District 3 update: Better Work for Everybody!

That was the theme of the recent District 3 Conference. Over 300 USW members, activists, staff and guests came together in Winnipeg from Oct. 28-31. It was a great success — melding speeches, panels, workshops, social functions, caucuses, committee meetings and even some labour history and trivia!

Better Work for Everybody is a demand and it’s a promise from our union. It is both immediate and aspirational. It is an expression of our values and our hard work as Steelworkers over the years: to make life better through organizing, bargaining, enforcing our contracts, fighting for healthier and safe workplaces and more livable communities. It expresses our desire to educate union members, engage in legislative and political action and participate in our communities to achieve better for workers; better for everybody.

I’m so proud of the work we do in District 3, often in the face of aggressive employers, anti-worker governments, challenging markets and unfair trade. We achieve so much with and because we are together, as Steelworkers.

As our International President Dave McCall said to the delegates at the conference, our union prevails in spite of many challenges because of our values, our commitment to democracy and our unfaltering determination. The recent elections in B.C. and Saskatchewan are a case in point.

USW members from all industries and all walks of life participated in Steelworkers Vote, learning about the political process and putting boots on the ground in both elections. It wasn’t about polls and partisanship. It was to make sure that workers’ voices, Steelworkers’ voices, were heard. We’re pleased with the results in both provinces, not because of which party won, but because we raised our issues and delivered on the promise that Steelworkers vote!

Finally, I want to thank all USW members, everywhere, for what you do to make work and life better: in your workplace, in your community, in your province and across our country. What you do makes a difference. You make a difference.

So, let’s keep working; let’s keep fighting; and let’s make Better Work for Everybody.

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