International Solidarity
USW District 3 and the Steelworkers Humanity Fund are building global union solidarity. Through the Steelworkers Humanity Fund, USW members are contributing to international relief, anti-poverty initiatives, labour development programs and education while building a global union activist network. The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is one of the best examples of the ethics of generosity and solidarity that lie at heart of democratic trade unionism.
- USW District 3 Supports Justice For Colombia USW District 3 Assistant to the Director Scott Lunny reports on his trip to Colombia as part of the union-supported Justice for Colombia campaign.
- Wood Council Posts Video to Mark Decade of International Solidarity Project with Chilean Forest Workers BURNABY, BC –The USW’s Wood Council has posted a Youtube video of a presentation first viewed at the United Steelworkers’ Wood Council Conference held in Saskatoon in November of 2010. The video marks a decade of progress of the Wood Council-CTF (National Confederation of Forest Workers of Chile) international solidarity project. In its first ten years the project has educated over 850 participants and has assisted Chilean Woodworkers in building capacity. During that period Canadian woodworkers have also sent funds to purchase computer equipment, assist in the renovation of education facilities and purchase a vehicle used for organizing and servicing.
- Peruvian Miners’ Federation Leader Visits District 3 BURNABY, BC – Last week Luis Castillo, the secretary-general of the National Mine, Metal and Metal Workers Federation of Peru (FNTSSMP) was in British Columbia for a brief visit. During his three-day stay Castillo toured the Teck Highland Valley Copper Mine in Logan Lake, BC; viewed the Craigmont molybdenum mine in the Lower Nicola Valley; met with Napoleon Gomez, the secretary General of the Mexican Miners’ Union (Los Mineros) and met USW District 3 Director Stephen Hunt. At the Highland Valley Copper (HVC) copper mine, Castillo, who was accompanied by District 3 Health, Safety and Environment Coordinator Ron Corbeil, met with USW Local 7619 president Richard Boyce, assisted by local union office secretary and translator Lidys Garcia. He was taken on a four-hour tour of the open pit mine site, processing mill, shop and other facilities.
- Fundraising for Jailed Los Mineros Leader Juan Linares Passes $28,000 BURNABY, BC – During the past 8 months United Steelworkers District 3 members have raised over $28,000 to assist National Union of Mining, Metallurgical, Steel and Allied Workers of Mexico (Los Mineros) national executive member Juan Linares Montufar, who is being held as a political prisoner in a Mexico City jail. By selling ‘Free Juan Linares’ t-shirts and collecting donations, the district has raised awareness of the struggle of Los Mineros against a campaign of political persecution and repression at the hands of the Mexican government and Grupo Mexico, one of the largest mining companies in the world. Sales of the navy blue t-shirts began at the BC Federation of Labour Convention in December of 2009 – about one year after Juan Linares attended the convention in Vancouver.
- Southern Saskatchewan Area Council Spurs Fundraising Effort for Los Mineros in Cananea: Challenge to Fellow Steelworkers is to Match or Raise More REGINA, SK – Steelworkers who belong to the Southern Saskatchewan Area Council send out a humble challenge to all area councils and local unions in the United Steelworkers international union: Match or exceed their recent donations to support striking Los Mineros members at the Grupo Mexico copper mine in Cananea Mexico. On 6 June 2010, in the early morning hours, the Mexican government sent in over 3,000 federal and state police in an attack, backed by helicopters, to force the eviction of striking Los Mineros members from the Cananea mine. Using blunt force and tear gas, the police also stormed the union hall of Los Mineros Section 65, forcing members, women and children from the premises. During the attacks, three people, including a 15-year old boy, were seriously injured. Five were illegally detained and held against their will. “The plight of workers and their families in Cananea is a compelling story that continues to captivate our membership,” says District 3 staff representative Sonny Rioux.
- Napoleon Gomez Addresses International Trade Union Confederation: Calls for International Solidarity to Fight Fascism in Mexico VANCOUVER, BC – Last Thursday Napoleon Gomez addressed the Second Congress of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) here, speaking before over 900 delegates representing over 150 nations countries and territories around the world, assembled at the Vancouver Convention Centre, Gomez, the Secretary-General of the National Union of Mine, Steel, Metal, and Allied Workers of Mexico (Los Mineros) has been living in Canada for over 4 years, assisted by the United Steelworkers international union. Gomez outlined the Mexican government’s June 6, 2010 invasion of the Grupo Mexico Copper Mine and Installations in Sonora state, where over 3,000 federal and state police used the cover of night to forcibly remove Los Mineros Section 65 members and members of their families from the facilities and took over the local union hall with tear gas and force.
- Canadians Steelworkers Attended Solidarity Mission to Los Mineros Convention Mexico City and Visit Cananea Strikers BURNABY, BC – Earlier this month USW District 3 Director Stephen Hunt and other labour leaders from Canada were part an international solidarity mission to the Los Mineros union’s 36th General Congress in Mexico City and then on to visit striking workers, their families and community supporters at the Grupo Mexico Cananea copper mine and operations in Sonora State. Brother Hunt accompanied USW National Director for Canada Ken Neumann, Canadian Labour Congress President Ken Georgetti and COPE Local 378 President Andy Ross to Mexico City for the Los Mineros (National Union of Mine, Metal, Steel and Allied Workers of Mexico) Convention in Mexico City and then on to Cananea, Sonora.
- Appeal for International Assistance: Chilean Forest Workers’ Confederation Devastated by Earthquake CONCEPCION, CHILE – The United Steelworkers Wood Council’s closest international ally, the National Confederation of Forest Workers of Chile (CTF), has been devastated by the recent earthquake and aftershocks that have hit this South American country since February 27. CTF Secretary-General Sergio Gatica reports that forest workers and family members have perished in the earthquake. So far the confederation knows of 5 deaths of forest workers – all employees or contract employees working for the Arauco SA company. Three died in their homes, while two died in their workplaces on February 27. Four family members also died.
- Bill C-300 Lobby Will Resume After Prorogued Parliament Resumes BURNABY, BC – When the House of Common re-opens following Stephen Harper’s prorogation of parliament on March 3, a private member’s bill, Bill C-300, will still be in front of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Bill C-300 (the Corporate Accountability of Mining, Oil and Gas Corporations in Developing Countries Act), which the United Steelworkers supports, has passed second reading and will be in front of the committee for 60 days after parliament is called back. USW District 3 Director Stephen Hunt, who led a November 2009 union lobby of politicians on Parliament Hill, says the bill is a “move in the right direction” to get Canadian mining, gas, oil and other extraction industries that operate around the world to be more accountable on human rights, labour rights and the environment.
- Solidarity Mission to Mexico Calls for Halt to Attacks on Los Mineros and leader Napoleon Gomez TORONTO, BURNABY – After participating in a Global Solidarity Mission to Mexico, in support of the National Union of Mineworkers of Mexico (Los Mineros) and exiled union leader Napoleon Gomez, two Canadian members of a 50-person delegation reflected on a visit to a nation in turmoil. United Steelworkers National Director for Canada Ken Neumann and USW District 3 Director Stephen Hunt were key members in a delegation that included trade unionists from 14 countries and federal parliamentarians from 3 nations. The delegation included United Steelworkers from the International office in Pittsburgh, USW Districts 7 and 12, affiliate members of the International Metalworkers Federation and affiliates from the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Unions.
- “Gomez Will Bring Them Home” Folk Song Created by Manitoba Steelworker SELKIRK, MB – One of the true milestones of the USW District 3 Summer School, held last month in Kimberley, BC, was the performance of a spontaneously-composed folk song entitled “Gomez Will Bring Them Home.” District 3 has uploaded a video version of the remarkable tune on its YouTube channel. The lyrics and music were created and performed by USW Local 8740 member Tyler Hammerstedt, a labourer and scrap metal inspector at the Gerdau Manitoba Metals scrap yard here.
- District 3 Wood Council Local Union Presidents Continue to Support International Solidarity Project with Chilean Forest Workers BURNABY, BC – Later this year, USW Wood Council local unions and the National Confederation of Forest Workers of Chile (CTF) will mark the 10th Anniversary of a joint International Solidarity Education Project. That project, initiated by the former IWA Canada National Union and the CTF in October 1999, has seen a decade of progress for Chilean forest workers as hundreds of rank and file members have received training and education courses as union leaders, organizers, health and safety activists and contract negotiators. The CTF has also increased its profile through political action and communications. It has organized thousands of new members and become the true national voice for Chilean woodworkers.
- Reflections from Steelworkers Humanity Fund projects in Guatemala To say the least, my trip to, and experience in Guatemala have been humbling and surreal. I was informed that I would have a deeper appreciation for the work the Humanity Fund and the first hand experience would allow me to better speak about it to the membership as a whole. They couldn’t have been more right. Next to the birth of my two children, this has been one of the most incredible and memorable experiences in my lifetime so far. It made me realize that I actually have it quite good; that most of my issues raised in the workplace and in the community seem to pale in comparison to that which our friends in Guatemala have to live with.
- CVRD INCO Local Gears Up To Play Role In Global Workers’ Council THOMPSON, MB – Taking part in the March 20 signing of the “Sudbury Unity Accord” by trade unionists from different countries who represent workers employed by the giant Brazil-based CVRD (Compania del Vale del Rio Doce) owned operations was an “experience of a lifetime” says Local 6166 president Les Ellsworth.
- Letter to President of Mexico lays out the case of persecution of Los Mineros Leader BURNABY, BC – District 3 Director Steve Hunt says that a United Steelworkers letter sent from USW International President Leo Gerard and National Director for Canada Ken Neumann to the President of Mexico last Friday (March 16), helps further “lay out the lumber” that Napoleon Gomez, the democratically elected secretary-general of Los Mineros (the National Union of Mining and Mellurgical Workers of Mexico) is being persecuted by that country’s government.
- District 3 Members Joined Solidarity Mission Commemorating Death of Mexican Miners
- Inco Manitoba Local Union President Joins Mission for Solidarity and Cooperation with South American Trade Unions THOMPSON, MB – To Steelworkers Local 6166 president Les Ellsworth, issues that South American and Canadian miners face are very similar. Workers in both the south and the north are confronted by an increasingly globalized and concentrated industry.
- District 3 Staffer Represented Canadian Steelworkers at Mineworkers Convention in South Africa BURNABY, BC – Brother Randy Gatzka recalls it as one of the highlights of his career as a trade unionist. In late May, Gatzka represented Canadian Steelworkers at the 12th Congress of the National Union of Mine workers Africa held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- District 3 and NDP Call for Reinstatement of Los Mineros Leader VANCOUVER, BC – District 3 representatives and members of three Lower Mainland local unions were joined by BC NDP Labour Critic Chuck Puchmayr and supporters from other BC Federation of Labour affiliates here yesterday to call for the reinstatement of Napoleon Gomez as the duly-elected leader of the National Union of Mine and Metallurgical Workers of Mexico (Los Mineros).