Plan your project

Supporting steelworker families

We want to help Steelworker families learn about the union and the struggles of working people here and around the world and support members with family responsibilities so they can participate more fully in union activities.

The fund could support activities such as:

• Providing child care for members while attending union events.
• Camps for kids with a union or social-justice focus.
• Pre-retirement planning courses for members and spouses.
• Cross-district exchanges to learn a second language and more about our union.

Promoting USW in the community

USW has a long history of being active in the communities where we live and work. We want to continue the tradition of sponsoring community events and working in solidarity with community groups to advance equality throughout the country.

The fund could support activities such as:

• Building partnerships with community groups that advocate for unemployed workers, injured workers, workers newly arrived from other countries and so on.
• Courses for community members on topics ranging from first aid to local history.
• Community activities that build support for striking or locked-out workers or for bargaining campaigns.

Supporting and engaging young activists

The USW understands the crucial importance of identifying and supporting young activists within our union.

The fund could support activities such as:

• NextGen programming at the district and national levels.
• “Union advantage” presentations in high schools to promote the benefits of joining a union and of working safely.

Supporting and engaging new activists

We want to grow our union by engaging new activists from within our current membership, including new hires or long-time members with more free time now that their children are older. Engaging and mentoring new activists is one way to broaden and diversify our staff and leadership.

The fund could support activities such as:

• Projects led by a local union women’s committee or human rights committee.
• Mentorship programs or support for additional activities as part of existing mentorship programs.
• Scholarships for first-time attendance at a union course, conference or other union event.

An advisory committee, made up of members and staff appointed by the Canadian directors, is responsible for reviewing the state of the Fund, as well as approving and evaluating projects.