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.
In 2024, women continue to earn much less on average than men do. And significant barriers remain for women trying to get into high-paying jobs in so-called “non-traditional” sectors. Let’s recognize and thank all Women of Steel and their allies who sit on bargaining committees, work on Communication and Action Teams and play other roles to win good collective agreements that tear down those barriers. Let’s thank all Steelworkers on pay-equity and job-evaluation committees, who are working to close the gender wage gap and add fairness to our pay cheques and benefit plans.
Through our union, we can increase economic justice and economic security for all women and people of marginalized genders. And our union continues to mobilize to increase women’s physical security, as well as those who identify as gender-diverse or non-binary. Let’s recognize and thank all Steelworkers who, whether through local women’s committees or health and safety committees, are Raising the Bar on Women’s Health and Safety and taking other steps to end gender-based violence.
Let’s celebrate International Women’s Day by continuing our work for more justice, safety, and health for all women and girls, Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary and gender-diverse people!
In solidarity,
Marty Warren
USW National Director
Scott Lunny
District 3 Director (Western Canada and the Territories)
Dominic Lemieux
District 5 Director (Québec)
Myles Sullivan
District 6 Director (Ontario and Atlantic Canada)
Baie-Comeau, March 28, 2025 – Standing tall and smiling broadly, the twenty or so female workers at Comfort Inn Baie-Comeau unanimously accepted their new employment contract. With yesterday’s 100% vote in favour of ratification, a strike that began on March 22, 2024, i.e., more than a year ago, is now over. Retroactive to August 2023, […]
Over many years, on multiple occasions, The USW has demonstrated the vital role that a strong, progressive, international union can play in helping to resolve ill-advised cross-border trade and political disputes.
SAINT-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU, Que. – Workers at the Mondor apparel plant in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., have voted strongly in favour of strike action if needed to back their efforts to negotiate a fair collective agreement with the company. The 25 workers, most of whom are seamstresses and assemblers, produce tights and apparel for women and for dancing, figure […]