As these lines are being written, not a day passes without its share of anxiety-inducing headlines on the state of the world. The Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) has an important role to play in this fast-changing context. Created almost 40 years ago to act on Canadian Steelworkers’ desire to contribute to positive social change, the SHF has constantly evolved as globalization has changed the way our union defends its members, whether facing the effect of corporate decisions taken halfway around the world or the imposition of tariffs just south of our border.
Facing multinational companies active around the world, workers are often reduced to numbers in cost-cutting operations seeking to maximize profits for their shareholders. This was made obvious during the Bargaining in a Borderless World course, presented by the SHF at the annual District 3 Summer School in Cranbrook, B.C. During this week-long event, members from locals across western Canada discussed this impact in their industries as well as their communities and surrounding environment. Participants also looked at the effects of economic globalization on workers and communities in southern countries, the plight of temporary foreign workers in Canada, and the role of international solidarity and the functioning of global union federations. Invited guest Dale McKinley, from the International Labour Research Group (ILRIG) of South Africa, made invaluable contributions from his years of experience in social movements.
When it comes to organizing and mobilizing, much of the SHF’s work centres on making connections between workplaces and communities, across borders and supply chains. This Annual Report showcases some of those examples, starting with the achievements of Mexican allies who are educating and organizing workers in the context of progressive labour law reform. It will also present the results of two important worker-to-worker exchanges, one with our long-term partner in Liberia as well as one with Steelworker women members in Peru and Bolivia. The reciprocity evident in our partnerships will also be illustrated through the story of a union leader from Madagascar present at the latest District 5 Annual Assembly.
Lastly, the Annual Report will also shed a light on the scope of the support provided to Canadian partners and for emergency relief, for which the SHF is often best known and celebrated across USW membership. As we gear towards what will most certainly be tumultuous and difficult times ahead for many Steelworkers in Canada and their families, the Humanity Fund will continue to embody Steelworker solidarity for greater social justice, both near and far.
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