I would like to share two things our district is doing to support veterans in our union: the District 3 Veterans of Steel (VoS) network and Local Union VoS Committee.
The VoS network is expanding on previous efforts to give past and currently serving members of the allied forces an opportunity to engage with other veterans to support each other while they navigate life outside the service. The network will meet by zoom a minimum of once every two months, with the option for an in person gathering if members decide.
To join the network, USW members must be actively employed, current or former members of one of the allied forces, and their membership in the union must be in good standing. The hope is to connect with the other districts over time as the network grows. More information and sign up can be found at the following link: https://usw.ca/pages/vetsofsteel-network/.
Interested parties are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible because the group will be nominating District 3 VoS Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson reps at their next meeting. If there are more than one nomination for each position an election process will occur, but more information on that will follow the nomination meeting. To run as a rep, the member needs to be nominated and meet the criteria required to join the network. The nomination meeting will be held on Feb. 13. 2023 at 4 p.m. PDT. Zoom details will be sent to anyone who registers at the above link.
Additionally, a resolution was passed at our International Constitutional Convention in 2022 to create a Veterans Committee in each Local Union. We recognize that in Canada, not every Local will have veteran members. As such, the committee and network remain separate so that veterans can have a unique space to interact with each other. I ask that local executives consider how they would like to roll out the committees and encourage you to consult with the D3 VoS rep and network once that nomination process has concluded to determine how the committee can support Veterans in your area.
Thank you for the important work of supporting our veterans.
Scott Lunny, Director
USW District 3
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