Women of Steel

The Women of Steel program gives women in our union the tools and skills we need to fight for and achieve equality and take leadership roles in our workplaces and in the USW.

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Raising the Bar on Women’s Health and Safety

Steelworkers pride ourselves on being the health and safety union. Women of Steel are pointing to hazards and health issues they face as women workers. Let’s make women’s health and safety issues a priority for action!

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USW Guide to Women's Committees

This step-by-step guide will help develop and support an active USW network of local, area, regional and district Women’s Committees.

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Resources on domestic violence, harassment, and workplace violence

Bargaining language and other tools to take action against domestic violence, harassment and other forms of violence.

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Taking action on women’s equality

At the largest ever International/ National Women’s Conference in Toronto in 2018, women from right across the union came together to build a bold plan of action to help guide our union and our activism at work and in our communities. 

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National Inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, and two spirit/LGBTQ+ people

Long-time government policies and deeply rooted social beliefs have put Canada’s Indigenous women, girls, and Two Spirit/LGBTQ+ people at greater risk of violence. USW helped in the call for a National inquiry, because an injury to one is an injury to all, and because Steelworkers and our family members are among the missing and murdered.

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Featured resources

Finding good PPE for women

Misc. Resources
October 18, 2024
Click to view Finding good PPE for women

Bargaining Guide for Closing the Gender Wage Gap

Reports • Research & Publications
November 13, 2017
Click to view Bargaining Guide for Closing the Gender Wage Gap

Equality Agenda: Our Policy on Human Rights

Policy
August 4, 2010
Click to view Equality Agenda: Our Policy on Human Rights

USW Guide for Women’s Committees

Booklets & Manuals
July 29, 2009
Click to view USW Guide for Women’s Committees

News

An image of three people standing side by side inside a manufacturing plant. They are all wearing white hard hads and 2 people (on the left and centre) are wearing high visibility safety vests.

Janet Baic looks to engage next generation of women Activists at Local 9548

May 29, 2024 | News Articles

When Janet Baic first started working at Tenaris Algoma Tubes in Sault Ste Marie, Ont., in 2013, she was only one of a handful of women at the Canadian pipe manufacturing facility. Now, in 2024, an influx of women at the plant is bringing a sense of revival to Local 9548’s Women of Steel (WOS) committee.

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Click to read the article about Janet Baic looks to engage next generation of women Activists at Local 9548
A vacant land full with grass and surrounded by buildings.

Eleven years after the Rana Plaza factory collapse, Canada’s unions honour victims and continue demands to improve conditions for workers

April 24, 2024 | Statements

April 24, 2024, marks 11 years since the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This terrible and avoidable tragedy killed more than 1,134 workers and injured more than 2,600, unveiling the horrific conditions of work for millions of workers in an unregulated industry, not only in Bangladesh but in dozens of other countries as well.

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Click to read the article about Eleven years after the Rana Plaza factory collapse, Canada’s unions honour victims and continue demands to improve conditions for workers

National events

District events

More resources

How unions can support members with family responsibilities

Misc. Resources
October 23, 2024
Click to view How unions can support members with family responsibilities
A group of people taking a photo outdoor whilemholding a banner with text saying "Training for leadership adn governance for women waste workers

Steelworkers Humanity Fund update – March 2024

Research & Publications
March 13, 2024
Click to view Steelworkers Humanity Fund update – March 2024

Pay equity backgrounder

Misc. Resources
December 6, 2023
Click to view Pay equity backgrounder

Raising the Bar on Women’s Health and Safety: order form

Forms
November 29, 2023
Click to view Raising the Bar on Women’s Health and Safety: order form

A Pay Equity toolkit for USW Staff Representatives and Pay Equity Committee members

Booklets & Manuals
September 18, 2023
Click to view A Pay Equity toolkit for USW Staff Representatives and Pay Equity Committee members

Suppliers of PPE for Women

Misc. Resources
July 25, 2023
Click to view Suppliers of PPE for Women

2021 Survey Results Regarding the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Steelworkers

Reports
September 30, 2022
Click to view 2021 Survey Results Regarding the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Steelworkers

Hygiene facility regulations and requirements by jurisdiction

Policy
June 29, 2022
Click to view Hygiene facility regulations and requirements by jurisdiction