USW in the News

• 4 March 2013  |  The Hill Times Canada Can Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy, Good for Workers, Environment The mounting controversy around Canada’s export of oil sands, coupled with growing signs that hooking our economy ever more strongly to oil is a bad idea, signals that it’s time to shift the energy conversation in this country.
• 17 February 2013  |  Sun News Network Mandarin not an Official Language: Mulcair Federal NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair pointed out that Mandarin is not an official language of Canada, while taking aim at the federal government for its handling of the HD Mining controversy.
• 4 February 2013  |  Financial Post Pensioners Victims of Inaction in Ottawa You don't have to be member of the United Steelworkers to recognize that pensioners of the bankrupt Toronto aluminum processor Indalex were handed a raw deal by the Supreme Court of Canada.
• 2 February 2013  |  The Province Critics Scoff at Claims of Chinese Mining Company After forced in court to produce about 300 resumes submitted by “unqualified” Canadian job applicants, critics are scoffing at the company's claim.
• 28 January 2013  |  Canadian Press Vancouver Mining Company Sends 16 Chinese Workers Home Sixteen temporary employees at a controversial coal mine in northern B.C. are returning to China because of the company’s concerns about ongoing litigation and its associated costs and disruptions.
• 21 January 2013  |  Ottawa Citizen Human Rights Commission Rejects Temporary Coal Mine Worker's Complaint "We were very careful to explain to everybody that we thought guest workers were being exploited," said Stephen Hunt, USW District 3 Director.
• 10 January 2013  |  Daily Commercial News United Steelworkers’ Report Explores Ownership of Chinese Mining Company The report investigates the ownership structure of HD Mining International, which is a private corporation involved in the construction of the Murray River underground coal mine near Tumbler Ridge, B.C.
• 8 January 2013  |  Vancouver Sun Canada's Foreign Worker Program to be Reviewed After Hiring of Chinese Coal Miners in B.C. The federal government moved to distance itself from its own increasingly controversial decision to grant permits to 201 Chinese nationals to work in a northeast B.C. coal project.
• 11 December 2012  |  CBC TV Temporary Foreign Workers in B.C. Mines - USW on The National CBC TV interviewed USW District 3 Director Stephen Hunt in two stories on temporary foreign workers in B.C. mines.
• 22 November 2012  |  Ken Neumann Op-Ed Challenges to Ontario’s Green Energy Act Reflect Its Success An estimated 20,000 jobs have already been created in Ontario, and more will come. Billions of dollars have been invested and more than 30 manufacturers are now working here on the solar side alone.
• 22 November 2012  |  Toronto Star Federal Investment in Clean Energy Would Create 20,000 New Jobs: Report If the federal government invested the $1.3 billion it gives the oil and gas industry annually in subsidies into clean energy, the cash injection would create nearly 20,000 new jobs across Canada.
• 7 November 2012  |  Sudbury Star Union Wary of Vale’s Temporary Workers Housing Plan After operating with scabs for the first time in the former Inco’s long history, Brazil’s Vale now wants to set up temporary workers’ housing at 11 mining sites in Sudbury.
• 31 October 2012  |  Striaght Goods News Westray Law – Great on Paper Throw a few owners of unsafe workplaces into jail, and things will change. A report from the Westray +20 Symposium held at the University of Ottawa.
• 21 August 2012  |  USW Statement, IndustriALL, RadioLabour USW, IndustriALL and Radio Labour on the Killing of Miners at South Africa's Lonmin Mine Conflict escalated into tragedy in South Africa on August 16 as at least 35 workers were shot dead by police at the Marikana platinum mine.
• 27 July 2012  |  Canadian Labour Congress Open and Transparent Review of Nexen Takeover Needed The Canadian Labour Congress calls on the government to launch an open and transparent review of the proposed takeover of Nexen by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation.
• 25 July 2012  |  Halifax Chronicle Herald Energy Strategy: Let’s Look at Things Differently, Move Forward Together The energy debate: It’s not East-versus-West, or jobs-versus-environment. By Ken Neumann and Rick Smith.
• 23 July 2012  |  IndustriALL Rio Tinto Voted Worst Company Linked to Olympics IndustriALL Global Union joined thousands of activists around the world to vote for Rio Tinto as the worst company linked to the London Olympics in the Greenwash awards.
• 18 July 2012  |  CBC News Vale supervisor could face jail time Vale and staff superintendent Keith Birnie will appear in court in August to face several provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act charges.
• 11 July 2012  |  Rabble.ca Resilience and Solidarity in Labour's Summer Victory Against Rio Tinto Fred Wilson, member of the Board of Directors for the Council of Canadians, blogs about the United Steelworkers victory in Alma, Quebec for Rabble.ca.
• 3 July 2012  |  Toronto Star The Case Against Opening up Canadian Businesses to Foreign Ownership Erin Weir, economist with the United Steelworkers, discusses the need to consider the drawbacks of foreign takeovers of Canadian companies.
• 14 May 2012  |  Media release New Cuts to Airport Security Screeners Will Compromise Passenger Safety, Wait Times The elimination of hundreds of security screeners at airports throughout Quebec and Atlantic Canada will compromise passenger safety and increase wait times for travellers.
• 9 May 2012  |  CBC News Ex-Westray Miner Calls for Law Crackdown to Protect Workers A former Westray Mine worker gave an emotional account on Parliament Hill of how he tried to rescue fellow miners following a deadly explosion at the Plymouth, N.S., site 20 years ago, and urged for more to be done to protect employees.
• 30 April 2012  |  Hamilton Spectator Hundreds gather to pay respects to fallen workers The message to the hundreds crammed into Hamilton City Hall council chambers for the Day of Mourning was clear: no matter how deep the grief or how shocking the loss, the numbers of workers who die or are injured on the job continues.
• 17 April 2012  |  International Media Global Media Spotlight on Campaign to Kick Rio Tinto Off Olympic Podium News media from around the world are reporting on an international campaign that calls on the International Olympic Committee to drop resource giant Rio Tinto as an official supplier of the 2012 London Games.
• 3 April 2012  |  Sault Star Local Steelworkers President Slams Government for Blaming Baby Boomers Letter to the editor from a Steelworker Local Union President dismayed by the federal budget released March 29.
• 17 February 2012  |  The Gazette Protesting students join locked-out Rio Tinto workers in demonstration A protest over tuition fee hikes by about 100 Université de Montréal students received an unexpected boost from the presence of 400 locked-out Rio Tinto employees
• 16 February 2012  |  Behind The Numbers, CCPA Blog In the wake of the crisis: Bully capitalism Economist Armine Yalnizyan looks at the aftermath of the global economic meltdown. Profits are up, yet workers are being asked to take wage cuts.
• 8 February 2012  |  Media release MPs of All Parties Must Stand Up for Canada’s Working Families “Our federal government, by law, is supposed to defend Canadian workers when foreign corporations take over our resources and industries.” - Ken Neumann
• 7 February 2012  |  LaPresse.ca Government Must Intervene, Alma Mayor Says Rio Tinto benefits from Quebec’s energy resources while workers remain locked out, Steelworkers charge.
• 21 January 2012  |  Media Release Steelworkers Sends Emergency Response Team as well as Thoughts to USW Members and Families at Babine Forest Products “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured, their families and the workers of Babine Forest Products. The United Steelworkers join all British Columbians in praying for their recovery." - Steve Hunt
• 3 January 2012  |  The Vancouver Sun Extravagant CEO Salaries — Necessary Evil or Economic Burden? USW Economist Erin Weir says discrepancies in wealth between regular people and the elite is bad for the economy.
• 22 December 2011  |  Rubber World USW letter warns Infinity Rubber suppliers USW National Director Ken Neumann warns Infinity Rubber's suppliers that Infinity has transfered its land to a holding company, which could impact the rubber company's ability to pay them.
• 21 December 2011  |  Rubber and Plastics News USW writes Infinity Rubber suppliers about land transfer USW National Director Ken Neumann wrote to Infnity Rubber suppliers warning them that Infinity has transfered its land to a holding company and explaining how this could impact the rubber company's ability to pay them.
• 17 December 2011  |  Hamilton Spectator Scandalous Betrayal; Lost Opportunity - Ken Neumann Op-Ed Conservatives let down workers, families and entire communities by dropping case against U.S. Steel.
• 16 December 2011  |  CCPA EI Coverage Falls Below 40% - Erin Weir It may be a grim Christmas for thousands of unemployed Canadians. Employment Insurance figures show that fewer workers received benefits in October, even as more became unemployed and filed EI claims.
• 6 December 2011  |  CBC TV “Unions are a big part of the solution to this problem” “Unions are a big part of the solution” to the growing wealth gap in Canada and around the world, United Steelworkers economist Erin Weir tells CBC TV’s Lang and O'Leary Exchange.
• 2 December 2011  |  InsideToronto.com Strike Reaches Two-Year Mark USW workers at Infinity Rubber are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet as the strike drags on with no end in sight. Some members have sold their homes and others have seen their retirement savings dwindle as their employer refuses to meaningfully negotiate a fair deal with them.
• 24 November 2011  |  Reuters Steelworkers Welcome Supreme Court Decision Against U.S. Steel The USW hopes the Supreme Court ruling will clear the way for a resolution of the Investment Canada Act case against U.S. Steel.
• 26 October 2011  |  Sudbury Star Gib Gilchrist, Longtime Activist Dies at 89 Gilbert "Gib" Gilchrist, a former staff representative for USW Local 6500 and a former president of the Sudbury & District Labour Council, died Monday in Gore Bay at age 89.
• 16 October 2011  |  Hamilton Spectator Hamilton's 1005 votes ‘Yes’ but ‘nobody liked it’ After 11 months locked out, U. S. Steel and union settle. At the end, Norm McEvoy was alone on the U. S. Steel picket line, gathering up union and Canadian flags at the end of the longest labour-management confrontation in Hamilton steel history.
• 7 October 2011  |  thinkprogress.org VIDEO: “Of Course” Green Jobs Exist, “We Can See the Benefits” – Ken Neumann “The green economy is very crucial to us … solar and wind, these are all manufacturing jobs,” USW Canadian Director Ken Neumann says at the Greenbuild International Conference.
• 5 October 2011  |  WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitoba's New Democrats Win Fourth Straight Majority Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger led his New Democrats to a fourth-straight majority government Tuesday, taking 37 of the legislature's 57 seats.
• 3 October 2011  |  BCLOCALNEWS.COM Labour Peace Brewing at Highland Valley Copper More than 1,000 members of Steelworkers Local 7619 will vote Oct. 12 and 16 on a tentative agreement calling for a five-year contract.
• 3 October 2011  |  CANADIAN CENTRE FOR POLICY ATERNATIVES Why Unions Matter All over the world unions are a major force in reducing inequality and poverty, and broadening access to basic supports for everyone.
• 30 September 2011  |  Hamilton Spectator Local 1005 Members 'Disgusted' by U.S. Steel’s ‘Final’ Offer Local 1005 union leaders came to the table ready to compromise, only to have their requests swept aside by U.S. Steel.
• 30 September 2011  |  Winnipeg Free Press USW Local 7619, Teck Reach Deal at Highland Valley Copper Tentative agreement, calling for a five-year contract, reached after union members voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action to back demands.
• 26 September 2011  |  The Province Supporting Raw-Log Hungry China Robs B.C. of Jobs “You’re just shipping away jobs,” Steelworkers say as B.C. sets record for raw log exports.
• 22 September 2011  |  Statement End the U.S. Steel Lockout Now There is no greater evidence of the Conservative government’s policy failure than the silenced steel mill in Hamilton, NDP Industry Critic Peter Julian tells Parliament.
• 20 September 2011  |  Hamilton Spectator U.S. Steel, Union Still Talking USW Local 1005 has called an information meeting on Wednesday to report on the negotiations to members and “present options.”
• 30 August 2011  |  rabble.ca Steelworkers Target BMO for Loan to ‘Anti-Union’ Company Wealthy corporations appear to take delight in the continued suffering and misery of workers and their families, protesters say.
• 25 July 2011  |  The Saskatoon StarPhoenix Steelworkers Reach Deal With Potash Corp USW members will receive a $7,500 signing bonus and raises totaling 10 per cent over three years.
• 22 July 2011  |  Toronto Star Rubber Workers Turn Up Heat on 20-Month Strike In letters to suppliers, customers, media and even the CEO’s neighbours, the union is raising the strike’s profile and trying to push the company back to the bargaining table.
• 18 July 2011  |  Hamilton Spectator A Shameful Milestone in Hamilton: Ken Neumann It is time for U.S. Steel and our governments to do right by locked-out steelworkers, and the city as a whole.
• 9 July 2011  |  Vancouver Sun Steelworker Wins Compensation Four Years After Being Struck by Manager A forest worker hurt on the picket line when a company manager drove through it and struck him with his vehicle, has received a $54,500 out-of-court settlement.
• 7 July 2011  |  Hamilton Spectator U.S. Steel Sets Another Abysmal Record With its unprecedented and unnecessary lockout of Hamilton workers, U.S. Steel is now responsible for the longest labour confrontation in the history of the former Stelco.
• 17 June 2011  |  Saskatoon StarPhoenix USW Member Killed at Mosaic Potash Mine The USW is assisting OHS officials with the investigation into the death of a Local 7656 member.
• 26 May 2011  |  Vancouver Sun NDP slams Tories over cutbacks in airports' security staff The NDP and unions representing front-line security officers lashed out at the Conservative government suggesting it is threatening aviation security after CATSA started informing suppliers that it needed to reduce staff by 15 to 20 per cent.
• 26 May 2011  |  Toronto Star Ontario’s Conservatives Endangering Green Jobs Conservative leader Tim Hudak’s plan would cost thousands of jobs and cause Ontario to miss out on the clean energy revolution, say Ken Neumann of the United Steelworkers and Rick Smith of Environmental Defence.
• 20 May 2011  |  Progressive Economics Forum What Newfoundland & Labrador Can Teach Canada About 21st Century Globalization Our goal should be to export the first world economy and conditions, not import a third world standard.
• 6 May 2011  |  Hamilton Spectator Diplomatic Cable Reveals U.S. Steel’s Motives Hurt Canadian Workers Wikileaks releases diplomatic cable proving U.S. Steel closed Canadian plants to keep American facilities running.
• 19 April 2011  |  TVO Making the Case for Retirement Security Charles Campbell, USW Research Department Leader, appears on TVO’s The Agenda to make the case for a stronger CPP and OAS/GIS system.
• 15 April 2011  |  Saskatoon StarPhoenix Potash Royalty Review Protects Saskatchewan Interests: Ken Neumann The Saskatchewan government must not pass up the opportunity to ensure fairness in the potash royalty system, Steelworkers Canadian Director Ken Neumann says in this op-ed column published in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
• 8 April 2011  |  canada.com Steelworker to Harper: "What about the jobs at U.S. Steel?" The Conservatives have done little to protect quality jobs, Steelworker Wayne Rae protests at Harper rally.
• 22 March 2011  |  Hamilton Spectator U.S. Steel CEO Surma Gets Obscene $8.6-Million Raise While 900 U.S. Steel workers remain locked out of their jobs in Hamilton, John Surma pockets $12.1 million in annual compensation.
• 10 March 2011  |  CBC News Steelworkers Want Unions in All Quebec Mines "In non-union mines, the company does not respect at all health and safety committees. They do not respect the full-time health and safety representative and he has no power."
• 3 March 2011  |  Vancouver Sun Steelworkers Closer To Prosecuting Weyerhaeuser for Worker's Death Provincial court judge Terese Alexander has ruled that a summons be issued to Weyerhaeuser regarding the 2004 death of New Westminster sawmill worker Lyle Hewer.
• 15 February 2011  |  rabble.ca Steelworker's Widow Unsure How She'll Survive Without Cost-of-Living Adjustments Mary Fiori receives a survivor's pension of $553 a month. If U.S. Steel gets its way, she'll never receive a penny more.
• 14 February 2011  |  ICEM.ORG Mexico Days of Action Begin The Calderón government must heed the warnings of this global movement, and end abuses of trade union rights in Mexico.
• 31 January 2011  |  LABOR NOTES Canadians Rally to Defend Pensions in U.S. Steel Lockout Attendees bused in from as far away as Montreal to voice an angry cry at the federal government’s inaction.
• 31 January 2011  |  rabble.ca Hamilton vs. U.S. Steel "Voices of workers need to be heard from the shop floor to the floor of the House of Commons." - Hamilton Mountain MP Chris Charlton
• 29 January 2011  |  THE TORONTO SUN 10,000 Join Union Protest in Hamilton Thousands packed into Hamilton to support 900 locked-out workers of a U.S. company that is demanding drastic pension changes.
• 29 January 2011  |  CTV.CA Thousands Rally to Support Hamilton Steelworkers Several thousand protesters gathered in downtown Hamilton and accused the Conservative government of favouring foreign-owned corporations over workers' interests.
• 28 January 2011  |  Hamilton Spectator Paid for in Sweat and Sacrifice Understanding the travesty of U.S. Steel's Hamilton lockout and its disgraceful attack on the pensions of thousands of senior citizens – an op-ed piece by Steelworkers National Director for Canada Ken Neumann.
• 21 January 2011  |  Guelph Mercury Everybody deserves a good pension All workers deserve a decent, basic pension and economic security in retirement.
• 17 January 2011  |  ST. JOHN'S TELEGRAM A Squandered Chance for Labour Peace As a rich international corporation, Vale is capable of being generous towards its employees and to settle quickly and equitably with its workers in Labrador.
• 15 January 2011  |  HAMILTON SPECTATOR U.S. Steel Workers Get Financial Boost The union argued the Hamilton situation is different because the workers aren’t on strike, they’ve been locked out by a company that has also broken employment and production promises made to the government.
• 12 January 2011  |  Sudbury Star Foreign Takeovers Dominate Recent Evolution of Sudbury Mining Industry Globalization and foreign takeovers of Canada’s key resources and industries are among the recurring themes in a five-year retrospective on the mining industry in Sudbury, Ontario.
• 5 January 2011  |  CBC NEWS Voisey’s Bay Talks Resume Under New Pressure Vale and the United Steelworkers are poised to resume talks aimed at ending a 17-month-long strike in northern Labrador, while a potentially embarrassing report is set to be released.
• 9 December 2010  |  SUDBURY STAR Sudbury Steelworkers Raise $12,000 for Voisey’s Bay Strikers In just two hours, Sudbury Steelworkers raised more than $12,000 at Vale Ltd. Sudbury operations to buy Christmas presents for the children of striking Voisey's Bay Steelworkers.
• 2 December 2010 Trade ministers urged to deny corporations ability to sue provincial, territorial governments Governments’ rights to regulate in the public interest must supersede narrow interests of corporations and private investors, civil society groups say.
• 21 November 2010  |  THE ST. JOHN'S TELEGRAM Vale Inquiry Continues An inquiry into a 16-month-old strike at the Voisey’s Bay mine in Labrador is continuing as the commission appointed by the province several weeks ago is still reviewing documentation.
• 18 November 2010  |  THE WINNIPEG SUN Province to Fight Thompson Smelter Shutdown The provincial government is vowing to fight a decision by Brazilian mining giant Vale to close its smelter and refinery in Thompson.
• 19 October 2010  |  Toronto Star Ed Broadbent Shows How Social Investment Builds a Stronger Economy In an opinion piece former NDP leader Ed Broadbent shows how the federal cuts of the 1990s began the weakening of the Progressive Society that brought prosperity.
• 13 October 2010  |  Saskatoon Star Phoenix NDP Urges Government Role in Potash Bid A Potash Review Commission and a “golden share” for the province are part of the New Democrats’ plan for dealing with a potential takeover of Potash Corp.
• 10 October 2010  |  National Director's Update Quebec Realtors join USW’s Independent Workers Quebec realtors have joined the USW’s independent workers’ association, Travailleurs autonomes Québec, to fight attacks on their working conditions and living standards.
• 17 September 2010  |  The Globe and Mail Arbitrator Nixes Ontario's Plans for Wage Freezes The Ontario government’s attempts to freeze the incomes of public sector families was dealt a major blow when an arbitrator ruled the government has no authority to impose its plan without legislation.
• 3 September 2010  |  Toronto Star Wealthy Go AWOL in Deficit Fight Linda McQuag. Under Ontario’s two-year public sector pay freeze,a nursing home worker earning $25,000 a year would give up a hefty $1,000 annually.
• 30 August 2010  |  SAINT JOHN TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL Airport Security Cuts ‘Defy Logic’ Proposed job cuts at Atlantic Canada airports ‘disregard the well-documented need for improvements - not cutbacks - in airport security screening,’ the USW says.
• 26 August 2010  |  FINANCIAL POST Potash Takeover Bid Should Raise Red Flags for Canadians Ken Neumann's Op Ed explains numerous reasons for Saskatchewan communities to be concerned about the takeover bid and governments' unwillingness to protect Canadians' interests.
• 23 August 2010  |  Business News Network Ken Neumann Speaks Out on Potential Takeover of Potash Corporation There are many reasons Saskatchewan communities should be concerned about a foreign takeover of PCS, USW National Director for Canada tells BNN.
• 13 August 2010 Highly Respected USW Member Killed on the Job at Agrium Potash Operation Edward Artic, 59, a father of two and a highly respected and experienced industrial worker, was killed May 11 when he was struck by a metal rigging device that fell six stories at the Agrium Inc. potash mill in Vanscoy, Sask.
• 30 April 2010  |  Winnipeg Free Press Province to Help Employees in Pine Falls Mill Buyout Employee-led buyout of Pine Falls paper mill passes a couple of key hurdles, giving USW hope facility could reopen by September.
• 24 March 2010  |  Sudbury Star Massive Solidarity Rally for USW in Vale Strike International labour leaders among more than 5,000 people in Sudbury for largest-ever rally for striking Steelworkers.
• 23 March 2010  |  Sudbury Star Sending a Message: Steelworkers Rally in Vale Inco Strike More than 5,000 converge on Sudbury in largest-ever show of support for Steelworkers striking Vale.
• 15 March 2010  |  Simcoe Reformer United They Stand Tall Against U.S. Steel Hundreds demonstrate to demand reopening of U.S. Steel facility in Nanticoke.
• 2 March 2010  |  250 News Canfor and Steelworkers Reach Tentative Deal USW negotiates “unprecedented” agreement in the history of collective bargaining in the B.C. forest industry.
• 2 March 2010  |  Sudbury Star Mediated Talks Will Continue Exploratory talks on the weekend were the first official discussions between the two sides since July.
• 2 March 2010  |  Sudbury Star Sudbury Should Not Feel Alone, NDP MP Says Brazil-owned Vale wants to bring Canadian wages and benefits in line with what it pays in other countries.
• 1 March 2010  |  Canadian Press USW Reaches Tentative Deal With Xstrata Under pressure from a looming strike deadline, Steelworkers Local 2020 and Xstrata Nickel hammer out a tentative agreement in Sudbury.
• 23 February 2010  |  Straightgoods.ca Stop Xstrata and Vale from Closing Canadian Operations - Charlie Angus “Foreign ownership of Inco and Kidd Metallurgical has been disastrous for the communities involved and the Canadian economy.”
• 16 February 2010  |  Sudbury Star What Happened to Prized Nickel Producer? Asks John Fera "When Vale won the bidding war for Inco, it crowed loud and long," John Fera recalls.
• 6 February 2010  |  Sudbury Star This Has to Stop Now Working people must be prepared to act to make federal and provincial politicians realize offshore companies are exploiting Canada’s natural resources, says John Fera.
• 3 February 2010  |  Sudbury Star Leo Gerard: USW "Will Negotiate, Not Capitulate" "Steelworkers and Canadian workers in general will never submit to a labour relations culture imported from another country by a foreign corporation", says Leo W. Gerard, USW International President.
• 2 February 2010  |  Hamilton Spectator The Greening of Hamilton's Economy "We believe there is going to be a big market for green energy products and we must do all we can to be sure they are built in Canada.” – Ken Delaney, Assistant to the National Director for Canada, USW.
• 19 January 2010  |  Hamilton Spectator U.S. Steel Didn't Justify Shutdown, Feds Say U.S. Steel failed to provide any data that justified its decision to idle the former Stelco while its U.S. facilities kept churning out steel, a government lawyer told the Federal Court yesterday.
• 13 January 2010  |  New York Times Some in Canada Say Strike Shows Risk of Foreign Control Last July, the 3,300 unionized workers who normally work deep below this city in the vast nickel mines owned by Vale Inco did something unusual: they went on strike even though they had already been laid off temporarily.
• 12 January 2010  |  FairDealNow.ca LabourStart Campaign Against Vale a Tremendous Success One of the most-successful campaigns of its kind has seen thousands of protest messages from around the world sent to mining giant Vale for provoking a strike by 3,500 Canadian mine workers.
• 12 January 2010  |  NORTHERN LIFE Mediation Not the Solution for Sudbury: Vale Inco Vale Inco official says there wouldn’t be “any benefit” to bringing in an Ontario Ministry of Labour mediator to resolve the nearly six-month-long strike involving more than 3,000 of its Sudbury workers represented by Steelworkers Local 6500.
• 12 January 2010  |  Toronto Star Ottawa Set to Take on U.S. Steel Giant Hundreds of Steelworkers watching closely as legal battle between American steel giant and Canadian government plays out in Federal Court this month.
• 12 January 2010  |  Business News Network Video TV DEBATE: To Privatize or not to Privatize USW Economist, Erin Weir, debates on BNN the value of privatizing government services with the founder of Genoa Capital Markets Counsel.
• 12 January 2010  |  BLOOMBERG U.S. Steel Urges Judge to Throw Out Canadian Lawsuit U.S. Steel Corp. urged a Canadian judge to throw out a government lawsuit that claims the steelmaker failed to live up to commitments it made when it acquired Stelco Inc. in 2007.
• 12 January 2010  |  SUDBURY STAR VALE INCO STRIKE: 1978 Different Than Current Strike In 1978 just the threat of a strike by 11,600 Steelworkers against Inco Ltd. in Sudbury prompted Progressive Conservative Premier Bill Davis and Labour Minister Robert Elgie to visit the Royal York Hotel to try to talk some sense into both sides.
• 18 December 2009 New Deal Fires up Mill PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN, 16 Dec. 2009 - Canfor Corp. announced Wednesday it will be restarting its Chetwynd sawmill this spring, which will put about 70 people back to work.
• 18 December 2009 Toss Legal Challenge, Say Feds HAMILTON SPECTATOR, 10 Dec, 2009 - The Investment Canada Act is neither vague nor ambiguous, and U.S. Steel's legal challenge against it should be dismissed, the government says in new court filings
• 18 December 2009 Vale No-Show at Brazilian Senate Hearing NORTHERN LIFE - Vale S.A., the parent company of Vale Inco, failed to show up at a senate hearing in Brazil, where USW officials from Canada were to speak.
• 14 December 2009 Steelworkers Picket in Push for Severance Metroland News Service, 10 Dec. 2009 - Some 50 locked out and laid off workers from U.S. Steel's Nanticoke plant picketed Ontario Labour Minister Peter Fonseca's constituency office yesterday in an effort to push Queen's Park to amend the Employment Standards Act.
• 11 December 2009 Steelworkers Take Protest to Big Apple THE SUDBURY STAR - It wasn’t all mink coats and tuxedos Thursday at New York City’s tony Waldorf Astoria Hotel when Vale chief executive officer Roger Agnelli received the global citizenship award from the Business Council for International Understanding.
• 10 December 2009 Gravelle Introduces Bills to Cut Through Secrecy THE SUDBURY STAR, 8 Dec. 2009 - As a strike at Brazil-based Vale Inco dragged into its fifth month in Sudbury, and Swissbased Xstrata cut another 670 jobs in Northern Ontario, Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle introduced legislation Monday aimed to make deals forged between the federal government and foreign companies open to public scrutiny.
• 10 December 2009 Tembec Mill in Manitoba put up for Sale CANADIAN PRESS, 8 Dec. 2009 - USW's 250 employees at Pine Falls facility have been locked out since Sept. 1 in dispute over wage cuts.
• 2 December 2009 A Green Economy Can Resurrect Main Street THE TRIBUNE DEMOCRAT - USW is optimistic about the potential for renewable energy industries to spur job growth in the metal and steel industries, thereby creating a green, re-industrialized economy that manufactures commodities of international value. Leo Gerard explains that if we don’t invest in our homegrown green industries, others will.
• 21 November 2009  |  Le Devoir Leo Gerard speaks to Le Devoir - The United States and Canada should take a lesson from Quebec Leo Gerard, President of the largest industrial union in the U.S., believes that the United States and the rest of Canada have a great deal to learn from the province of Quebec.
• 12 November 2009 U.S. Steel Recalls 63 Workers to Save on Severance HAMILTON SPECTATOR – 63 laid-off Steelworkers from Nanticoke were bused to Hamilton this morning in a bid to avoid paying millions in permanent severance. By law under the Employment Standards Act, companies must offer permanent severance to employees who are laid off for 35 weeks and U.S. Steel is trying to shirk its responsibilities.
• 12 November 2009 USW Criticizes Hydro-Québec’s Move to 'Export Jobs' THE GAZETTE – A decision by Hydro-Québec to purchase cable from producers outside the province has outraged members of United Steelworkers, resulting in a demonstration at the National Assembly in Quebec City.
• 12 November 2009 USW Welcomes Mayor’s Call For Good-Faith Bargaining SUDBURY STAR - USW responds with agreement to Mayor Rowswell’s letter calling for good-faith bargaining and an urgent resolution to Vale Inco Stike. USW calls on Vale to come to the bargaining table in good faith, and emphasizes how the ultra-profitable company's demand for massive concessions is harmful to the entire Northern Ontario community.
• 5 November 2009 New Calls to Release Vale Deal Info SUDBURY STAR, 2 Nov. 2009 - NDP MPs are urging Vale to publicly release the agreement it made with Industry Canada when it acquired Canadian-owned Inco in 2006. Failing to respond to a letter sent last month means Vale is clearly embarrassed to make them public.
• 5 November 2009 When Blue Meets Green EMAGAZINE.COM, 4 Nov.2009 – Read a fascinating story about how the “Teamsters and Turtles” alliance was started to protest a meeting of the World Trade Organization. How USW and the Sierra Club in the U.S. founded the National Blue Green Alliance to develop fair trade, healthy workplaces and global warming as key issues.
• 3 November 2009 U.S. Steel workers get Support from Norfolk County Council NORFOLK RADIO CD 98.9 FM - USW takes action in support of the laid off members of US Steel to question the higher levels of government why they are not given any social assistance when they need it most while in the middle of a “Labour dispute”
• 2 November 2009  |  Windsor Star DriveTest Employees Receive 'Unacceptable' Final Offer USW will not put up with minimal adjustments and no real improvements for their members and as a result the members are expected to reject the final offer which will be put to vote. A central issue is the company's proposal to increase the number of part-time workers at the expense of full-time jobs.
• 29 October 2009 Striking Steelworkers Take Fight Against Vale Inco to Sweden SUDBURY STAR - Two striking Canadian miners have taken their fight against Vale Inco to Sweden. IF Metall, the union in Sweden stands in full support of the USW in its campaign for a fair labour agreement.
• 20 October 2009 Steelworkers say Vale Inco is Undercutting Strike TORONTO STAR, 20 Oct. 2009 - Vale Inco is getting into further trouble by forcing office workers who are members of Local 2020 to do the work of mill workers and miners. USW’s lawyer Rob Healy says this has created an "inherently hazardous workplace."
• 13 October 2009 USW in Cambridge Ontario Honoured by United Way as "Campaign of the Week" CAMBRIDGE TIMES, 9 Oct. 2009 – USW donated $10,000 to the United Way Campaign in support of the working families of Cambridge, Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph, many of whom have suffered job loss during this current economical strife.
• 6 October 2009 Brantford Strike 'Poster Child' for Anti-scab Lobby BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR, 6 Oct 2009 - Brantford strikers from ECP will be joining the Queen's Park Rally in support of Anti-scab Legislation on Thursday, Oct 8th. As the ECP workers hold out against the demands for a 25% cut in wages, they are taking their fight to Queen's Park.
• 6 October 2009 Leo Gerard: Enforcing the Rule of Trade Law HUFFINGTON POST - International USW President Leo Gerard continues to fight for FAIR trade, and dismisses the label "protectionist", as he brings Chinese trade violators to court.
• 2 October 2009 Inco Office Staff Get the Shaft: USW TORONTO STAR, 2 Oct. 2009 – USW has filed a labour grievance against Vale Inco because of their treatment of workers. Steelworkers warned the nickel giant Vale Inco that it “could start a war” if they continued to risk the lives of it’s members by sending office workers underground to do the job of striking mine and mill employees.
• 2 October 2009 USW Stepping Up to Help Ontarians Get their Driver's Licence & Permits TORONTO STAR, 30 Sept. 2009 - USW has agreed to lease trailers and equipment to help the thousands of stranded Ontarians to get their licences and permits, while their members perform quality service at half price.
• 1 October 2009 Business Week:Steelworkers' International President Becomes Major Force in Trade
• 1 October 2009 The Economic Crisis as an Excuse for Making Cuts: A Report on the Strike at Prysmian VIDEO, September 7, 2009 - The 200 or so Steelworkers working at the Prysmian cable plant in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in Quebec have been on strike for more than six months. Claiming the economic crisis, the Employer is demanding major concessions from the workers, and is threatening to close the plant by the end of October if its demands are not met. Here is a report on the blackmail tactics being used by the Employer, as broadcast on Radio-Canada.
• 28 September 2009 Inco Strikers Bring Beefs and Nickels to Bay St. TORONTO STAR - Eduardo Pinto, Brazilian union leader and representative on Vale Inco's Board of Directors, vowed to appeal directly to the Vale Board to find a different approach to it's striking workers and the community of Sudbury.
• 21 September 2009 Thousands Show Support for Striking Vale Inco Workers SUDBURY STAR, 21 Sept 2009 – USW along with other Union Leaders and International guests from around the world stood up and showed their support for the striking Vale Inco workers to combat against the “Biggest Corporate Bully in the World”.
• 14 September 2009 Michael Moore and Steelworkers at Toronto’s International Film Festival GLOBE & MAIL, 14 Sept. 2009 - USW striking miners from Sudbury capture red carpet exposure with director, Michael Moore at the premiere of his film Capitalism at the Elgin Theatre's Visa Screening Room, during the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday September 13, 2009.
• 8 September 2009 Obama Appoints Steelworker to be Manufacturing Czar THE WASHINGTON POST, 8 Sept 2009 - By creating the position and powers of a "Manufacturing Czar" and appointing a United Steelworker to the post, President Obama has demonstrated the importance he places on manufacturing jobs and the union movement.
• 8 September 2009 Sudbury Mayor Tells Vale Workers the Community Backs their Fight SUDBURY STAR, 8 Sept. 2009 - At a Labour Day rally, the Mayor of Sudbury clearly demonstrated concern for the striking USW Local 6500 members and urged the community to continue supporting the fight for justice.
• 1 September 2009 Production to resume at former Stelco plant TORONTO STAR/HAMILTON SPECTATOR Aug 28, 2009 - U.S. Steel says it will revive its Hamilton blast furnace today, ending a nine-month shutdown. The firm mothballed the former Stelco furnace last November and shuttered all Canadian operations in March, citing slumping demand.
• 31 August 2009 Steelworkers Say Lakeside Steel's Commitments to Production Basis of Support DAILY EXCHANGE Aug 28, 2009 - HAMILTON - The United Steelworkers said yestrday the union will support Lakeside Steel's bid to acquire the former Stelco's steelmaking facilities at Hamilton and Nanticoke, based on Lakeside's commitment to respect the collective agreements, support the defined benefit pension plans and fulfill production and employment undertakings at both plants.
• 31 August 2009 Union backs bid to buy Stelco: Lakeside wants court to force sale HAMILTON SPECTATOR Aug 28, 2009 - The United Steelworkers union is throwing its support behind Lakeside Steel's attempt to buy the former Stelco. The union said its decision was based on a commitment by Lakeside to back existing labour deals and to fulfil certain commitments made by U.S. Steel when it bought the Canadian steelmaker in 2007.
• 27 August 2009 Striking Union Outraged with Inco Vow to Start Production TORONTO STAR Aug 26, 2009 Leo Gerard warns of a union backlash and real safety concerns if Vale goes ahead with its threat to resume production. “This is a total slap in the face to the Steelworkers union and it’s hard-working members,” added MP Glenn Thibeault.
• 5 August 2009 U.S. Steel Locks Out 150 Workers at Canadian Plant Bloomberg - 4 AUGUST 2009 - Rob Delaney - U.S. Steel Corp., the largest U.S.- based steelmaker by sales, locked out the remaining workers at a Canadian plant idled since March after failing to reach a new labor agreement. U.S. Steel denied entry to 150 workers at its facility in Nanticoke, Ontario, the United Steelworkers union said today in a statement. About 800 employees were laid off at the site in March.
• 4 August 2009 Labour Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place Anyone riding the emotional wave of a labour strike can feel powerless at some point. The employees are left without a paycheque. Managers are forced into irregular duties. And consumers are inconvenienced by the lack of product or services. All become victims riding that emotional wave.... Across Henry Street, at ECP, the United Steelworkers were confronted at the bargaining table by a reportedly profitable company demanding a 25% wage reduction. These demands caused a strike that has lasted almost a year. According to media reports, the steelworkers have offered wage concessions of 16% but the company's use of replacement workers (a practice that was once illegal in Ontario) has elongated the strike.