REGINA/CALGARY– This week, United Steelworkers union (USW) members working at Evraz operations in Regina and Calgary learned of the corporation’s intent to sell the company’s North American operations.
“Given ongoing global events and Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine, the union has anticipated this potential development,” said Scott Lunny, USW Director for Western Canada. “While the USW is in favour of Canada’s actions to support Ukraine, Canadian workers, like those at Evraz, should not have to shoulder the burden of these actions alone.”
“This potential sale creates a great deal of uncertainty for our members at these operations,” added Stacy Hanley, USW Local 6673 President. “We are confident in our members’ work to produce world-class steel with lower emissions than our global competitors.”
These steel-making operations provide family-supporting jobs for hundreds of workers, and workers’ wages support hundreds of others through indirect benefits to the local economy.
“We know our jobs, and the product we make is vital to Canada’s infrastructure needs, and we will work to ensure they remain operating,” said Mike Day, USW Local 5890 President. “Replacing our work with offshore steel is simply not an option for workers and would set back Canada’s efforts to transition to a green economy.”
The USW is reaching out to the federal government to ensure workers are included in any review of the potential sale and are supported to continue making the quality product they do. The USW will also reach out to provincial governments in Alberta and Saskatchewan to ensure continued support of members and the industry.
Evraz operations make up the bulk of Western Canada’s steel-making capacity.
The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.
Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of our strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation – including good wages, benefits and pensions.
Mike Day, USW Local 5890 President, 306-526-6893, m.day@usw5890.com
Stacy Hanley, USW Local 6673 President, 403-279-9397
Scott Lunny, USW Western Canada Director, 604-329-5308, slunny@usw.ca
Brett Barden, USW Communications, 604-445-6956, bbarden@usw.ca
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