What makes Labour Day so important? It’s a celebration of the strength made possible by worker solidarity.
When Donald Trump’s illegal tariffs threaten our jobs and our industries, solidarity makes it possible to fight back.
How are we doing this? Let’s go through it.
Our entire union, starting from the shop floor, looks to the future to build a more just society and economy, with reduced dependence on the United States. We envision a Canada with an expanded industrial base, with strong value chains, good union jobs in mines, forests and mills, universities, health-care centres and telecoms.
The USW is lobbying the federal government to keep workers’ needs, not just business interests, at the forefront.
Responding to the latest U.S. tariff threat, Steelworkers in Canada stated, “We must invest in our own industrial capacity, produce more of what we need domestically and use public spending to create Canadian jobs and strengthen Canadian supply chains.”
Using solidarity, workers debated and passed resolutions on industrial policy at the recent Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) convention. The CLC will advocate for a national industrial economic strategy that supports workers, increases investments in public services and ensures infrastructure programs contain Buy Canadian and Buy Clean procurement requirements.
Our international union has our backs. USW International President Roxanne Brown understands that Steelworkers work on both sides of the border and that we are stronger together. “Canada is not the problem,” she said. We have allies. Along with USW International President Brown, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) signed a joint letter to the U.S. Trade Representative emphasizing the alignment of Canadian and American trade policies. “Canadian and U.S. producers and workers help strengthen our defense industrial base, support resilient supply chains and can dampen the impact of unfair trade fueled by non-market policies and players,” the two unions wrote.
Throughout these difficult times, our local leadership and members continue to lead the way, negotiating strong collective agreements, while protecting hard-won labour, human rights and workplace health and safety. This is why Steelworkers make great neighbours and build strong communities.
In challenging times, workers need solidarity. And together, we win.
Next February, USW members will gather in Montreal for our 56th National Policy Conference to debate and set the agenda for our union’s future. The conference theme is Our Economy, Our Future. Join us in Montreal next February. usw.ca/npc2027.
What are you and your local union doing to celebrate solidarity this Labour Day?
In solidarity,
Marty Warren
USW National Director
Scott Lunny
USW District 3 Director (Western Canada and the Territories)
Nicolas Lapierre
USW District 5 Director (Quebec)
Kevon Stewart
USW District 6 Director (Ontario and Atlantic Canada)
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