Standing with women in the fight for global gender justice March 8th, International Women’s Day, is a moment to remember that the fight for women’s rights continues. True gender equity and a life free of gender-based violence are still aspirations for many women in Canada and around the world. Lately, we are often being reminded […]
Temporary foreign workers, permanent exploitation Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) in Canada are trapped in an unjust labour system that favours employers and erodes workers’ access to proper wages and occupational safety because of their immigration status. Under a “closed” work permit, their contract binds them to one employer, a situation that makes them at risk […]
In 2023, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) strengthened its global and local solidarity efforts. The 2023 report highlights key initiatives made possible by USW member contributions, including support for partner organizations in Colombia, Brazil, and beyond, with a focus on women workers and worker-to-worker solidarity. Domestically, SHF continued its contributions to food security and social […]
Facing the housing crisis: experiences from Canada and India Housing is an issue of heightened and growing concern across the country. The burden of housing affordability is deep, affecting people across urban and rural communities and impacting multiple generations. Intersecting factors have contributed to this crisis, from high inflation to increasing rents, lack of cooperative […]
Following the ilmenite trail for the defence of rights in Madagascar Since 2019 the Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) has been supporting a project aimed at strengthening union capacity and building solidarity with union partners representing employees at the QMM mine, which is owned by the multinational Rio Tinto. It is mostly ilmenite that is mined […]
Decent wages and health and safety at work are universal aspirations for all workers. For women, these rights can be more challenging to obtain when you confront a culture of patriarchy and gender inequity that has created systemic barriers for female workers. However, women in our union have demonstrated that not only do we have […]
UNION LEADERS AT RISK Organizing a union and fighting for workers’ rights is never easy, but in many countries in the Global South, becoming a leader in the labour movement can put one’s life at risk. Over the past few months, two cases served as stark reminders of this harsh reality, in countries where the […]
In this issue: Worker solidarity stronger than ever. Save the date! USW District 6 Conference 2024 – We're Ready – St. John's, N.L., July 8-12, 2024
Building solidarity between the Mexican and Canadian labour movements and beyond For many decades in Mexico, it was virtually impossible to form a genuine union due to collusion between employers, the government and company-controlled unions. Workers petitioning to unionize confronted huge legal obstacles and the threat of violence. Since 2019, labour reforms under Mexico’s progressive […]
In this update, we spotlight the key features from our 2022 Members’ Report: In this report, you’ll read: This report also includes an overview of the Steelworkers Humanity Fund’s financial report in 2022, as well as a graphic map presenting our partners and the nature of our projects across the globe.
USW directors’ statement for October 4, National Day to Commemorate Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Gender-Diverse Persons: In recognition of October 4, United Steelworkers activists are joining other Canadian trade unionists on Parliament Hill this week to lobby Members of Parliament. We are calling on the federal government for measures to increase safety […]
In 2022, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund had a thriving year, marked by a return to in-person engagement with our partners through delegations to India, Liberia and Mexico. We also strengthened our commitment to corporate accountability and displayed agility in responding to global and local emergencies, demonstrating our dedication to making a positive impact on humanitarian […]
2023 has been a difficult year for many countries as we wrestle with the devasting impacts of global warming and increasing global temperatures. Heat and extreme weather patterns have distressing consequences for humans, nature, communities, and workers exposed to dangerous conditions. July 2023 has reported some of the hottest days recorded across many places in […]
Case summaries – Withdrawn R v Chantiers Chibougamau (2018) Death of subcontractor after 9 metre fall, company charged with criminal negligence causing death In November 2013, Martial Larouche, a plumber subcontracted by Chantiers Chibougamau, a lumber company, was working when he fell and plummeted 9 metres in a silo filled with sawdust. He died of […]
Case summaries – Stayed R v Peter Kiewit Sons ULC (2021) Death of a worker after boulder fell at a rock slope site and crushed him, employer and two supervisors charged with criminal negligence causing death, charges stayed. In February 2009, Sam Fitzpatrick and other employees were ordered to drill rock in an area where […]
Case summaries – Acquittals R v Hoyeck, 2019 NSSC 7 Death of worker after explosion while servicing automobile, employer charged with criminal negligence causing death, acquitted. In 2013, Elie Hoyeck, part-owner of “Your Mechanic Auto Corner”, asked Peter Kempton, automobile mechanic, to remove a gas tank from underneath a minivan. Kempton used a welding torch, […]
Case summaries – convictions/guilty pleas R v CFG Construction, 2019 QCCQ 1244 Death of worker after truck lost control, employer fined $300,000 and subject to a probation order for three years. In September 2012, a truck driver lost control of his truck on a construction site. He died as a result of the injuries he sustained. The […]
Case summaries – In progress R v Gooch In March 2018, Brandon Alcorn died after falling from a roof at a construction site. In 2019, Jeff Scott Gooch, a manager at Insulated Panel Structures in Nova Scotia, was charged with criminal negligence causing death. While the company was charged under the occupational health and safety […]