Telecommunications sector workers joining forces to defend their rights at work USW Local 1944 joined a Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) delegation to Izmir, Turkey, in August, to meet Telus workers. The Telus workers in Turkey described the challenges of organizing in the global ‘Business Process Outsourcing’ industry. Telus is primarily known in Canada as a provider of phone and internet services. Yet […]
Bolivian and Canadian Indigenous workers connect to advance global solidarity Awareness around the importance of reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples has grown in Canada over the past years, as well as in many countries across the Americas impacted by a shared history of colonization. The 4th National Gathering of Indigenous Steelworkers (NGIS), held […]
Jeunes musiciens du monde : Harnessing the power of music In Abitibi-Témiscamingue, in northwestern Quebec, music is much more than an art form – it has become a powerful source of hope for young Anicinabek people. Thanks to Jeunes musiciens du monde (JMM, Young Musicians of the World in English), these youths are building a future […]
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 […]