TROIS-RIVIÈRES, Que. – With their workplaces under serious threat, local leaders of the United Steelworkers union (USW)/Syndicat des Métallos in Quebec met today with François-Philippe Champagne, federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, to call for a comprehensive, united Canadian response to looming U.S. tariffs.
“We call on the governments of Quebec and Canada to present a united front against any tariffs,” said Dominic Lemieux, the Steelworkers union’s Quebec Director.
“Ultimately, we know that this is a negotiation, and in the union world, we know the importance of supporting our negotiating committee, in this case, the government in power. Tariffs on both sides of the border would be detrimental to our highly integrated economies. Our members, who have good jobs, supply American factories where good jobs also will be affected,” Lemieux noted.
The Steelworkers union represents tens of thousands of workers in the major economic sectors affected by tariffs, including steel, aluminum, wood, auto parts, rubber, processing and manufacturing.
“Canada has proven time and again that it is one of our strongest partners, both economically and when it comes to our national security,” said USW International President David McCall, who joined the meeting remotely, from the union’s Pittsburgh headquarters.
“We’re calling on the Trump administration to pull back on blanket tariffs that will hurt workers on both sides of the border and instead focus on needed strategic reform of our trading systems that will limit trade cheaters who do not respect international rules. By working together with our Canadian allies, we can clap back on dumping and other illegal trade practices, protecting good, manufacturing jobs across both our countries,” McCall said.
The USW also was a leader in working with governments to resolve the upheaval caused by tariffs and counter-tariffs that threatened jobs on both sides of the border in 2018, Lemieux recalled.
“Since 2018, we have been in constant communication with the Canadian government. The lines of communication are open and will continue to be until this storm is behind us,” he said.
Strategic measures needed
The USW is urging governments to be judicious in the action plans they are developing to respond to the announced 25% U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, as well as the threat of a 25% tariff on all Canadian exports.
“Support for corporations is all very well, but we need to seize the opportunity to really improve our performance and preserve and create good jobs,” Lemieux said.
“We must aim to process more of our resources here. Every dollar invested must help modernize our plants and create more value-added – and therefore good – jobs. We also expect clear Canadian content requirements for publicly funded infrastructure projects,” he added.
The federal government’s priorities also must include strengthening the social safety net, the USW argues.
“We expect our governments to ensure that the mothers and fathers who will be affected will have the support they need. The social safety net must fulfill its purpose and recognize that the current employment insurance system is not sufficient. That’s how we’ll get through this, with our heads held high, with resilience,” Lemieux said.
About the United Steelworkers union:
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 the union’s 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.
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