pressing the federal government in Ottawa for worker supports is key in helping our members get through this uncertain time.”
Workers formed a union and received official recognition from the Turkish government last August, but Telus Digital and Telus have refused to recognize the workers’ union.
TORONTO – The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is donating $20,000 to Oxfam-Québec to support its appeal for the humanitarian emergency following the recent earthquake in Myanmar. Last week, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, causing widespread destruction. Estimates now put the official death toll at over 2,900 people, with thousands more injured and displacing 1.6 million in […]