This past year, across every USW district in Canada, local union leaders, activists and staff have had the opportunity to come together to attend a district conference in District 3 or 6, or in the case of District 5, the Assemblée annuelle. Incredibly, District 5 brought over 500 Steelworkers together this year to celebrate the 60th edition of their annual general assembly. It has been my distinct pleasure to attend each of the district events.
At the conferences, delegates heard about how hard members of our union are working – both on the job and within our union, improving health and safety at work, negotiating top-notch collective agreements, leading strikes, developing meaningful approaches to reconciliation with Indigenous communities, including Indigenous Steelworkers, improving equity and fighting for good jobs as we face climate change head-on. I am always proud of our union and that is amplified by my time spent in the Canadian districts.
On the legislative front, the union has been working hard too: we have some important victories to show for it. We do this political work to make sure our members get what they need – to raise the floor when it comes to collective bargaining and make the economy and trade fairer too.
In late summer, the federal government announced it would finally impose tariffs on imported steel, aluminum and electric vehicles from China. Our union has been at the forefront calling for tariffs to combat unfair trade practices from low-cost jurisdictions like China, where steel and aluminum are heavily subsidized by the government and where the labour and environmental standards are at times abysmally low.
Significantly, new tariffs are supported by the majority of Canadians – in a national poll by spark*insight, commissioned by Canada’s steel and aluminum industry associations, 79% of Canadians supported the idea of the federal government imposing tariffs on steel, aluminum and electric vehicles imported into Canada from China, with the stated goal of supporting high-value Canadian jobs. In announcing the tariffs, the government clearly said the new measures were in support of good-quality steel and aluminum sector jobs here in Canada. This is a win for our union members in the sector and beyond.
Months before that, we also were successful in winning two important pieces of legislation: first the Sustainable Jobs Act (Bill C-50), which ensures worker involvement and transparency in the creation of sustainable new jobs in areas right across the country. Our union strongly pushed for this kind of worker involvement while decarbonize to maintain and create good jobs. We will continue to exercise influence however we can.
Crucially, we also won federal anti-scab legislation, which would ban the use of replacement workers in federally regulated workplaces (Bill C-58). The legislation will come into effect on June 1, 2025. Steelworker members have been involved in this fight for decades, because we know that when we go on strike or are locked out by the boss, it is bitterly unfair when replacement workers (scabs) are brought in. Particularly in small communities, the effects of that kind of dispute can last generations.
Friends, I want to thank you for your efforts on the job, in your union and in your community. As a union, we are proud to represent you and thank you for what you do.
I am wishing you and your loved ones a happy and safe year ahead in 2025.
In solidarity,
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