The latest news - USW Canada

A New World of Possibilities for Workers: Napoleon Gomez Becomes A Senator in Mexico

August 28, 2018 | Submissions and Letters

USW International President Leo W. Gerard has written a letter to Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, congratulating him on the occasion of his swearing as a Senator of the Mexican Republic. Napoleon Gomez is the Secretary General of Los Mineros, the National Miners’ and Metalworkers’ Union of Mexico (SNTMMSRM). USW stands in solidarity with workers and trade […]

USW Submission on U.S. Section 232 Tariffs on Canadian Steel and Aluminum Exports

June 26, 2018 | Submissions and Letters

In a submission today to the Government of Canada’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on International Trade, USW National Director Ken Neumann called for stronger action from the federal government in response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum exports. The federal government must provide immediate supports to Canadian workers and industry, strengthen our ability to […]

USW Submission on Bill C-262 and UNDRIP

April 3, 2018 | Submissions and Letters

As part of USW’s ongoing efforts to engage in reconciliation, we support NDP MP Romeo Saganash’s private member’s bill. Bill C-262 calls on the federal government to adopt and implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We shared our views with the House of Commons committee studying the bill. Download PDF Read […]

Submissions to the Review Panel under Section 3 of the BC Labour Relations Code

March 22, 2018 | Submissions and Letters

The world of work has changed dramatically over the last fifty years and our members have experienced these changes first-hand. Fifty years ago, the majority of our members were hired by local employers fresh out of high school or college, and stayed working for that employer until they retired – with a solid pension and […]

Submission on the Canadian Forest Industry’s Secondary Supply Chain

November 28, 2017 | Submissions and Letters

On November 22nd, 2017, the USW appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources to testify on the factors affecting the Canadian forest industry’s secondary supply chain. The USW submitted a detailed brief to the committee outlining the challenges facing the Canadian forest industry’s secondary supply chain. The Steelworkers made clear in […]

USW District 6 Submission: WSIB Draft Chronic Stress Consultation

July 6, 2017 | Submissions and Letters

Our recommendations are to provide the definition and examples of traumatic mental stress prior to any policy explanation or guidelines. We ask the WSIB to eliminate: • the requirement for an event to be objectively traumatic; • the requirement for direct contact with the traumatized worker; • “a substantial work-related stressor” as a requirement for […]

Submission by United Steelworkers to Global Affairs Canada Consultations on a Possible Canada-China Free Trade Agreement

June 2, 2017 | Submissions and Letters

We commend Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for initiating these consultations as it examines whether Canada should initiate negotiations with China towards a free trade agreement (FTA). This is a welcome change from recent trade and investment agreements negotiated on Canada’s behalf, such as the FIPA, CETA and TPP, which were noteworthy for their secrecy and […]

USW Testifies on Parliament Hill on Women’s Economic Security

April 6, 2017 | Submissions and Letters

Closing the gender wage gap, adequate funding for affordable child care, and action on pensions and care-giver leaves are some of the measures women need to be economically secure. That’s what USW researcher Meg Gingrich told the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women which had invited the USW to testify, on […]

Manufacturing Policy

April 4, 2017 | Submissions and Letters

Overview: On October 9th 2016, the USW testified before the House of Common’s Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology regarding the state of Canada’s manufacturing sector. The USW submitted a detailed brief to the committee outlining the challenges facing the Canadian manufacturing sector, and how those challenges could be overcome. The policy paper found […]

Steel Dumping Submission

March 31, 2017 | Submissions and Letters

Overview: On March 9th 2017, the USW testified before the House of Commons Committee on International Trade on the factors affecting the Canadian steel industry’s ability to compete. The USW submitted a detailed brief to the committee outlining the challenges facing the Canadian steel industry. In particular, the Steelworkers outlined how Chinese overcapacity in the […]

USW, CLC and affiliates call on Minister Chrystia Freeland to support labour rights for Bangladesh garment workers

March 4, 2017 | Submissions and Letters

In December 2016, the government of Bangladesh cracked down on labour demands for fair wages with the arrests of union leaders, workplace dismissals and widespread intimidation of union activists. In Canada, the Canadian Labour Congress, PSAC, CUPE, USW, UNIFOR, UFCW and OSSTF joined together to call for the release of the imprisoned leaders, reinstate […]

Bill 70: ‘Building Up’ Everyone but Ontario’s Working People

December 6, 2016 | Submissions and Letters

Responding to the Ontario government’s stealth attack on worker health and safety. Introduction This submission is made on behalf of the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (United Steelworkers/USW). We are the largest industrial union in North America, with over 860,000 members. We are a diverse […]

USW Submission to the Standing Committee on International Trade Regarding CETA

November 30, 2016 | Submissions and Letters

Submission to the Standing Committee on International Trade Re: Concerns regarding Bill C-30, An act to implement the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union… The United Steelworkers is the largest industrial union in North America representing more than 225,000 members in Canada. Our members work in virtually every tradable sector, […]

USW-CSPA Open Letter to the Prime Minister on Global Overcapacity in the Steel Sector

September 1, 2016 | Submissions and Letters

September 1, 2016 Via Email: pm@pm.gc.ca, justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 Re: Open Letter to the Prime Minister on Global Overcapacity in the Steel Sector Dear Prime Minister: We, the undersigned, wish to encourage you on […]

Stop the TPP: Canadians Deserve a Better Deal

May 31, 2016 | Submissions and Letters

The United Steelworkers is not anti-trade, but our union is opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The USW made a submission to government proceedings reviewing the TPP in May, 2016. The United Steelworkers believes the Trans-Pacific Partnership will not resolve the most important challenges that have decimated our manufacturing base in recent years. The USW […]

Fort McMurray Emergency Fire Appeal

May 12, 2016 | Submissions and Letters

The devastating Fort McMurray fires have been heartbreaking to watch, as communities are forced to flee with many families losing their homes and livelihoods. Lives will be changed forever and it will take years to rebuild. To support these communities, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund will contribute $40,000 to Fort McMurray fire relief. This is in […]

The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement and the Future of Peace and Prosperity in Colombia

March 5, 2016 | Submissions and Letters

The United Steelworkers (USW) has been working closely with workers and communities in Colombia for many years, through relief, development and mutual aid. Our union continues to observe the conditions and challenges in Colombia through regular exchanges and delegations. As a labour organization, the killing of trade unionists and human rights defenders in any part […]

Building a Better Working Future: The USW and Ontario’s Changing Workplaces Review

November 4, 2015 | Submissions and Letters

In Ontario, full-time jobs with decent wages, benefits and retirement income are increasingly rare. In their place are too many low-paid, part-time jobs with minimal benefits or retirement income. The USW does not accept this as inevitable. Decisions by successive provincial governments to weaken laws and erode labour rights have not resulted in job creation […]