2023 was an eventful year for the Steelworkers Humanity Fund. Here are some of the highlights.
February:
SHF donated $15,000 in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
March:
A delegation of Canadian unionists, including USW National Director Marty Warren, travelled to Mexico to strengthen solidarity ties and promote cross-border union power.
April:
On the 10th anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse, the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability and allies like the SHF called on Canada to pass a law requiring companies to respect human rights throughout their supply chains.
SHF partners from Mexican unions and workers’ rights organizations were invited to Toronto to speak at the USW National Policy Conference. The delegation also met with Canadian unionists in Ottawa and Montreal.
May:
SHF launched an open call for proposals for international development projects supporting women workers. Two new partner organizations from Nepal and Brazil were selected and awarded funding.
Alongside partners in the Mexican labour movement, the SHF met with the Canadian Minister of Labour, Seamus O’Regan, on the implementation of reforms to Mexico’s labour and unionization laws amid the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
June:
A project officer of the SHF visited our partner organization, the Honduran Independent Monitoring Team (EMIH) in San Pedro Sula. EMIH is dedicated to training and promoting workers’ occupational health and safety and supporting union education in Honduras.
July:
Over the summer, SHF donated a total of $115,000 for disaster relief and recovery, following the wildfires that affected Alberta, Nova Scotia and Québec.
September:
SHF led a women’s delegation to Mexico City. The educational delegation included women workers and labour activists from Canada, Quebec, Bolivia and Peru.
October:
SHF presented at the USW International Women’s Conference, where Canadian and Mexican women leaders spoke about the importance of cross-border union learning and international solidarity.
November:
SHF donated $10,000 to Oxfam Canada to aid civilians in Gaza facing starvation and lacking medical assistance, addressing a humanitarian catastrophe amid the ongoing war.
SHF led a delegation to South Africa with the USW National Anti-Racism Committee, fostering understanding of South African society, history, and drawing parallels to Canadian society and the legacy of colonization.
December:
SHF contributed $247,250 to 124 food banks and community organizations across Canada.
All of this was made possible thanks to Steelworkers member support – thank you!