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 […]
In our union’s proud history of promoting and supporting equality, Steelworkers celebrate Black History Month each February. We remember and celebrate the accomplishments of black Canadian people in society, acknowledge the achievements of activists in our union, and encourage Steelworkers to continue the struggle for equality. We are beginning to recognize that despite advances in […]
TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann praised Tuesday’s House of Commons vote on an NDP motion to end income inequality and gender discrimination as a victory for women workers in all sectors of the economy. “Our union has been fighting for pay equity for decades in both so-called traditional and non-traditional workplaces,” […]
A march to “stand up for steel” attracted a few thousand workers from all over the province to downtown Hamilton on Saturday. The workers rallied at city hall and then marched down Main Street, up John Street and around to King Street before attending another rally at the Convention Centre. The march came as local steelworkers and […]
Prison time for scaffold deaths, lawsuit over sawmill explosion prompts strong words from labour. “The time has come: if you kill a worker, you go to jail.” Strong words. But Ken Neumann, head of the 225,000-member United Steelworkers Canada, says that’s the precedent setting message from an Ontario court ruling this week. In a historic […]
TORONTO – The 3½-year jail sentence for a Metron Construction manager found guilty of criminal negligence in the 2009 deaths of four workers is a victory for advocates of corporate criminal accountability in workplace death and injury, say leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW). “This is a Toronto story but it is a national precedent […]
TORONTO – Canadian and U.S. leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW), North America’s largest industrial union, are calling on the governments of both countries to reject the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. The USW’s International Executive Board has adopted a formal resolution urging rejection of the TPP deal by the U.S. Congress and […]
Women’s activism and involvement in the union had begun earlier, particularly during the feminist wave of the 1970s and 1980s. Deirdre Gallagher, a staff representative at the Canadian National Office in the early 1980s, developed Changing Faces of Unionism, a course aimed at breaking down workplace barriers and encouraging women to become active members and […]
OTTAWA – Hamilton Mountain MP Scott Duvall is challenging the Liberal government to “live up to its election campaign rhetoric” and defend the rights of U.S. Steel pensioners who were robbed of their access to health benefits and prescription drug coverage. In October, an Ontario Superior Court judge overseeing U.S. Steel Canada’s bankruptcy protection case […]
By Ken Neumann and Marty Warren With a perfect storm threatening Canada’s steel industry, many concerned Canadians are asking, “Will steel manufacturing still play a key role in our future economy?” Well, the answer can — and should — be: “yes.” To understand why and how, let’s look at the facts. The livelihoods of tens […]
TORONTO – The United Steelworkers (USW) welcomes the launch of a national public inquiry into Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women. “This is long overdue,” said USW National Director Ken Neumann. “Like any important work, it must be done well and result in real action. “In the meantime, there are things the federal government can […]
Two hundred Women of Steel from local unions across the country gathered recently for a successful USW National Women’s Conference. A key theme of the event was Action to End Violence Against Women. As we mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, I want to encourage all Steelworkers to take […]
TORONTO – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne are being urged to provide meaningful help to thousands of vulnerable pensioners whose critical health-care benefits were taken away overnight by multinational U.S. Steel. “I request your government’s immediate attention to the plight of some 20,000 retirees and surviving spouses whose rights to post-retirement […]
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 […]
The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is reviving the debate over temporary foreign workers because side agreements would exempt international companies in Canada from requirements to offer jobs to Canadians first. The Globe and Mail has confirmed that the deal, like Canada’s existing trade pacts, contains provisions that would make it easier for companies from TPP […]
TORONTO – NDP Leader Tom Mulcair is the only federal party leader to come forward to support a national campaign to enforce Criminal Code provisions that hold corporations, their directors and executives accountable for workplace deaths and injuries, says Ken Neumann, United Steelworkers (USW) National Director. “Our Canadian directors signed a letter to all the […]
On October 4, Canadians like me will mark the national day of vigils to honour missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Sadly, the missing and murdered include Steelworker sisters and the family members of Steelworkers. This will be the tenth year in a row for this important commemoration. But this October, we can do […]
Fourteen young trade unionists from Canada, the United States, UK, Mexico and Cuba met in London, UK in late August for the second Global Youth Exchange, organized this year by Workers Uniting. A typical English summer accompanied the event, though the 12 days of rain couldn’t dampen the delegates’ spirits! The activities began in Esher […]