USW and the Truth & Reconciliation Commission

To mark National Aboriginal Day 2016, USW National Director Ken Neumann publicly endorsed the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations: 

Ken Neumann Statement on the Occasion of June 21, National Aboriginal Day

On the occasion of National Aboriginal Day, I declare that the United Steelworkers supports and endorses the report and recommendations of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I am proud to say that this action was supported unanimously by over 500 Steelworkers who gathered recently for our union’s National Policy Conference.

Delegates to that conference supported a series of resolutions for union action on issues of importance to Aboriginal Steelworkers and Aboriginal communities. In keeping with the guidance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, our union will do its part to educate activists, members and staff about the terrible damage done by residential schools, as well as about ways to reconcile with and support Aboriginal peoples and communities. And we commit to bargain collective agreements that respect Aboriginal rights, and to work to create inclusive workplaces that do the same.

Delegates approved a Statement of Principles to guide our union, as well as calling for the creation of an on-going national Aboriginal committee.

In July, over 60 First Nations, Inuit and Métis Steelworkers gathered in Winnipeg for our union’s first-ever National Consultation Workshop for Aboriginal Steelworkers. They shared their experiences with work and union life, and helped our union mark out a path for future action. Our policy conference has also mandated us to hold another national workshop in 2017.

Our union is committed to doing reconciliation, not just talking about it. I look forward to the new ideas and strength that these efforts will bring.

In solidarity,

Ken Neumann
National Director

Watch these powerful videos on the history of Canada’s residential school system: