The latest news - USW Canada

Women of Steel promote hiring and retention of women at Quebec aluminum smelter

March 20, 2024 | News Articles

When a new aluminum smelter in Alma, Que., came into full production more than two decades ago, there were 57 women working in the plant. While women accounted for a minority among the smelter’s workforce of about 700, their numbers were nevertheless significantly higher than average at such male-dominated industrial facilities. “At the beginning, around […]

Sharing our pronouns – solidarity in action  

March 15, 2024 | News Articles

Creating safer work environments is core to what we do as a union. Safety and well-being also include freedom from harassment and discrimination. Steelworker members bring a variety of life experiences and identities to their jobs and it is our duty to create positive, respectful work and union environments.   At United Steelworkers union events and […]

Indigenous art project – an opportunity to share your art

March 13, 2024 | News Articles

Indigenous art has been and continues to be an important means of cultural expression and sharing of culture across generations. The United Steelworkers union is seeking contributions from Indigenous Steelworkers of print art pieces, created by Indigenous Steelworkers or their kinfolk. We are looking for a maximum of eight pieces of art to be used […]

First Starbucks location in Toronto vote to join the Steelworkers union

March 8, 2024 | Media Releases

“In a world that is hostile to workers and increasingly becoming more precarious for us, having protections in place outside of those dictated by the company, as well as a shot at accessing a living wage, is more important than ever."

Image: Two people are pictured facing the camera smiling, shown from the waist up, holding a cheque that is being presented by the person on the right to the person on the left.

A giving culture

March 5, 2024 | News Articles

USW Local 9422 members contributed to the success of Impala Canada's $30,000 fundraising for four charities.

Let’s focus on women’s economic and physical security

March 1, 2024 | Statements

International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate gains made by generations of women, girls, and female-identifying persons towards gender equity. And March 8 is also a time when we re-commit ourselves to take on the problems that remain.

A group of Métallos at a picket, raising a flag with the slogan

Support for anti-scab legislation marks important progress for workers’ rights

February 28, 2024 | Media Releases

OTTAWA – Yesterday’s vote in the House of Commons to advance Bill C-58 (banning replacement workers in the case of a labour dispute) to committee is a significant step forward for workers’ rights in Canada. The United Steelworkers union (USW) now hopes for swift progress through the committee stage. “The vote on the anti-scab bill […]

A parade of striking Steelworkers marching down a street waving, waving Métallos flags.

Improvements needed to protect workers as Parliament resumes debate on anti-scab legislation

February 26, 2024 | Media Releases

The USW welcomes the resumption of debate in the House of Commons on the anti-scab legislation.

Historic day for health care in Canada: pharmacare

February 23, 2024 | Media Releases

Today marks a historic day for health care in Canada, as an agreement between the Liberal government and the NDP on Pharmacare is confirmed. The steadfast efforts by the NDP will now pave the way for a universal national pharmacare program and represents an important step towards equitable access to prescription drugs for all Canadians. For many years, Steelworkers, with the broader labour movement, have worked with the NDP to push for a universal, single-payer pharmacare plan, that would reduce the burden of expensive, inaccessible prescription drugs for Canadians. The bill, to be tabled shortly, will establish the framework for a national Pharmacare program and will also introduce, in the short term, new coverage for contraception and diabetes treatment, addressing the urgent health care needs of Canadians.

A collage image of patients at a hospital and medical devices. At the bottom is a group of people holding a life-sized donation cheque to the hospital. There is text at the bottom that says 'The Foundations at Health Sciences North have one million reasons to be thankful as the United Steelworkers Local 6500 surpass the lifetime giving total of $1 million donated to enhance all areas of patient care across Health Sciences North including the realization of the children's treatment centre, the purchase of vital equipment and the funding of cancer research'

United Steelworkers Local 6500 surpasses $1 million in lifetime giving to the Foundations at Health Sciences North

February 15, 2024 | Media Releases

The Foundations at Health Sciences North (HSN) have one million reasons to be thankful as the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 6500’s most recent donation on February 1st surpasses their lifetime giving total of $1 million dedicated to enhancing patient care at HSN.

University of Toronto contract workers demand living wage, decent benefits

February 13, 2024 | News Articles

TORONTO – Approximately 3,800 contract workers at the University of Toronto now have a strike mandate to bolster their demands for living wages and basic health benefits from the country’s wealthiest university. The workers, members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1998, work on contract at the University of Toronto and are classified by the university […]

A group of people standing side by side behind a podium, indoors, in a press room. There are flags on poles behind them bookended by two banners.

Ontario workers win against the Ford government’s unconstitutional Bill 124

February 12, 2024 | Media Releases

The United Steelworkers (USW) union applauds the decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal today holding that the Ford government’s Bill 124 is unconstitutional in relation to unionized employees. This is a victory and justice served for Ontario unionized workers, their families and the labour movement.

An image of a group of people indoors. There is a row of people standing on the edge of the stage and another row of people standing in front of them.

International Miners Network ready to strengthen worker power across the globe

January 31, 2024 | News Articles

This international network is an important piece of the USW’s continued efforts to advance global union activism. Mining is an important industry for the Steelworkers, but we recognize that it is not an equal playing field for mine workers across the world. Through the Steelworkers Humanity Fund, we can help even that field by actively engaging in international solidarity initiatives to uplift and support fellow trade unionists across the globe to defend their rights.

Renewing our commitment to fight racism: USW Directors’ Statement for Black History Month 2024

January 30, 2024 | Statements

Throughout the year, and especially during Black History Month, as a union, we take the time to reflect on how we represent Black and racialized workers. We must actively oppose racism and continue to identify the ways in which we can strengthen our racial justice work through an anti-Black racism and anti-racism lens.

An image of people inside a manufacturing plant. The group is standing close, side-by-side and there is a blue flag in the middle that's being held up. The flag says 'United Steelworkers USW Métallos Local 6565'

USW Local 6565 ratifies new contract with solid wins

January 29, 2024 | News Articles

Members of USW Local 6565-02, have ratified a new three-year collective agreement. The largest win for these members was in the wage category, seeing a 19% increase over the life of the contract.

A group of people indoors, standing in a group. There are three people in the front holding up an enlarged cheque. Behind them is an elevated screen that says '$747,000.00 Thank you!'

United Steelworkers (USW) Local 6500 and Vale raise over $747,000 for United Way campaign

January 26, 2024 | News Articles

United Steelworkers Local (USW) 6500 and Vale has announced that the 2023 joint fundraising campaign for the United Way Centraide North East Ontario raised a total of $747,741.

USW stands in support of the Argentinian trade union centrals ahead of their national day of mobilization

January 17, 2024 | News Articles

The following solidarity letter was sent to Argentina’s Confederación General del Trabajo (CGT), Central de los Trabajadores y Trabajadoras de la Argentina (CTA-T) and Central de los Trabajadores Argentinos – Autónoma (CTA-A). The United Steelworkers Union in Canada represents 225,000 members in various sectors of the Canadian economy. We stand in solidarity with the labour movement and […]

The USW, CFLPA and White Ribbon train first cohort for new Elevating Action program

January 12, 2024 | Media Releases

Jasper, Alberta – This week, the United Steelworkers union (USW), Canadian Football Players’ Association (CFLPA), and White Ribbon took the next steps in an important partnership to ‘Elevate Action’ and end gender-based violence in workplaces and communities across Canada. The first cohort of CFLPA players and USW members were trained as spokespeople and leaders in […]