The United Steelworkers joins in recognizing and celebrating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities and activists to our union, our communities and our country.
There has been a significant shift recently in Canada in extending legislation supporting LGBT rights. As of March 2015, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador have extended protected grounds to explicitly include “gender expression” and “gender identity.” In other jurisdictions, LGBT rights are protected under the ground of “sex.”
Steelworkers support these changes. All workers, indeed all human beings, deserve dignity and freedom from violence and discrimination against their lived experiences. Our union is stronger when all our members live and work in an environment of respect and safety.
I encourage everyone to read the story of one of our LGBT activists in the spring 2015 issue of our USW@Work magazine. The story shows how the experience of one LGBT member can transform the solidarity of an entire workplace.
I invite USW locals, our members across the country and all Canadians to take part in Pride celebrations and activities this month. And I commend Steelworkers for your efforts throughout the year in defending human rights and equality and supporting our activists and allies in LGBT communities.
Winnipeg: www.pridewinnipeg.com
Edmonton: www.edmontonpride.ca
Saskatoon: www.saskatoonpride.ca
Toronto: www.pridetoronto.com
Victoria: www.victoriapridesociety.org
Halifax: www.halifaxpride.com
Vancouver: www.vancouverpride.ca
Montreal: www.fiertemontrealpride.com/en/pride
Quebec City: www.glbtquebec.org/pride.html
Calgary: www.pridecalgary.ca
Thompson: www.facebook.com/PrideNorth/events
In solidarity,
VANCOUVER – Some 3,000 unionized workers at TELUS operations in four provinces have ratified a new collective agreement with the company. The new agreement addresses employees’ top priorities, including workplace “stability and security,” said Michael Phillips, President of Local 1944 of the United Steelworkers union (USW). Ratification of the new collective agreement comes five months […]
Steelworkers from across Western Canada gathered in Langley, B.C., for the first USW Racial Justice Summit, organized by the USW National Anti-Racism Committee.
First published on globeandmail.com on October 22, 2026 By Marty Warren, Special to the Globe and Mail Marty Warren, the Canadian national director of the United Steelworkers union. As I write, more workers at Hamilton’s Stelco steel mill are being laid off. In all, the plant’s U.S. owner, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., will cut up to 500 jobs. This, […]