The words “United Steelworkers union” or “the USW” sometimes evoke images of tough workers in resource extraction and manufacturing, represented by an equally proud and strong union that stands up to employers and delivers for its members and their communities.
True as those images may be, the union has evolved and built on that solid foundation, now representing workers in nearly every industry.
Even as rising resource prices have helped USW members get back to their jobs in factories, mills, plants, mines and refineries, security has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in the union. Membership is also growing on university campuses – in and out of the lecture hall. At the University of Toronto, for example, word of the strength of the USW is spreading and so too, is membership.
As the first union to unionize workers at stand-alone Starbucks stores, precarious workers in other sectors are also looking to join the USW. From call centres to credit unions, restaurants to rubber plants, forestry to pharmacies and pipelines to wind turbines, Steelworkers are nearly everywhere.
Beyond the diversity of workplaces, the USW is focused on making sure all workers feel included in their workplaces and in their union. From NextGen, which focuses on engaging young workers (age 35 and under), to Women of Steel and the USW Anti-Racism Working Group, as National Director Marty Warren reminded delegates at the 2023 National Policy Conference, “Our work to engage and empower our membership must be inclusive. It must reflect the diversity and experiences of all our members. We’re committed to ensuring USW members have the opportunity and the support they need to participate in union life and activities.”
The diversity of the membership makes USW representation as strong as steel.
This article appears in the Summer 2023 issue of USW@Work magazine.
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