The United Steelworkers union shares this year’s Black History Month’s Canadian theme: Black legacy and leadership: Celebrating Canadian history and uplifting future generations.
The Steelworkers union has benefited from the contributions of Black rank-and-file members, retirees and staff, as well as the USW National Anti-Racism Committee, which advises the union on anti-racism work and initiatives. Black activists within the Steelworkers and the greater labour movement have worked tirelessly through the decades to make our workplaces and union spaces more equitable, fair and diverse.
Black workers have risen through the ranks of unions and become leaders; formed community alliances to combat racism and expand anti-racism education; founded a chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; and tackled the ugly walls of systemic racism and oppression.
This year, we also celebrate Kevon Stewart, who in 2024, became the first Black USW district director in both Canada and the U.S. Director Stewart came up through the ranks of USW Local 3 and held many roles within his local union before becoming a servicing staff representative, then district co-ordinator, then assistant to the director and eventually the district director.
We hope all Steelworkers partake in various Black History Month celebrations in your local unions, area councils, districts or communities, throughout the month of February.
Steelworkers can check out usw.ca/racial-justice for anti-racism resources which can be used in local unions and area councils.
We invite Steelworkers to also check out the resource Beyond Black History Month from the Canadian Labour Congress on how we can all honour, support and be in solidarity with Black workers and communities 365 days a year.
Marty Warren, USW National Director
Scott Lunny, USW District 3 Director (Western Canada and the Territories)
Dominic Lemieux, USW District 5 Director (Québec)
Kevon Stewart, USW District 6 Director (Ontario and Atlantic Canada)
What do you do? I come out of Local 1944, where I was a service technician working for Telus. I became a local union rep for the local in 2022, representing technicians, construction, cable repair and inside plant workers over most of B.C. and the clerical (call centre) workers in Prince George, B.C. How did […]
More than 700 Steelworkers gathered in Toronto in March to attend the National and International Women of Steel Conference. The conference featured a series of powerful speeches by newly elected USW International President, Roxanne D. Brown. Brown acknowledged that by stepping into the president’s role, she embodies an achievement that moves the USW – and […]
Each year, USW members at hundreds of workplaces across Canada, covering virtually every sector of the economy, negotiate strong collective agreements that protect health and safety and improve wages, benefits and working conditions. These recent settlements include: Local 9291 • Westwood Mine, Preissac, Que. A five-year contract for 375 workers at Westwood’s gold-mining operations in […]