It was significant to hear Prime Minister Justin Trudeau say, during his visit last week with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, that “Canadians help other Canadians when they are facing tough times … and that’s what we’re going to do.”
As we act on climate change Canadians will need to continue to help other Canadians through some tough times. The drop in oil prices and the resulting jump in unemployment are causing hardship for many workers and communities in Alberta and other parts of Canada. As our Prime Minister and First Ministers set in motion the real work of transitioning to a low carbon economy, they must remember the communities and workers who have a lot at stake in this transition.
Whether the price of Canadian oil rebounds to its previous record highs or it settles in at today’s bottom of the barrel value, sooner rather than later all “carbon intensive” employers and employees will be face-to-face with the global need to produce less carbon dioxide.
Tomorrow is Election Day in British Columbia and there’s too much at stake for Steelworkers to sit this one out. Across our province, working families are facing real challenges. Forestry communities are fighting to protect jobs and keep mills running. Mining workers need stronger safety protections and training. Canadian jobs are threatened by outsourcing, and […]
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – United Steelworkers union (USW) Local 7619 has issued 72-hour strike notice to Teck’s Highland Valley Copper (HVC) operation near Logan Lake, B.C., following unsuccessful negotiations to reach a fair collective agreement. The notice was served Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m., with the union preparing for potential strike action if an agreement […]
The jobs of thousands of USW members have been plunged into uncertainty due to U.S. tariffs, outsourcing and offshoring. In 2025, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) has supported initiatives that help build union-to-union solidarity, which is critical to ensuring workers have a voice. Over the years, the USW has supported the efforts of the Mexican […]