United Steelworkers activism is a driving force for social justice. It is genuine, tangible power that improves working and living standards not only for our members, but for all workers.
There are those who claim that trade unionism is outdated, that it belongs to an earlier time when workers toiled behind locked factory doors, when child labour was exploited and when workplace injuries were the norm.
However, we know that things are better today precisely due to the impact of unions. We know that it is thanks to the determination of generations of labour activists that workers have won major advances such as paid time off, regular pay raises, improved health and safety and a living wage.
We also know that our struggle is as relevant today as ever, given that:
This is why we resist — to ensure that our rights are respected and to fight for laws that create a more fair and just society. We devote our time and energy to make life better for our co-workers and for all workers, now and into the future.
We can be proud of what we’ve achieved together. As our idea of organizing continues to evolve, our union remains steadfast in modernizing and welcoming new ways of engaging workers. We welcome new generations of activists, we recognize Indigenous realities and gender issues, and we take on the fight against systemic racism. We are adapting our tools, our strategies and our ways of campaigning.
Some of our struggles endure through time, such as our commitment to defend Quebec, our culture and the French language. This has always been at the heart of our activism here in District 5.
One thing that will never change is our solidarity! When the going gets tough, when a government or an employer tries to ignore us, we keep our heads up, stand firm and remember that there are more of us than there are bosses. We have strength in numbers!
In solidarity,
Nicolas Lapierre
USW District 5 Director
Layoffs coming at Nova Tube, more uncertainty in the steel sector MONTREAL – The United Steelworkers union (USW) is publicly asking how many more jobs must be lost, or steel plants closed, before the federal government takes stronger action to crack down on unfair trade that is harming Canada’s steel industry. The USW has learned […]
USW District 3 welcomes the BC Federation of Labour’s declaration of a hot edict on mineral products and by-products from Teck’s Highland Valley Copper operation. This is a powerful show of solidarity with more than 1,200 members of USW Local 7619 who have been on strike since October 24, fighting for fair wages, pensions, adequate […]
TORONTO – The United Steelworkers union (USW) issued the following statement in response to the federal budget 2026: “The United Steelworkers welcomes federal investments in Canada’s forestry and wood products sector, as well as in the critical minerals industry. These are important steps toward the industrial strategy Canada needs. But we cannot build the industries […]