In September, our union and our movement lost a great leader – Leo W. Gerard, our longtime International President and a mentor to many of us. As I think about Leo’s legacy, it is not lost on me that so much of his work involved building our power as workers, across borders and throughout global labour organizations. Today in our ongoing trade crisis with the U.S., Leo’s lessons on “fighting back” continue to resonate with me as a leader and trade unionist. Our union will always fight and stand with our members and their communities being affected by this reckless Trump tariff war.
With an era of new leadership in our great union upon us, I am proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with International President-elect Roxanne Brown. I have worked with Roxanne on the International Executive Board for many years and she is a powerful and inspiring voice for workers across North America and around the globe. Roxy has what it takes to lead our union through the many challenges confronting our members and union, now and into the future. I’m inspired by the direction our union is taking with Roxanne at the helm and our own Myles Sullivan as International Secretary-Treasurer.
I also want to thank outgoing International President Dave McCall, who stepped into the role unexpectedly and has served our union with outstanding strength, dignity, experience and consideration for all Steelworkers on both sides of the border. Thank you, President McCall.
Here in Canada, I’m proud of how we have been fighting every day since massive tariffs were imposed on Canadian steel, aluminum and forestry products. We’re pushing our government to stand up for workers and deliver supports that working people need – now.
At the time of writing, Donald Trump has imposed an additional 10% tariff on Canadian softwood lumber exports to the United States, atop existing 35.16% duties.
Canadian softwood lumber shipments worth more than $7.7 billion annually face duties exceeding 45% at the U.S. border, delivering a devastating blow to forestry workers and communities already battered by years of duties on our exports.
Our union has led the way in demanding the federal government provide immediate support for communities under pressure and to deliver a real industrial strategy that secures the future of Canadian-made wood and forest products.
We also have been forcefully making the case for urgent government action in the aluminum, telecom and steel sectors. Our union has been pushing the federal government to ensure Buy Canadian standards are fully enforced so public investments protect and create domestic jobs by using Canadian-made, low-carbon steel, aluminum, softwood and other materials.
Steelworkers are advocating for tougher, permanent trade enforcement to stop dumped and diverted imports into our country before they cost more Canadian jobs. Across the board, Canadian workers expect our government to hold the line in negotiations. We also know the current minority government in Ottawa may not last.
In October, I attended the campaign launch for NDP federal leadership candidate Rob Ashton. The President of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada, located in British Columbia, Ashton is a direct, no-nonsense leader who puts the issues of working people at the heart of everything he does. I think he would make an amazing NDP leader and I have no reservation in endorsing him. To vote in the leadership campaign, you must be an NDP member by January 28.
This is a challenging time for our union but also a time that brings us together, to fight. We know we’re better off because we have a strong union that is a vehicle for change. As Steelworkers, we push hard for what workers need. We defend our rights and agitate for better. We make gains on behalf of our members and workers generally because we are determined. This determination inspires me every day to continue fighting, with you.
As the year draws to a close, I’m also thinking of our members who may be on strike or locked out over the holidays. For whomever is in this situation, I’m thinking of you and your family and thanking you for your courage and perseverance.
Together, we are a force to be reckoned with. Wishing you solidarity, determination and success for 2026!
In solidarity,
Marty Warren
USW National Director
This article appears in the Winter 2025 issue of USW@Work magazine.
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