USW District 6 Director Myles Sullivan stood shoulder-to-shoulder with union leaders across the province for an extraordinary event that marked the end of historic strike action by 55,000 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
Nearly four days into the strike, the government was compelled to repeal its disastrous Bill 28 and return to the bargaining table with the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU – CUPE). The determination of CUPE members and the solidarity shown by the broader labour movement helped push the government to walk back its affront on workers’ rights.
“Workers used their collective power and solidarity to take on bullies like Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce and won,” said Myles Sullivan, District 6 Director.
On Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, despite the threat of crushing fines, education workers in the public, Catholic, English and French school systems across the province took bold strike action, standing up against Bill 28, which infringed on Charter rights.
CUPE members and labour activists turned out to numerous actions and pickets across the province, showing their anger at the bullying behaviour by the province.
“Steelworkers across Ontario showed up to various picket lines to support CUPE’s education workers and to defend the collective bargaining process. Together, working people stood up and fought back against this government’s appalling attacks,” added Sullivan.
Bill 28, which included the Notwithstanding Clause, was hastily introduced and then forced through by the Ford government. The bill undermined foundational rights and freedoms, violated workers’ constitutional right to freely collective bargain and pre-emptively deemed a strike illegal and ended negotiations.
Steelworkers and the labour movement alike understood Bill 28 to be an attack on all unions and the workers they represent. We were proud to work hand-in-hand with CUPE, the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) and OFL affiliates to force the provincial government’s hand to repeal the legislation and get back to the bargaining table.
CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions will be going back to the bargaining table and Steelworkers are here to support them in communities across Ontario!
NEW GLASGOW, N.S. – Twenty years after the enactment of the Westray Law that holds corporations criminally responsible for workplace deaths and injuries, the struggle continues. At the end of March, 2004, 12 years after the tragic, needless and preventable deaths of 26 miners in the Westray Mine explosion in 1992, important amendments to the […]
USW welcomes workers from Edmonton People In Need Shelter Society
March 21, 2024| Media Releases
The United Steelworkers union (USW) is pleased to welcome over 100 workers from the Edmonton People In Need Shelter Society (EPINSS). During a vote that occurred on Nov. 30 and Dec.1, 2023, workers said an overwhelming ‘yes’ to joining the USW. “We wanted to help give the workers at Edmonton People In Need Shelter Society […]
Manitoba’s Legislature is facing delays in introduction of workers-friendly Legislation, as the PCs block progress
March 21, 2024| Media Releases
The Manitoba government’s bill which aims to improve workers’ rights by banning replacement workers and making it easier to join a union, is being held up by obstruction from the opposition Progressive Conservatives. “This legislation represents a crucial step towards empowering workers and protecting their rights,” said Scott Lunny, United Steelworkers union (USW) Director for […]