The latest news - USW Canada

Steelworkers Humanity Fund update – September 2023

October 20, 2023 | Publications

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 […]

Project meeting with organizers in Ciudad Acuna on US-Mexico

Mexico Labour Solidarity Project supports organizing & challenges corporate race to the bottom

October 18, 2023 | News Articles

By Paul Bocking, Project Officer – Steelworkers Humanity Fund. Labour activists across Mexico are raising awareness among their coworkers on their rights at work. In 2022, their efforts contributed to a series of union victories at companies including St. Gobain in Morelos, where nearly 2000 employees manufacture car windows, to VU on the US-Mexico border, where […]

Steelworkers Humanity Fund digital update – September 2023

October 12, 2023 | Publications

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.

New international project partners: 2023 women’s projects

October 6, 2023 | News Articles

The Women’s International Solidarity Program of the Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) is pleased to introduce two new international project partners based in Nepal and Brazil, selected through a recent call for proposals for international development projects and worker-led initiatives supporting women workers. Earlier this year, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund launched a pilot call for proposals […]

USW National Director Marty Warren speaking at a press conference on Parliament Hill announcing the launch of the joint USW/CLC complaint to the CORE, in presence of Kalpona Akter, Executive Director of BCWS, November 2022.

Advancing corporate accountability, one step at a time

October 4, 2023 | News Articles

By Guillaume Charbonneau, Executive Director of the Steelworkers Humanity Fund. Accountability is a simple, yet powerful concept. When one does something wrong, there should be consequences, or at the very least an acknowledgement of the harm done. Due to successful awareness campaigns led by labour and human rights groups around the world, there is increased […]

Steelworkers lobby for national alert system for missing Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse persons

October 3, 2023 | Publications

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 […]

Charges welcome in Gahcho Kué mine workplace death – Steelworkers

September 29, 2023 | Media Releases

“Too many workers are dying on the job. Over 1,000 workers lose their lives in Canada every year, just because they went to work."

David McCall to succeed Tom Conway as USW International President

September 26, 2023 | Media Releases

PITTSBURGH – The United Steelworkers (USW) International Executive Board today appointed David McCall as the union’s new international president to fill the remainder of Tom Conway’s term. Conway passed away this week after four years as the USW’s leader. “We are all mourning a great loss,” McCall said, “but even in our sadness, our union is strong, thanks in large part […]

A person standing indoors wearing white protective overcoat with two fluorescent yellow stripes going vertically, one horizontally and one around each arm. The person is also wearing a hair net and a white helmet.

USW Local 1-306 member Kanela Villanera featured on ‘The Faces of Agropur’

September 26, 2023 | News Articles

Kanela Villanera is a proud member of USW Local 1-306 (Agropur Dairy Cooperative) in Miramichi, N.B. Kanela Villanera is on a mission for high-quality milk Kanela Villanera has found her niche in the milk industry. The quality control technician at Agropur’s Miramichi plant in New Brunswick finds motivation every day in a maxim: “All you […]

A man sitting behind a desk with a text saying Remembering Tom Conway.

USW mourns passing of International President Tom Conway

September 25, 2023 | Media Releases

(PITTSBURGH / TORONTO) – It is with heavy hearts that the United Steelworkers union (USW) today announces the passing of International President Tom Conway at age 71. Elected as the union’s president in 2019, Conway was known for his quick wit, formidable bargaining skills and unwavering devotion to workers and their families. “From his earliest time making […]

International Partners of the Humanity Fund and USW Members after a workshop at National Women’s Conference

Women workers leading and connecting globally

September 25, 2023 | News Articles

By Jessica Farias, Project Officer – Steelworkers Humanity Fund. In October 2022, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) enabled the participation of international partners from Peru and Mexico to the National USW Women’s Conference in Québec City, providing a unique opportunity for Canadian and International union women to gather, share and learn from each other. Estela Ospina, […]

The image is of a group of 15 people, standing side by side, forming inconspicuous rows.

5,800 Steelworkers at the University of Toronto ratify new, post-Bill 124 contract

September 25, 2023 | News Articles

USW Local 1998’s Staff Appointed Unit at the University of Toronto has ratified its contract with 94.8% voting in favour. The 5,800-person group includes workers who provide administrative and technical support to faculty, students and other members of the university community.

There’s no denying it: Indigenous children suffered and died at residential schools

September 22, 2023 | Statements

USW directors’ statement for September 30, National Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation The United Steelworkers union (USW) is committed to working for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. We know there can be no reconciliation without acknowledging the truth of what happened at residential schools. Between the late 1800s and 1996, more […]

Steelworkers Humanity Fund donates $20,000 to support disaster victims in North Africa

September 21, 2023 | Media Releases

“As survivors and families now look at rebuilding their lives, we must do what we can to assist global humanitarian efforts to support them.”

Caroline Lemay (LU 9700), during a SHF delegation to Bangladesh in July 2022.

What brings us together

September 20, 2023 | News Articles

By Guillaume Charbonneau, Executive Director of the Steelworkers Humanity Fund. The year 2022 saw a lot of action at the Steelworkers Humanity Fund, following two years marked by pandemic restrictions. Our partners around the world and in Canada were able to resume their in-person activities, often by maintaining virtual components that allowed them to reach […]

USW condemns attacks on 2SLGBTQIA+ community

September 19, 2023 | Statements

As leaders of one of the largest private-sector unions in North America, we condemn the attacks that are happening on human rights across the country, targeting gender-diverse and queer youth, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, education workers and allies. 2SLGBTQIA+ peoples, education workers, school boards, labour leaders and activists and others are among those who […]

Steelworkers support No Space for Hate demonstrations

September 19, 2023 | Media Releases

TORONTO – Steelworkers in Toronto and in communities across the country are participating in demonstrations in support of 2SLGBTQIA+ community members and trans and gender-diverse youth on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 9:00 a.m. “We will not tolerate attempts to divide us or roll back the clock on human rights,” said Carolyn Egan, Steelworkers Toronto Area Council […]

Steelworkers Humanity Fund Annual Report 2022

September 13, 2023 | Publications

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 […]