Resources

Political Action

The United Steelworkers is an activist union, determined and committed to the fight for economic and social justice in Canada and around the world.  Steelworkers campaign for better labour laws, protection for wages and pensions, job security, health and social programs, better trade laws and more through our Steelworkers Vote Political Action Program.  Through our Steelworker Vote and Political Action, we are a stronger union, more able to defend our members, advance our rights and build a better society.

• BC Votes 2013 - Steelworkers Vote Steelworkers are talking to Steelwokers in the BC 2013 provincial election to help bring Change for the Better.
• Vote Early, Vote Advance - BC Votes 2013 Advance polls are open from Wed., May 8 through Sat., May 11 in the BC 2013 election.
• Vote Early BBQ - Surrey-Tynehead Steelworkers in the Surrey area - come out to our Vote Early BBQ on Saturday, May 11.
• Saskatchewan Labour Law Changes Members of the United Steelworkers do real work. The type of work that builds communities and creates wealth for all of Saskatchewan. When people like you work hard each and every day, it’s only right that they be treated with respect and fairness. Together, workers have fought for and won rights at their workplace. But the Sask Party wants to change all that...
• Federal NDP: Canada Needs Job Creation Programs NDP leader Nicole Turmel called on the federal government for action on job creation.
• Rapid Response Sign-up for email updates from your union!
• FAIR LABOUR LAWS NOW! CAMPAIGN Please join the United Steelworkers (USW) in Manitoba during our campaign to convince the provincial government that Manitobans need new laws that protect us during labour disputes by prohibiting the use of strikebreakers.We need labour laws that protect workers all Manitobans involved in a dispute, those used by employers to cross pickets and our communities’ police officers who are forced to uphold bad laws. Now, more than ever, we need our government to stand with working Manitobans!
• Federal NDP Gets Private Member’s Worker Protection Bill Through House's Second Reading OTTAWA, ON – The USW’s political ally, the NDP, has been successful in getting a revamped version of the Workers First Bill, through a second reading in the House of Commons. By a vote of 144-111, Bill C-501 (An Act to Amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act) got the green light to go to a parliamentary committee earlier this week – marking an NDP, Liberal , Bloc Quebecois alliance, along with 12 Conservative MPs. The bill, introduced by NDP MP John Rafferty (Thunder Bay-Rainy River), needs to pass the committee stage and come back to the house for a third and final reading. Bill C-501 would assure that, in the event of bankruptcy proceedings and corporate restructurings, workers’ wages, benefits and pension, would get priority treatment in front of other creditors.
• North Cowichan-Nanaimo NDP MLA a Passionate Advocate for Workers and Communities VICTORIA, BC – Second term NDP MLA Doug Routley’s views the BC Legislative Assembly as an ornate, historic place that belongs to the people of BC. “It’s a place where we are, at this point in time as the Official Opposition, meant to challenge government and we have an anger and a passion in that chamber so we don’t have conflict in our streets,” he says. Routley, a member of USW Local 1-1937 and the MLA for North Cowichan-Nanaimo, says that “democracy is as important as we make it by our participation in it – that’s what the union taught me – we have to organize and know what is happening in our communities to effect change.”
• Steelworker Takes on Job as Opposition Critic for Transportation and Infrastructure VICTORIA, BC – Harry Bains, a former 15-year officer of USW Local 1-2171 (now part of LU 1-1937) is in his second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Surrey-Newton, having taken on the role as Critic for Transportation and Infrastructure. Elected to office by a larger margin the second time around, Harry has become a key NDP cabinet minister in charge of one of the more complex opposition portfolios. Harry is one of three USW members that are part of Caroles James’ NDP team of 35 MLA’s – a very vocal, active and effective opposition to the Campbell Liberals. The others are incumbent MLA Doug Routley-North Cowichan-Nanaimo and rookie MLA Bill Routley (Cowichan Valley)
• BC NDP Leader Carole James Takes Aim at Brutal Cuts by Liberal Government VANCOUVER, BC – During her speech to the biennial BC NDP Convention, party leader Carole James took at the brutal cuts that the Liberal government of Gordon Campbell has imposed on British Columbians after their fraudulent win of the BC election in May. James said Finance Minister Colin Hansen committed “willful blindness” and “informed lies” about deficit projections and the economic future of the province. The result has been “brutal” cuts to social programs including programs for the needy, health care and education. Women, children and the elderly have also borne the brunt of cutbacks.
• USW International President Leo Gerard and Apollo Alliance Leader Jerome Ringo Addressed BC NDP on Jobs and the Environment. VANCOUVER, BC – On November 27, the opening day of the BC NDP Convention, USW International President Leo Gerard was present to introduce Jerome Ringo, President of the Apollo Alliance in the United States – an organizing formed in 2006 to bridge the gap between protecting of the environment and industrial polices that create jobs at home. The Apollo Alliance is a coalition of businesses, environmental and community groups and trade unions that are promoting clean energy sources in the USW as well as the development of a green economy with green collar jobs. Gerard, a founding board member of the organization, said he’s “tired of the false choice between a good environment and good jobs.” The Apollo Alliance’s name was inspired by the space program that the late US President John F. Kennedy launched in the early new century – to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Said Gerard; “If we have the political will the JFK had, we can create the next generation of jobs and help heal the planet and reduce carbon emissions.”
• Steelworkers Play Key Role at BC NDP Convention VANCOUVER, BC – As the BC NDP rebuilds itself over the next few years, the United Steelworkers hope to play an increasing role in helping the party achieve its main objective – to boot the BC Liberals from office in 2013. Steelworkers participated in the BC NDP Convention earlier this month, both on the main stage, in executive elections and on the floor of the convention. Over 20 union members were in attendance as affiliate delegates and members of constituency associations.
• Former Steelworker Local Union President Enjoying New Role as Member of BC Legislature VICTORIA, BC – Among the three USW members elected as members of the BC Legislative Assembly in May of this year, former USW Local 1-80 president Bill Routley is the rookie. Representing the southern Vancouver Island riding of Cowichan Valley, the veteran of 39 years as a union member and activist, is enjoying his new role as a member of the Official Opposition, led by Carole James. Routley joins former USW Local 1-2171 officer Harry Bains and former Local 1-80 executive board member Doug Routley to form a trio of Steelworkers playing essential roles in the NDP Caucus. Bains and Doug Routley were both re-elected to their second terms in office in the riding of Surrey-Newton and North Cowichan, respectively. Bill Routley says “it’s a honour and a privilege to be on the inside (of the legislature) representing forest workers and families and all workers in BC communities.” As the Official Opposition’s Deputy Critic for Forests and Range, Routley has joined NDP Forests Critic Norm MacDonald to put the government’s feet to the fire over the disastrous way it is dealing with the industry.
• NDP supports Conservative EI Bill and Pushes for Added Improvement to Assist Jobless OTTAWA, ON – Today NDP leader Jack Layton backed the Harper government on a ways and means motion that supports amending the Employment Insurance Act. Layton is pushing to send the EI bill to a parliamentary committee where it can be further studied and amendments proposed. Prime Minister Stephen Harper claims the bill will provide an additional $1-billion for some 190,000 workers. “It’s a billion dollars that Mr. Harper had no intention of giving until he responded to what the NDP wanted,” said Layton after the bill was introduced. More assistance will be paid to some workers than otherwise would not have materialized, but the current Conservative bill does not include increased benefits for all of Canada’s jobless.
• Canada’s Employment Insurance System Continues to Fail Jobless as Harper and Ignatieff Strike EI Panel BURNABY, BC – As unemployment continues to skyrocket in the forest industry and manufacturing sectors and become more prevalent in resource industries hit by commodity price drops, Canada’s two major political parties have cut a deal to strike a Conservative and Liberal appointed panel to study the country’s EI system. The deal was cut between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Opposition leader Michael Ignatieff in order to head off of a summer election. The Ignatieff Liberals and the Bloc Quebecois have voted to pass an NDP MP’s private EI bill which calls for a reduction in the hours needed to qualify for EI to 360 hours. But even though it passed, the Harper minority would have to give the NDP bill its blessing, which it refused. Currently only about 40 per cent of unemployed Canadians quality for EI (compared to 1990-91 when 85 per cent of the unemployed qualified) under rules which have been put in place by previous Liberal governments. And those that do draw EI have lower benefits.
• District 3 Congratulates USW Members Elected as NDP MLAs BURNABY, BC - United Steelworkers District 3 Director Stephen Hunt has sent congratulations to three United Steelworkers members who were elected in Tuesday's BC provincial election. Incumbent NDP MLA's Harry Bains (Surrey-Newton) and Doug Routley (North Cowichan-Nanaimo) and first-time NDP candidate Bill Routley (Cowichan Valley) were elected to the Legislative Assembly. "We are proud of the hard work and dedication that all three of our union Brothers showed in the election campaign and know that working peoples' voices will continue to be heard in Victoria," says Hunt. "We are also proud of the many Steelworker volunteers that spent much time and energy in helping elect our three brothers and participating in other NDP campaigns across the province."
• Welcome to United Steelworkers District 3 Steelworkers Vote Main Page Welcome to United Steelworkers District 3 Steelworkers Vote Main Page. From here you can link to Steelworkers Vote news, information and resources. Let's work together to inform our membership and elect Carol James and the BC NDP on May 12, 2009!
• Our Candidates Our Issues - USW District 3 Steelworkers Vote Campaign Did you know that four (4) United Steelworkers are running in this election? Two are running for re-election. They are Harry Bains (Surrey-Newton) and Doug Routley (Nanaimo-North Cowichan). Leslie McNabb (Comox Valley) and Bill Routley (Cowichan Valley) are running for the first time. View our complete list of Our Candidates, Our Issues.
• How Many More Sleeps Until the BC General Election? HOW MANY MORE SLEEPS UNTIL THE BC GENERAL ELECTION ON MAY 12, 2009? USW RESEARCHER KIM POLLOCK IS COUNTING AND IS MONITORING THE AIRWAVES. Click to Download PDF's
• $10 NOW - Raise the Minimum Wage for BC Workers The lowest paid workers in BC need our help. That’s why I'm asking you to support the campaign to boost the minimum wage in BC to $10 an hour and to eliminate the $6 training rate for new workers. The Campbell government has frozen the minimum at $8 since November 2001. Five years without a raise is too long!
• Log Scaler and Union Activist Wins NDP Nomination for Comox Valley COURTENAY, BC – Steelworkers Activist Leslie McNabb, a log scaler with 30 years in the forest industry, is running to be the next MLA in the Comox Valley. On Sunday she won the NDP nomination here on the first ballot, defeating two fellow nominees. A resident of nearby Black Creek, Sister McNabb, ran her campaign on her experience as an advocate to represent citizens in all Comox Valley communities. McNabb thanked supporters for their votes and vowed to continue to work hard with dedication to defeat the “heartless government” of Gordon Campbell.
• Steelworkers Vote Initiatives Fuel Political Action in Western Canada BURNABY, BC – At last month’s BC Federation of Labour Convention United Steelworkers District 3 vowed to continue with its political action program as some other union affiliates maintain their involvement in the Fed’s Count Me In Campaign. District 3 Director Stephen Hunt told delegates that the non-partisan Count Me In program is quite different than the USW’s program. “Steelworkers have affiliated (with the NDP) and always will,” said Hunt. The union’s alliance with the NDP has come into sharper focus during the rising economic recession. The USW strongly supports the federal Coalition between the NDP and the Liberals to oppose the Stephen Harper Conservatives.
• Steelworkers Attend Pro-Coalition Rally in Winnipeg WINNIPEG, MB – At last Thursday evening’s pro-Coalition rally at the Ramada Marlborough Hotel here, more than dozen United Steelworkers were in attendance. Included were Sister Joyce Delaronde-Cable of Local 7106 and three sisters from Cranberry Portage who were in town to attend sessions at the Legislature. Chanting "Yes we can, yes we can!" the standing room only crowd saw the newly-formed coalition of Liberals and New Democrats call for the ousting of the Harper Conservatives. The crowd’s repeated calls of "liar," "coward," and bully were directed at Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper during the evening's speeches. The event attracted a large number of students, academics, local labour activists and former politicians, including ex-MP Bill Blaikie from the Winnipeg Transcona riding, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Steve Ashton from Thompson, Winnipeg North NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis and Tina Keeper, a former Liberal MP from Churchill.
• District 3 Supported USW Members and other Progressive Candidates During BC Municipal Elections BURNABY, BC – United Steelworkers District 3’s Political Action Program supported 8 USW members seeking seats in the November 15 Municipal Elections. And when the votes were counted, 4 Steelworkers were elected to office. “Our district has become more active in civic politics,” says District 3 Director Stephen Hunt. “We have seen it as a growing part of our Steelworker Vote campaigns in provincial and federal politics. Hunt note that 2008 has been a busy political year with election in Alberta, federally and in BC municipalities. “We’re proud of the fact that not only do our members support and get out and work for NDP candidates in the provinces and federally and for progressive candidates on the municipal scenes, but they also put themselves forward as candidates,” says Hunt. “I congratulate and commend every one of them for doing so.”’
• USW Local 1-80 President Bill Routley Wins NDP Nomination for new Cowichan Valley Riding DUNCAN, BC – The May 12, 2009 general election in BC will see another Routley running for office. In addition to incumbent MLA Doug Routley (also a Steelworker), who is seeking re-election in the new riding of Nanaimo-North Cowichan, USW Local 1-80 president Bill Routley will be seeking office for the new Cowichan Valley Riding, right next door. On Sunday Bill, the president of the union’s southern Vancouver Island since 1990, won the constituency’s nomination on the first ballot, defeating candidates Richard Hughes and Rhoda Taylor. Routley won the nomination by running a campaign themed on “Standing Up for Cowichan Valley.”
• Over Two Thousand Supporters Gather at Rally to Support NDP-Liberal Coalition ANCOUVER, BC – On Thursday, well over 2,000 supporters, including Steelworker members, gathered at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre to voice their support for the NDP-Liberal Coalition, backed by the Bloc Quebecois. Earlier in the day, Governor Michaelle Jean granted Harper his request to lock the doors of the House of Commons for 7 weeks to avoid a political crisis that Harper touched off with his economic statement on November 27, which went far beyond what could be expected by the leader of a minority government. Harper’s statement ignored the economic plight of forest workers and workers in manufacturing industries. And he vowed to limit workers’ right to strike and seek pay equity. He even cut funding off for opposition political parties. The Coalition, which represents 63 per cent of voters in Canada is formulating plans for a $30-billion economic stimulus package to assist the ailing forest, auto and manufacturing sectors and create jobs by building up Canada’s country’s infrastructure.
• District 3’s Steelworkers Vote Campaign Poised During Final Days of Federal Election BURNABY, BC – The United Steelworkers District 3 Steelworkers Vote Campaign is full swing as the final days of the October 14 election approach. Union activists in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been engaged in various campaigns to get the NDP elected in key “battleground” ridings, notes District 3 Political Action Coordinator Scott Lunny. In key ridings some 25,000 Steelworker members can vote in this federal election. The union is doing everything it can to get members to the polls as activists are volunteering time.
• Steelworkers NDP Allies Gain Momentum in Federal Election as Harper Ignores Economic Plight of Working Canadians BURNABY, BC – The United Steelworkers’ political allies, the New Democratic Party of Canada, has gained valuable ground on both the Conservatives and Liberals with less than a week to go until the October 14 federal election. Some opinion polls have the NDP at only 11 points behind Prime Minister Stephen Harper and just 5-6 points behind the Liberals. “Jack Layton has continued to run to take on Harper directly,” says District 3 Director Stephen Hunt. “The NDP is clearly the party that supports working people and is taking on the Conservatives at every turn.” As Canadian financial markets are gripped in a looming global recession, the NDP has put economic issues on the front burner for the electorate.
• District 3 Political Action Program Gearing Up for 2008 BC Election and Federal Election BURNABY, BC – These are historic times for the Steelworkers Political Action program. And at few times in the union’s past has the renewal of political activism been as crucial. With a resurgence of the union’s commitment to political activism, as witnessed at July’s USW International Convention in Las Vegas, and the increasing union activities in supporting social democratic parties in Canada, District 3 is fully on board with the times.
• BC Liberals Neglect of Forest Industry Crisis Shaping Into Major Election Issue says Carol James KIMBERLEY, BC – You don’t have to go very far in British Columbia to find out about how the province’s forest industry is being destroyed community by community. And while Premier Gordon Campbell and Forests Minister Rich Coleman deny the extent of the crisis and the detrimental impacts that their forest policies have had, Official Opposition Leader Carole James is out there talking it up. James has been all over the province, from the Interior to the Coast, visiting laid off and permanently displaced forest workers.
• Steel Lobbyists Meet With BC Premier and Forests Minister on First Day: Liberals still Refuse to Assist Workers and Communities VICTORIA, BC – On Monday morning Steelworker activists kicked-off a lobby of the legislature, meeting with none other than BC Premier Gordon Campbell and embattled BC Forest Minister Rich Coleman. The meeting, widely report in the commercial media, revealed the government remains steadfast in its refusal to assist workers or communities in the crisis that has gripped the forest industry. Port Alberni Local 1-85’s Rita LaJeunesse, Local 1-424’s Alf Wilkins, Local 1-405’s Joe Matthews and District 3 staff rep Scott Lunny met with Campbell and Coleman on the first day of a legislative session that is scheduled to wrap up by May 29.
• District 3 Presents $75,000 cheque to BC NDP to help Dave and Shirley Barrett Centre BURNABY, BC – In late March District 3 Director Stephen Hunt presented the BC New Democratic Party with a cheque for $75,000 to assist in the renovation of the Dave and Shirley Bennett Centre at the NDP’s headquarters in Burnaby. Accepting the cheque on behalf of the NDP was provincial party director Laura Nichols. Nichols provided Hunt and the USW a symbolic brick to mark the donation.
• Boost the Minimum Wage say the Steelworkers as Underclass Continues to Suffer in BC's Booming Economy BURNABY, BC – The Steelworkers stand four square behind the BC Federation of Labour and the NDP in the call for an increase to the minimum wage in British Columbia. The Fed continues with a non-stop campaign to boost the minimum wage from $8 to $10 per hour for all workers and abolish the province’s $6 per hour “training” wage where employers are able to exploit the underprivelged for the first 500 hour at that miserly rate. The BC Fed points out that the province has not increased that minimum wage for the past 6 years and that today there are some 115,000 BC workers earning $8 per hour, while a further 135,000 are gettingl less than $10 per hour.
• Gerard says ‘winds of change’ are taking place in both Canada and the United States BURNABY, BC – In a speech to a New Democratic Party of BC fundraiser dinner here on June 7, USW International President Leo Gerard said that the “winds of change” are taking place in Canada and the United Sates and that citizens on both countries are comprehending that over 25 years of “electing people to govern that don’t believe in government is bad in the most fundamental ways for working people.”
• Hunt Slams BC Government for Increasing Job Losses at 'Manufacturing Matters' Forum NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – On Thursday evening USW District 3 Director Steve Hunt slammed the BC provincial government and the forest industry itself for the increasing export of logs from the province and the loss of valuable manufacturing jobs.
• Loss of Forest Industry and Manufacturing Jobs Sparks Increase in Political Action BURNABY, BC– United Steelworkers in Western Canada have been playing a vital part in labour’s campaign to save and create good-paying forestry and manufacturing jobs in Canada. The union has taken direct actions and has been joining with Canadian Labour Congress affiliates to demand that both the federal and provincial governments stand up for family and community supporting jobs.
• Steelworkers Got Active to Help Elect NDP in Manitoba Election WINNIPEG, MB - Last week’s NDP victory in the Manitoba election was also a victory for District 3’s political action program and its Steelworkers Vote campaign. The union saw a high level of membership support for the NDP and an increase in rank and file activity in ridings around the province.
• District 3 Staff Representative Seeking Nomination for NDP Seat in Nanaimo-Alberni PORT ALBERNI, BC – Our district’s own Health, Safety and Environment Coordinator, Brother Ron Corbeil, is throwing his hard hat in the political arena. He is currently seeking the nomination of the New Democratic Party (NDP) for Nanaimo-Alberni riding in the next federal election.
• District 3 Members Joining Campaign to Stop the Harper-Bush Softwood Lumber Deal BURNABY, BC – United Steelworkers District 3 Director Steve Hunt says that federal Members of Parliament are now receiving messages from Steelworkers members in their federal constituencies, who are opposed to the Harper-Bush softwood lumber deal.
• Steelworkers Vote For Change On May 14th May 14, 2013 is election day in British Columbia, and Steelworkers have a lot at stake in this election.