The SHF has a long-term relationship of solidarity with our union brothers and sisters in Mexico, especially through the Mineros union and the Authentic Labour Front (FAT). In collaboration with the Canadian Labour Congress, CUPE, PSAC, and the Centre international de solidarité ouvrière in Quebec, through a grant from Employment and Social Development Canada, the […]
Delegations and worker-to-worker exchanges organized by the SHF serve a wide range of purposes but truly come down to building solidarity among union activists. Through those opportunities, Steelworkers often find that they have a lot in common with their brothers and sisters sometimes halfway across the world – a feeling that was perfectly conveyed during […]
The USW has long ties to the West African country of Liberia, where an enormous rubber plantation owned by Firestone supplies raw rubber to US tire factories where USW members work. In the aftermath of Liberia’s devastating civil war, the Firestone Agricultural Workers Union connected our union to a new initiative to provide trades education […]
As these lines are being written, not a day passes without its share of anxiety-inducing headlines on the state of the world. The Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) has an important role to play in this fast-changing context. Created almost 40 years ago to act on Canadian Steelworkers’ desire to contribute to positive social change, the […]
Photo by Jason Payne The following opinion article was originally published in The Vancouver Sun on July 10, 2025. Click here to read the article on The Vancouver Sun website. Many Canadians are understandably frustrated by B.C. Ferries’ $1.2-billion decision to buy four new vessels from China. The situation seems absurd. Canada boasts more ocean […]
USW Local 1-2010’s Women of Steel Committee has once again demonstrated its commitment to equity and justice by hosting an annual meeting that placed racial justice at the forefront. Held in Kapuskasing, Ont., the gathering welcomed 20 committee members from Northern Ontario, representing various sectors within our union, including forestry and lumber, health care, social […]
The USW has proposed smart, targeted policies to keep jobs in Canada and ensure workers, families and their local economies benefit from a strong industrial base.
USW District 3 and the Steelworkers Humanity Fund hosted a meeting in June of the International Miners Network, bringing together unions from the global gold-mining operations of Newmont Corporation. Unions participating in the meeting included Los Mineros of Mexico, SITRACOMY of Peru, ASIJEMIN of Argentina, the Australian Workers Union and the USW – including members […]
In Bargaining to Win, members learned the fundamentals of effective collective bargaining, from preparing proposals to building a strong committee and communicating with members throughout the process. Irshad Malik (Local 2894) appreciated how practical the course was: ” This course showed the real planning behind bargaining. It’s not just talk – it’s knowing your power […]
Catherine Cobden, President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) and Marty Warren, National Director for Canada, United Steelworkers union (USW) issued the following statement: Our initial reaction to the Government of Canada’s plan, announced today, is that it falls short of what our industry needs at this most challenging time. We […]
With mental health becoming a growing concern in all sectors, the Promoting Mental Health in the Workplace course provided Spring School participants with the tools and resources to advocate for mental health in their locals. Lynn Losier (Local 9350) said the course opened new doors: “I didn’t realize how many support resources were out there. […]
The Arbitration – Prepare and Present course at Spring School 2025 gave members an immersive, hands-on look at the arbitration process. From cross-examinations to hearing prep, participants learned what it takes to represent members in one of the union’s most high-stakes forums. Shelly Savoury (Local 1976 – Unit 551), a chief steward and unit president […]
Spring School 2025 offered an advanced track for experienced stewards through Stewards in Action III: Grievances at Final Step and Beyond. The course focused on complex case evaluation, legal research using Westlaw, and confidently navigating final-step grievances. For Laura Macartney of Local 1568, the course was both educational and affirming. “We learned how to research […]
In the labour movement, solidarity isn’t just a slogan – it’s a lifeline. For injured workers across District 6, the United Steelworkers’ Injured Workers Assistance Program (IWAP) is the embodiment of that lifeline. Launched in 2009 as a formal district-wide initiative, IWAP was built from the ground up by union members who saw the urgent […]
From May 11 to 16, USW District 6 members gathered in Collingwood, Ont., for Spring School 2025 – an annual week of union education and skills development. Hosted at Steelworkers Hotel, Living Water Resort, the event brought together members from across the District for in-depth training focused on strengthening locals and building worker power. Each […]
All in on health and safety – Westray video from 2025 International Convention When workers die on the job, families are shattered and communities are forever changed. This powerful video shares real stories of loss, love and the urgent need to hold employers accountable through the Westray Law. Short documentaries Hear from the families directly […]
This spring, USW District 6 Director Kevon Stewart travelled to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico, to participate in the 19th annual remembrance march with Los Mineros, the National Union of Mine, Steel, and Allied Workers of the Mexican Republic. What Stewart witnessed was a powerful reminder of the urgent need for international labour solidarity – and the […]
On a chilly February afternoon at the University of Guelph, 47 Women of Steel gathered not just for lunch but for connection, reflection and solidarity. Over plates of chicken Caesar salad and warm conversation, stories were shared, laughter echoed and for many, something powerful clicked: we are not alone in this. Hosted by USW Local […]