USW directors’ statement for October 4, National Day to Commemorate Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Gender-Diverse Persons:
In recognition of October 4, United Steelworkers activists are joining other Canadian trade unionists on Parliament Hill this week to lobby Members of Parliament. We are calling on the federal government for measures to increase safety and security for Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse persons, including the creation of a national red dress alert system.
The red dress is the symbol of respect for and remembrance of the thousands of Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse persons who are victims of violence in this country. Increasing safety and respect for Indigenous women and girls remains a critical need in Canada. Nationally, 63% of Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime, a rate much higher than the experience of non-Indigenous women.
In April 2023, delegates to the USW National Policy Conference adopted a resolution calling on our union to lobby the federal government for full implementation of the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Gender-Diverse Persons. The inquiry’s final report was released in 2019, but very few of its recommendations have been implemented by governments.
October 4 is a national day to remember and honour the missing and murdered. As a small act of solidarity, we encourage you to take part in a vigil in your home community. Check with local women’s shelters or Indigenous people’s organizations, or google “2023 sisters in spirit vigil near me,” or “2023 mmiwg vigil near me.” In solidarity,
Marty Warren
National Director for Canada
Scott Lunny
District 3 Director
Dominic Lemieux
District 5 Director
Myles Sullivan
District 6 Director
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