News Releases

22 May 2013 | Media release Industry-Controlled Responsible Jewellery Council Fails on Preventing Conflict Diamonds and Dirty Gold Trade unions and environmental groups team up to expose deep flaws in jewelry certification system.
22 May 2013 | Media release Steelworkers Humanity Fund Contributes $20,000 for Assistance to Syrian Refugees “The needs are great, and we urge Steelworkers members and locals to donate to the Syrian Refugee Appeal.” - Ken Neumann
14 May 2013 | Media Release Steelworkers Campaign Asks Public to Expose Abuses of Harper's Low-Wage Model Give Everyone a Chance for Canada's Future, a new campaign responding to abuses of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, encourages workers and the public to tell their stories at www.everyoneschance.ca and 1-888-899-4405.
7 May 2013 | Media release Steelworkers Humanity Fund Contributes $15,000 to Assist Bangladesh Garment Workers The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is contributing $15,000 in emergency aid for garment workers and their families affected by the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
7 May 2013 | Workers Uniting Statement Violations of Bangladeshi Workers’ Rights Must End NOW: Workers Uniting The impunity of the multinational apparel brands and government officials and the violation of Bangladeshi workers’ rights must end NOW.
6 May 2013 | Media Release Report Reveals How Canadian Diplomacy Supported Deadly Blackfire Mining Project Released documents reveal Canadian authorities put public resources at the service of Calgary-based Blackfire Exploration despite connections with suspects in activist's murder and widely reported allegations of corruption.
6 May 2013 | Media release WTO Ruling Must Not End Fight for Green Jobs: Steelworkers “We should not be allowing unelected bodies to wipe out initiatives that are good for our climate and good for our economy at the same time,” Ken Neumann says.
2 May 2013 | Media release Liberals Cut Services, Fall Short on Jobs, Economy: Steelworkers Aside from progressive measures that can only be credited to the New Democrats, the Ontario Liberal government's budget fails to protect public services or promote job creation and the economy.
30 April 2013 | Media release Mexican Landowners in Toronto to Demand Accountability from Excellon Resources for Abuses Communal landowners of the Ejido La Sierrita in Durango, Mexico attend Excellon Resources’ Annual General Meeting to testify to company mismanagement.
29 April 2013 | Media release Barring Meaningful Change, Excellon Resources Risks More Trouble, Steelworkers Say Excellon has refused to engage in any serious dialogue with communal landowners at its La Platosa mine in Mexico – the company’s chief source of revenue.
29 April 2013 | Media release Labour Campaign, Public Outrage Force Harper’s Hand on Temporary Foreign Worker Program ‘Partial victory,’ but more meaningful reform needed to reverse Conservatives’ low-wage economic strategy, Steelworkers say.
28 April 2013 | Media release Health and Safety Legend Homer Seguin’s Legacy Evoked on Day of Mourning Day of Mourning commemorations took on added significance for Steelworkers this year, with the passing USW health and safety pioneer Homer Seguin.
18 April 2013 | Media release Scrap Temporary Foreign Worker Program: Steelworkers Steelworkers from across Canada are calling for an end to the Harper government’s scandal-plagued Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
15 April 2013 | Media release Steelworkers National Conference to Focus on Temporary Worker Scandal, Court Challenge Scandals and court challenges created by the Harper government’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program will be a focus of the 52nd United Steelworkers National Policy Conference beginning Tuesday in Vancouver.
11 April 2013 | Media release Steelworkers Pursue Court Challenge of RBC Temporary Worker Plan "We intend to fight for the job security of our members and all Canadian workers. And we intend to shine some light on how the government may have broken its own laws by failing to ensure the conditions for hiring temporary workers were met." - Ken Neumann
10 April 2013 | Media Release Steelworkers Call for Diane Finley’s Resignation Amid Temporary Workers Scandal The RBC controversy follows the scandal in B.C. where Finley's lack of oversight allowed temporary foreign workers to be hired for mining jobs even though hundreds of Canadian applicants were not even granted interviews.
7 April 2013 | Media release Latest Use of Federal Temporary Workers Undermines Canadian Jobs and Wages News that RBC is replacing 45 of its employees with workers from India is just further proof that corporations and the Harper government intend to use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to lower wages.
22 March 2013 | Media release Harper’s Austerity Budget Threatens Jobs Conservative budget fails to improve employment prospects, reduces infrastructure funding by billions and will mean service cuts relative to inflation and population growth.
5 March 2013 | Media release Conservatives Not Serious About Temporary Foreign Worker Fix “We have seen first-hand that this government has no interest in meaningful consultation and a full, transparent review of this program,” says Ken Neumann.
28 February 2013 | Media release Employment Insurance: Workers Deserve a Leg Up, Not A Smack Down If you pay into an insurance policy but are denied the coverage you've paid for when you need to make a claim, that's called a scam.
1 February 2013 | Media release Supreme Court Confirms Need for Insolvency Law Reform Court’s decision demonstrates how existing legislation allows employers to disregard commitments to pensioners.
29 January 2013 | Media release Sending Back Temporary Foreign Workers Is a Chance to Do Right by Canadian Workers Over the course of this scandalous decision to utilize temporary foreign workers, it was demonstrated time and time again that there are plenty of Canadians who are ready and able to take on this type of work.
28 January 2013 | Media Release Steelworkers Launch Facebook Page: facebook.com/uswmetallos Many Steelworkers are already active on Facebook. Launching our USW Facebook page is another great way to share USW news and engage with our members and allies.
28 January 2013 | Media release USW Solidarity For Common Causes Movement Steelworkers support broad-based, pan-Canadian coalition of labour, social justice, environmental and First Nations groups to fight the federal Conservative agenda.
24 January 2013 | media release A Major Step in Improving Health and Safety Standards in Quebec Mines Superior Court recognizes cancer caused by diesel smoke exposure as an occupational disease.
21 January 2013 | Media release Human Rights Commission Rejects Complaint Against Campaign Highlighting Temporary Foreign Worker Concerns "As the cloud of scandal grows around the use of temporary foreign workers in this mine, more and more people are speaking out." - Stephen Hunt
9 January 2013 | media release Montreal Security Screeners Unanimously Reject Contract Offer and Renew Strike Mandate Security screeners at Montreal’s Dorval airport unanimously rejected the latest contract offer from their employer and reaffirmed a strike mandate.
3 January 2013 | Media release New Steelworkers Leader Continues Fight for Jobs, Living Standards Marty Warren takes over as USW Director for Ontario and Atlantic Canada following retirement of Wayne Fraser after 11 years as District 6 Director.
6 December 2012 | Statement Ending Violence Against Women Violence against women is not acceptable. As unionists and activists, we have the power to help end violence against women.
29 November 2012 | Media release Steelworkers: Crown Prosecutors Must Act Decisively in Response to Sawmill Tragedies “All measures must be taken to provide justice to the workers who were killed or injured and their families, and to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.” - USW District 3 Director Stephen Hunt
22 November 2012 | media release Quebec Steelworkers Ask PQ Government for Bolder Action in Processing Sector Gathered at their annual general meeting in Rivière-du-Loup under the theme Made in Quebec, 400 Steelworkers delegates are reflecting on ways to reinvigorate resource processing and goods manufacturing.
21 November 2012 | Media release Steelworkers File Mines Act Complaint to Halt HD Mining Operations Citing numerous violations of the British Columbia Mines Act and Mines Code, the USW is calling for the suspension of work at a northern B.C.coal mine.
20 November 2012 | Media release Steelworkers Humanity Fund Contributes $130,800 to Canadian Food Banks “The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is contributing to food banks because poor and vulnerable Canadians continue to rely on food banks to make ends meet.” - Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada
12 November 2012 | Media release Review of Temporary Foreign Workers Program Must Be Inclusive, Transparent The Chinese Canadian National Council and United Steelworkers union welcome a comprehensive review of the Temporary Foreign Worker program. We urge the government to consult with all stakeholders including unions, non-profit groups, researchers and the workers themselves.
9 November 2012 | Media release United Steelworkers and Canadian Pacific Ratify Five-Year Agreement New contract for 800 clerical and intermodal workers includes wage increases of three per cent in each of the next five years.
8 November 2012 | Media release Steelworkers Welcome Review of Temporary Foreign Worker Program “Aside from announcing a review, the federal government must take immediate steps to demonstrate that it truly believes Canadians must always have first crack at job opportunities in Canada." - Steve Hunt, USW Western Canada Director
26 October 2012 | Media release Violent Attack on Peaceful Demonstrators at Canadian-Owned Mine Thugs Destroy Landowners’ Camp Outside Excellon Resources’ Mexican Operations.
19 October 2012 | Media release Send Harper’s China Investment Deal Back to Drawing Board The USW is demanding a public review of a sweeping Foreign Investment Protection Agreement with China.
16 October 2012 | Media release McGuinty Concedes Defeat by Resigning as Premier Plagued by scandal and a failure to lead a minority government, Dalton McGuinty has delivered a final insult to Ontarians by arbitrarily suspending the legislature.
11 October 2012 | Media Release Steelworkers Support Better Return-to-Work Outcomes for Injured/Disabled Workers The USW has signed a licence agreement with an international council to help workers and workplaces achieve better return-to-work outcomes for injured workers and workers with disabilities.
27 September 2012 | Media release Airport Security Screeners Across Atlantic Canada Hold Strike Vote Security screeners serving Atlantic Canada airports are voting on potential strike action after their employer demanded concessions at the bargaining table.
27 September 2012 | Media release ‘You Deserve Better,’ Steelworkers Tell Excellon Resources Shareholders Just like poor landowners and miners in Mexico, Canadian shareholders deserve much better from mining company Excellon Resources, the United Steelworkers union says.
26 September 2012 | Media Release McGuinty’s Trampling of Bargaining Rights Unnecessary The McGuinty wage freeze bill is an unnecessary attack on workers and collective bargaining. Picking a fight that tramples on workers' rights is unproductive and misguided. It won't fix the economy or erase the deficit.
20 September 2012 | Statement USW Decries Tragic Deportation of Kim Rivera This gives Canada a black eye on the international stage. Our country's once-proud tradition as a safe haven for conscientious objectors has been destroyed.
17 September 2012 | Media release Steelworkers Determined to See Burns Lake Mill Rebuilt The USW is applauding Hampton Affiliates' intention to rebuild the Babine Forest Products Sawmill in Burns Lake, B.C., and is reiterating its call for the province to take steps to ensure that it happens.
14 September 2012 | Media release Families, Community Deserve Answers on Vale Miners’ Deaths Families, co-workers and the entire community deserve answers on the decision by police and Crown prosecutors not to pursue criminal charges in the deaths of Jordan Fram and Jason Chenier.
10 September 2012 | Statement USW Statement Supporting War Resister Kim Rivera and her Family The USW calls on Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to grant Iraq War resister Kimberly Rivera's application to stay in Canada.
5 September 2012 Steelworkers’ Humanity Fund Contributes $20,000 Toward Flood Relief in the Philippines The rains that caused floods in the Philippines in August were amongst the worst recorded in Philippine history. The equivalent of nearly two months' of rain fell on Metro Manila.
31 August 2012 | Media release Quebec Steelworkers Make Major Gains at Rio Tinto Mine Six-year collective agreement will increase wages, pensions and benefits package by 50 per cent for workers at Rio Tinto Fer et Titane.
30 August 2012 | Media release Lack of Coordination Between Government Agencies Responsible for Workplace Safety Must be Reviewed and Fixed: USW "It is critical that the government establish effective and efficient methods of ensuring coordination between these agencies to ensure the safety of all workers in British Columbia,” says USW District 3 Director Stephen Hunt.
15 August 2012 | Media release United Steelworkers Supports Timber Supply Committee Report Union endorses call for investment in healthy forests, manufacturing of B.C. resources and process for workers and communities in crisis.
9 August 2012 | Announcement DearJack.ca: A Chance to Express our Commitment to Love, Hope and Optimism Jack asked us to be loving, hopeful and optimistic. Now, a year later, Jack's family, along with the Broadbent Institute, are giving us a chance to share what Jack meant to us.
8 August 2012 | Media Release Queen’s Staff Vote to Ratify First Collective Agreement Queen’s University administrative and support staff have strongly ratified their first collective agreement.
27 July 2012 | Media Release Heavy Lifting Ahead if Premiers’ Words are to Mean Something The United Steelworkers said workers want the jobs that building clean energy infrastructure will bring. But it will take leadership from the premiers to foster them, with the federal government openly doing the oil industry’s bidding.
25 July 2012 | Media Release Unions, Environmentalists Take Up Redford's Offer to Talk Blue Green Canada hopes Alberta Premier Alison Redford’s call for a Canadian energy strategy is heard and the Council of Federation meeting marks the start of a real conversation about Canada’s energy needs.
13 July 2012 | MEDIA RELEASE Fines Not Enough, Jail Time Needed to Stop Employee Deaths, say Steelworkers "Four workers were killed and no top executive is going to see jail time. That's the crime," said Ken Neumann, National Director of the United Steelworkers. Metron Construction was fined $200,000, however the charges were dropped against the company president.
6 July 2012 | Media release Steelworkers, Global Solidarity Put End to Rio Tinto’s Six-Month Lockout in Quebec “It began in the small town of Alma, but it became a defining labour struggle in Quebec, Canada, and around the world. Our members are walking back into the plant as heroes.” - USW Local 9490 President Marc Maltais
6 July 2012 | Media release Union Election at Excellon Mine in Mexico Plagued by Intimidation and Irregularities An international observer team has reported the election at a mine owned by Canadian-based Excellon Resources was “marred by a number of serious irregularities that cast doubt on the official results.”
5 July 2012 | Media release Excellon Resources Under Scrutiny As Mexican Mine Workers Hold Union Vote North American labour and civil society groups are watching closely today to see if Canadian mining company Excellon Resources allows workers at its silver mine in Mexico to have a free and democratic vote to join a union.
5 July 2012 | Media release Goons, Armed Police Confront Workers Holding Union Vote at Excellon Resources Mine Workers attempting to hold a free and democratic unionization vote today at a Mexican silver mine owned by Canadian mining company Excellon Resources are being confronted by heavily armed police and goons from a company-controlled union.
5 July 2012 | Media release USW Reaches Tentative First Collective Agreement with Queen’s University The United Steelworkers and Queen's University are pleased to announce that they have reached a tentative first collective agreement after several days of negotiations with the assistance of a provincial conciliation officer.
3 July 2012 | Media advisory Alma, QC, Steelworkers Meet Thursday to Review Tentative Agreement With Rio Tinto Alcan Three membership meetings are scheduled for Thursday, July 5 to allow 780 locked-out smelter workers to review a tentative agreement negotiated by United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9490 and Rio Tinto Alcan.
2 July 2012 Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement With Rio Tinto in Alma, QC The United Steelworkers negotiated a tentative agreement Sunday with Rio Tinto Alcan management in Alma, where aluminum smelter workers have been locked out for six months.
28 June 2012 | Media release Glencore, Xstrata Epitomize Resource Curse: Unions Oppose Merger Trade unions representing Xstrata and Glencore unionized workers across the world are opposing the proposed merger of the two companies.
28 June 2012 | Media release Steelworkers to U.S. Olympic Committee: Help Get Rio Tinto Off the Podium American and Canadian Steelworkers are lobbying the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to join an international campaign to oust Rio Tinto as an Olympic supplier.
26 June 2012 | Media Release It’s Time to See Jail Time in Employee Deaths, Say Steelworkers No one has yet gone to jail. Until individuals are held accountable for worker deaths, workers will continue to take their lives in their hands by going to work.
21 June 2012 | Media release Harper’s Trans-Pacific Trade Plan Threatens Workers, Environment: Steelworkers The Harper Conservatives’ eagerness to join Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations is a threat to Canadians, the United Steelworkers says.
21 June 2012 | Media release Steelworkers to Canadian Olympic Committee: Athletes Deserve Untarnished Gold Steelworkers demonstrate at Canadian Olympic Committee offices to convince Canada’s Olympic organizers to help get mining giant Rio Tinto “Off the Podium.”
20 June 2012 | Media release No Audit, No Certification – Throw Rio Tinto Off the Olympic Podium Rio Tinto’s Olympic presence and the lack of an audit clearly undermine the legitimacy of the process adopted by LOCOG and the intent to make the London Games the most sustainable ever.
18 June 2012 | Media Release New Global Union IndustriALL a Triumph for Solidarity, 50 million Workers, says Steelworkers IndustriALL is a triumph for solidarity. This new global union will be a force for good for working people all over the world.
15 June 2012 | Media Release Building New Bridge With Domestic Steel a Victory for U.S. and Canadian Workers Today's deal that guarantees Canadian and American steel will be used to build the new Windsor-Detroit bridge is a great victory. USW pressure on politicians to do the right thing has paid off.
8 June 2012 | Media Release Steelworkers Ask Washington, Ottawa to Build Bridge with North American Steel This project can put Canadians and Americans back to work by using North American steel and other building materials to the greatest extent possible.
7 June 2012 | Media release Steelworkers Mining Metal for Olympic Medals Want Rio Tinto “Off the Podium” U.S. Steelworkers who mine the metal used in Olympic medals are in solidarity with locked-out Quebec workers. USW Local 392 wants Rio Tinto "Off the Podium" for the London Olympics.
6 June 2012 | Media Release Excellon Resources CEO Resigns Following Mexican Community and Labour Representatives Protest in Canada CEO resignation comes only days after members of the communal landowners' group attended Excellon's shareholders' meeting to demand that the company resolve community and labour disputes at the La Platosa mine in Durango, Mexico.
5 June 2012 | Media Release Buy North American to Build Border Bridge, Say Steelworkers The new Windsor-Detroit bridge is the most important border build we've got. It's time for the government in Ottawa to stand up for Canadian workers and North American steel.
4 June 2012 | Media Release Steelworkers Defend Worker Pensions at Supreme Court Pensioners must be treated fairly when companies become insolvent, the USW will argue at the Supreme Court of Canada.
4 June 2012 | Media release Steelworkers Join June 4th Website Campaign to Protest Harper’s Attack on the Environment and Democracy The United Steelworkers is joining hundreds of organizations across Canada as a single voice for Canada's environment, for human rights and democracy by participating in Blackout Speakout.
31 May 2012 | Media release Charges Against Vale for Miners’ Deaths Confirm Urgent Need for More Comprehensive Action Charges against Vale reinforce the need for urgent action to better protect workers in the mining industry and to strengthen corporate accountability for workplace health and safety, the USW says.
31 May 2012 | Media release Mexican Landowners Demand Action from Excellon Resources at Shareholders’ Meeting in Toronto Communal landowners from Mexico appear at Excellon Resources shareholders’ meeting to demand that the company resolve community and labour disputes at the La Platosa mine in Durango, Mexico.
30 May 2012 | Media release Thousands Worldwide Want Rio Tinto Off the Olympic Podium Over 13,000 people worldwide have sent letters to the International Olympic Committee to protest Rio Tinto’s role in the Olympics and request that the company be taken “Off the Podium” due to its illegal lockout of 780 workers in Alma, Quebec.
24 May 2012 | Media Release Olympic Athletes at London Games Will Receive Medals Tarnished by Rio Tinto’s Poor Behaviour About 100 locked-out workers and many other supporters demonstrate outside the Québec City Convention Centre, which is hosting meetings of the International Olympic Committee Executive Board.
23 May 2012 | Media advisory The Steelworkers Voice Their Discontent to International Olympic Committee Representatives of 780 locked-out Quebec Steelworkers will gather Thursday in front of the Quebec City Convention Centre, during a meeting of the International Olympic Committee Executive Board.
14 May 2012 | Media Release WTO Called Upon to Dismiss Japan, EU Challenge to Canadian Renewable Energy Policy Blue Green Canada, with other Canadian NGOs and labour unions, have sent an amicus curiae submission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) responding to Japan’s and the European Union’s joint attack on the Ontario Green Energy Act.
9 May 2012 | Media release United Steelworkers Welcome Announcement of New Smelter in Sudbury “Thousands of jobs will be created during development of the Sudbury smelter, the chromite mine and concentrating plant in northwestern Ontario and all the related infrastructure.” - Leo W. Gerard, USW International President
8 May 2012 | Media release HONOURING WESTRAY: Steelworkers Launch Campaign to Enforce Criminal Code On the 20th anniversary of the Westray Mine explosion, the United Steelworkers union (USW) is launching a renewed effort to ensure enforcement of the 2004 Westray Act.
7 May 2012 | Media advisory 20 Year Anniversary of Westray Disaster, Launch of Campaign to Put Legislation into Practice The 20th anniversary of the Westray Coal mine explosion, as well as the need to enforce Criminal Code changes brought about by the tragedy, are being recognized Tuesday on Parliament Hill.
3 May 2012 | Speech by Ken Neumann Ken Neumann Addresses Los Mineros General Convention “To Napoleón Gómez Urrutia and to all the members of Los Mineros, the Steelworkers and Workers Uniting say: You are our sisters and our brothers. Your struggle is our struggle. Together we will keep standing up and fighting back.”
3 May 2012 | Media release Steelworkers Hail Mexican Court Decision in Favour of Los Mineros Union Leader Gomez Mexico's Supreme Court restores legal recognition to Napoleon Gomez as National President of Los Mineros – the National Union of Mining, Metallurgical, Steel and Allied Workers of Mexico.
27 April 2012 | Statement Day of Mourning 2012 April 28 is the National Day of Mourning, a day to remember workers killed, injured or made ill by their work. This is a day to reflect on the past, remember what's happened and honour those who sacrificed there lives.
26 April 2012 | Media release Locked-Out Quebec Workers File Complaint Against Rio Tinto with London Olympic Organizing Committee Former Olympian Bruce Kidd gives 'Off The Podium' campaign new momentum in bid to cancel medals deal.
24 April 2012 | Media Release Steelworkers Applaud NDP Improvements to Ontario's Budget The United Steelworkers (USW) union welcomes the modest tax increase for Ontario's richest and income increase for Ontario's poorest achieved by New Democrats in budget negotiations with the provincial government.
24 April 2012 | Media Release Two Deadly Sawmill Explosions Warrant Immediate Action: Steelworkers The United Steelworkers (USW) union extends its deepest condolences to the families of workers killed and injured at the Lakeland Sawmill in Prince George, B.C.
19 April 2012 | Media Release Momentum Growing To Get Rio Tinto Off The Olympic Podium Three of Australia's biggest blue-collar unions announced today that they will back an international campaign to remove mining giant Rio Tinto as an Olympic supplier for this summer's London Games.
18 April 2012 | Media release Steelworkers and Global Partners Call Out Vale Shareholders Report on Vale's Unsustainability presents an unflattering portrait of the corporation’s labour, social and environmental record in many regions of the world.
17 April 2012 | Media release Vale’s Shareholders to Hear of Workers’ Rights Abuses Steelworkers join Brazilian allies at Vale’s annual shareholders meeting to denounce the global mining giant’s abuses of workers’, community and environmental rights.
16 April 2012 | Media Release Locked-Out Workers Launch International Campaign to Get Rio Tinto 'OFF the Olympic Podium' One of the world's largest industrial unions, the United Steelworkers, is calling for the International Olympic Committee to drop multinational resource firm Rio Tinto as an official supplier of the 2012 London Games.
5 April 2012 | Media release Scores of Deaths, Thousands of Injuries Warrant Mine Safety Inquiry By publicly dismissing an inquiry into mine safety, Ontario Labour Minister Lynda Jeffrey has trivialized scores of deaths and thousands of injuries suffered by miners over the last 30 years
31 March 2012 Massive Demonstration in Support of Rio Tinto’s Locked-Out Workers Thousands of people marched through the streets of Alma in Lac Saint-Jean today to demand an end to the lock out and to fight for the preservation of jobs at the Rio Tinto Alcan (RTA) smelter.
29 March 2012 | Media release Along with Penny, Conservatives Killing Jobs, Retirement Security “The Harper government claims it has introduced a jobs budget, but it actually projects a higher unemployment rate this year than last year,” says Ken Neumann, USW’s National Director for Canada.
27 March 2012 | Media release Steelworkers Challenge Liberal Cuts “Both provincially and federally, we need a balanced approach to balancing the budget rather than slashing and burning needed public services,” says Ken Neumann.
24 March 2012 | Media Release Steelworkers Congratulate Mulcair on NDP Leadership Win Thomas Mulcair has the guts, the charisma, the policies and the support of New Democrats and Steelworkers as new leader of our great party.
20 March 2012 | Media Release Steelworkers Protest at BMO Shareholders Meeting Claudio Wastavino, a 33-year worker forced into a 27-month strike at manufacturer Infinity Rubber, took his case to the Bank of Montreal's annual shareholders meeting in Halifax today.
15 March 2012 | Media Release Two years on, Canadian government silent on Blackfire case of corruption and murder in Chiapas, Mexico Canadian civil society organizations would like to know where Canadian authorities stand on Blackfire Resources' controversial operations in Chiapas, Mexico. After 18 months, an access to information request is still unanswered.
14 March 2012 | Media Release Meeting with Mexican Ambassador, Canadian Labour Leaders Call for Freedom of Association in Mexico The Mexican government must stop systemic violations of workers' freedom of association, the protection contracts system and its interference with union elections.
14 March 2012 | Media Release Worldwide Campaign Spills onto New Website Against Canadian Lock Out "The website gives us a way to share developments of our fight with our supporters around the world," said Marc Maltais, President of USW Local 9490.
8 March 2012 | Media release Steelworkers Pull Out of BMO, Advocate Others Do the Same The United Steelworkers has sold all Bank of Montreal shares held through the Steelworker Benefit Plan to protest BMO’s role in prolonging a bitter, 27-month strike at Infinity Rubber.
29 February 2012 | Media release Double Fatality at Vale Mine Could Have Been Avoided USW releases its investigative report into the 2011 double fatality at Vale’s Stobie Mine in Sudbury. The USW calls for the Ontario government to consider criminal charges against Vale for the deaths of Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram.
28 February 2012 | Media release United Steelworkers Help Swell Ranks of NDP "Now more than ever, working families need the NDP to change politics," said Ken Neumann, United Steelworkers National Director. "Steelworkers have stepped up and joined the NDP as individuals in record numbers."
27 February 2012 | Media Release Hundreds of Taxis surround Toronto City Hall to Demand Justice Hundreds of honking taxicabs surrounded Toronto City Hall today to express their frustration at the lack of progress towards taxi industry reform first announced by the City over 10 months ago.
24 February 2012 | Media release “Patently Unreasonable” Vale Breaks Ontario Labour Law The Ontario Labour Relations Board has vindicated the United Steelworkers, ruling that mining giant Vale engaged in “patently unreasonable” conduct and violated provincial labour law by firing nine Sudbury workers without recourse to arbitration.
16 February 2012 | Media Release B.C. Workers Pledge $60,000 Per Month to Support Locked-Out Employees in Alma Workers at the Rio Tinto plant in Kitimat, B.C., will donate $60,000 per month to support the locked-out Steelworkers of Alma, QC.
15 February 2012 | Media release McGuinty-Drummond Austerity Will Kill Jobs, Harm Economy, Steelworkers Warn "The proposed austerity would damage Ontario’s fragile economy and eliminate thousands of jobs," says Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada.
15 February 2012 | Media release Quebec Demonstration to Launch International Campaign in Support of Rio Tinto Locked-Out Workers Trade unionists from around the world will gather in Alma, Qc., from March 30 to April 1, to support locked-out Rio Tinto Alcan workers who are fighting to preserve decent jobs.
13 February 2012 | Media release Steelworkers Local 2004 and CN Rail Ratify Three-Year Agreement for Track Maintenance Workers Steelworkers track maintenance workers for CN Rail have ratified a new three-year agreement. The deal gives 3,000 members of USW Local 2004 annual wage increases of three per cent.
6 February 2012 | Media Release Rio Tinto's European Workers Support Locked-Out Steelworkers in Alma The Rio Tinto European Works Council asks Rio Tinto's CEO to urge local managers to "negotiate in good faith" to put an end to the lockout of 780 workers at Alma, QC.
3 February 2012 | Media release Conservatives, Liberals Fail Electro-Motive Workers “Stephen Harper’s Conservatives and Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals are absolutely useless to workers whose livelihoods are threatened by multinational corporations.” - Ken Neumann, USW National Director
3 February 2012 | Media release Steelworkers Contribute $45,000 to Fund for Burns Lake Families United Steelworkers make a $45,000 contribution to support fund for Babine Forest Products workers and families affected by the explosion at the Burns Lake, B.C. sawmill.
31 January 2012 | Media release B.C. Federation of Labour Contributes $10,000 to USW Burns Lake Fund "We want to send a clear message to the people of Burns Lake and specifically the employees of Babine Forest Products and their families: we stand with you.” - BCFL President Jim Sinclair
27 January 2012 Steelworkers to BMO Board: Why Are You Bankrolling an Attack on Workers? The United Steelworkers (USW) is holding the Bank of Montreal's (BMO: TSX) board of directors responsible for a questionable loan the union says is prolonging a historic strike in Toronto.
27 January 2012 | Media release Vale Voted World’s Worst Corporation Brazilian multinational Vale is a worthy recipient of the 2012 Public Eye People’s Choice Award for the world’s worst company, USW says.
24 January 2012 | Media Release Conservative Government's Extension of Softwood Lumber Agreement Adds Insult to Injury: Steelworkers Extension of Canada-US Softwood Lumber Agreement is latest betrayal in a long list of damaging actions for Canadian forest industry, says USW Canadian Director Ken Neumann.
24 January 2012 | Media release Harper Silent on Foreign Corporate Attack on Alma, Quebec The United Steelworkers and unions around the world are drawing a line in the sand against Rio Tinto after the company locked out 780 USW Local 9490 members in Alma, Quebec.
24 January 2012 | Media release United Steelworkers Launch Burns Lake Fund to Support Babine Workers and Families The USW today launched a fundraising campaign and a trust account to provide support to the workers of Babine Forest Products and their families in the wake of an explosion at the Burns Lake, B.C. sawmill.
17 January 2012 | Media release Ottawa Airport Security Screeners Denounce Further Cuts “You can’t keep cutting front-line workers and expect there will be no negative impact on service and potentially, on security.”
12 January 2012 | Media Release Planned Cuts Mean Airport Delays And Risk to Passenger Safety - Steelworkers Further cuts to airport security screening services will mean airport delays and seriously compromise national security and passenger safety, the United Steelworkers (USW) says.
12 January 2012 | Media release Steelworkers Quebec Director Rallies Locked-Out Aluminum Workers Daniel Roy vows Steelworkers will ramp up the battle against Rio Tinto Alcan, which locked out nearly 800 workers on New Year’s Day rather than continue attempts to negotiate a new contract.
9 January 2012 | Media release Further Cuts to Airport Screeners Would Erode Passenger Safety – Steelworkers Cutting even more is not the way to improve passenger safety or national security. In fact, the public is expecting safer air travel and more-timely processing.
6 January 2012 | Media release Steelworkers Pledge Full Support to CAW Members Locked Out by Caterpillar "CAW and USW members are tangibly connected at the forefront of the battle against corporate greed and the betrayal of Canadian working families by right-wing government in our country." - Ken Neumann.
5 January 2012 | Media release B.C. Jobs from B.C. Resources: United Steelworkers USW responds to the B.C. government's interest in exporting more raw logs by telling the province "don't bother." Instead, the union says it's time to rebuild B.C.'s wood-manufacturing sector.
5 January 2012 United Steelworkers Ratify First Agreement with Cornwall's Air Liquide In an example mutual respect between workers and employers, the United Steelworkers and Air Liquide in Cornwall, Ontario ratified a first collective agreement on December 20th.
23 December 2011 | media release Vale Convicted of Unfair Labour Practice in Landmark Decision of Ontario Labour Board United Steelworkers has won a major victory with the Ontario Labour Relations Board's ruling that Vale mining company’s conduct is unlawful regarding the banning of union VP Patrick Veinot.
16 December 2011 | Media Release Steelworkers, CN Rail Reach Tentative Deal CN Rail and United Steelworkers Local 2004 have reached a tentative agreement to renew their labour contract for 2,800 maintenance-of-way employees in Canada.
12 December 2011 | Media release Conservatives Betray Canadians with U.S. Steel Deal Harper government cuts secret deal to renege on job and production commitments.
7 December 2011 | Media release Review Safety Records and Practices Before Allowing Chinese-Owned Coal Mines in B.C., Steelworkers Say British Columbia must conduct a full inquiry into the mine safety standards of Chinese-owned coal mining companies before allowing them to operate in the province.
15 November 2011 | Media Release Steelworkers Launch NDP Membership Drive As part of the 2012 NDP leadership race, the USW is reaching out to individual union members to join the NDP and be part of changing Canadian politics.
15 November 2011 | Media Release USW Leaders Condemn Ford’s Decision to Evict Occupy Toronto The USW is condemning the decision by Mayor Rob Ford of Toronto to evict the Occupy Toronto protestors from St. James Park.
14 November 2011 | Media Release Queen’s Staff Ready for Bargaining The start of collective bargaining begins toward a first collective agreement for close to 1,150 support staff at Queen's University who are new members of the United Steelworkers (USW).
9 November 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Humanity Fund Contributes $107,800 to Canadian Food Banks The Humanity Fund contributions will support 55 food banks in Canadian communities where USW members live and work.
31 October 2011 | Media Release Steelworkers to Excellon Resources: What Are You Hiding? The question is in response to what the USW calls a "damning" report issued by the Corporate Social Responsibility Counsellor for the Government of Canada.
31 October 2011 | Media Release Steelworkers' Humanity Fund contributes $10,000 toward relief for tropical storms in Guatemala "The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is contributing $10,000 toward emergency aid for communities affected by Tropical Depression 12-E in Guatemala", said Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada.
27 October 2011 | Media Release CSR Counsellor Fails in First Attempt to Resolve Dispute as Excellon Resources Abandons Dialogue Canada's Corporate Social Responsibility Counsellor has failed in her first attempt to resolve a conflict with a Canadian mining company operating beyond our borders.
27 October 2011 | Media Release Canadian Unions Assist Mexican Workers With NAFTA Challenge: Electrical Workers Persecuted by Mexican Government The CLC and USW accompany the Mexican electrical workers union (SME) in submitting a complaint to the authority that administers the labour side deal of NAFTA.
27 October 2011 | Media release Labour, Occupy Toronto Rally Outside BMO A Toronto rally in solidarity with the Occupy movement featured support for Infinity Rubber workers, taking aim at BMO's financial support of the rubber manufacturer.
25 October 2011 | Media Release Labour Leaders Condemn BMO's Financing of Infinity Rubber Canadian Labour Congress President Ken Georgetti and Ontario Federation of Labour President Sid Ryan criticized the Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO) for its financing of Toronto-based Infinity Rubber where workers have been on strike for nearly two years.
17 October 2011 | Media Release Steelworkers Humanity Fund Gives $5,000 to Philippines Typhoon Relief Many communities in the Philippines have been ravaged by typhoons in recent weeks. The Steelworkers Humanity Fund’s emergency relief contribution will help with aid and reconstruction efforts.
12 October 2011 | Media Release United Steelworkers Endorse Brian Topp to Lead NDP “We need a federal leader who has what it takes to beat Stephen Harper and to govern well with strong New Democrat values" – Ken Neumann
11 October 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Local 1005 and U.S. Steel Reach Tentative Agreement USW Local 1005 has scheduled a membership meeting for Wednesday to consider the tentative agreement, with a ratification vote to be held Saturday.
6 October 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Alert Excellon Resources Shareholders to Company Practices USW calls attention to Excellon's depressed earnings and corporate governance practices.
30 September 2011 | Media release Canadian Unions Caution Onex Over Jeld-Wen Acquisition USW, CEP warn Onex of potential pitfalls of an acquisition of global manufacturer Jeld-Wen.
20 September 2011 | Media release Union-Busting Alumicor Boss Hounded in Australia "Laughably, while trying to cut the pay of workers who made him rich, Kerwin is in Australia to speak at a business conference on Operational Excellence and the Power of Teamwork."
19 September 2011 | Media Release Layoffs, Shutdowns in Montérégie Region A shutdown at ArcelorMittal's Contrecoeur-East steel mill has resulted in nearly 500 workers being forced off work for two weeks.
16 September 2011 | Media release Significant Gains in New Deal for Thompson Steelworkers USW Local 6166 members have ratified a three-year contract that includes 2.5% annual wage increases, cost-of-living allowances, pension improvements and transition and retention payments.
6 September 2011 | Media release Concordia trades employees give notice of 24-hour strike Without a contract for more than three years, members of the trades workforce at Concordia University will have a 24-hour "day of reflection" on Wednesday, September 7, to protest the slow pace of negotiations.
6 September 2011 | ANNOUNCEMENT Steelworkers International President Honoured on Labour Day Leo Gerard Workers' Memorial Park features a series of plaques holding the names of fallen Sudbury workers. 
2 September 2011 | Statement ‘A legacy to build upon, not something to be torn down’ Labour Day message from Ken Neumann: Steelworkers and all trade unionists have much to be proud of and to celebrate on Labour Day.
29 August 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Expose Bank of Montreal’s Financing of Union-Busting Company The Steelworkers are mounting a campaign to protest the Bank of Montreal’s financial support of Infinity Rubber, which forced workers on strike 21 months ago.
29 August 2011 | Media release Steelworkers, Civil Society Welcome RCMP Raid on Blackfire Exploration Blackfire’s operations are being investigated under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act.
24 August 2011 | Media release USW Condemns Refusal to Prosecute Weyerhaeuser “It just doesn’t make sense. When workers die, it is only fair that the Criminal Code be enforced.” - USW District 3 Director Stephen Hunt
22 August 2011 | Statement Jack Layton: A Powerful Legacy of Hope and Optimism for a Brighter Future Jack Layton has been a lifelong champion of the values and dreams shared by most Canadians.
15 August 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Convention: Over 3,000 Vow to Stand Up, Fight Back Under the theme Stand Up, Fight Back, Steelworkers local union leaders from across North America are attending the four-day international convention.
8 August 2011 | Media release Guarantee Airport Security Workers’ Rights, Say Steelworkers “The democratic rights of workers must be entrenched in this transition to new security providers in Canadian airports,” USW National Director Ken Neumann said.
4 August 2011 Steelworkers, Intertape Polymer Finalize Settlement for ECP Workers The USW has reached a settlement in a dispute over severance pay for 84 workers at Engineered Coated Products in Brantford.
28 July 2011 | Media release USW, Canadian Unions Donate to East Africa Famine Relief The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is contributing $20,000 to food aid for over 11 million people affected by drought in east Africa.
28 July 2011 | Media release United Steelworkers and Ontario Taxi Workers Solidify Alliance New service agreement strengthens the partnership between the United Steelworkers and the Ontario Taxi Workers Union.
27 July 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Release Video on 20-Month Infinity Rubber Strike One of Toronto’s longest-ever strikes highlights need for replacement worker ban, video shows.
26 July 2011 | Statement by Ken Neumann Jack Layton: Inspiration to Millions of Canadians Jack has inspired millions of Canadians to embrace his conviction that we can build a more equal society and a better country.
19 July 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Launch Campaign to Fight Back Against Infinity Rubber New campaign to raise awareness among elected officials of Infinity's treatment of workers and alert customers and suppliers of risks of business relationship with the company.
11 July 2011 | Media release Persecuted Mexican Labour Leaders Retain Members’ Support, Employers’ Respect Napoleon Gómez and Juan Linares are true heroes of Mexico’s and the global trade union movement.
30 June 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Contribute $25,000 to Saskatchewan Flood Relief The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is contributing $25,000 to Saskatchewan communities most in need of assistance following historic flooding levels.
28 June 2011 | Media release Security Screeners Approve Contract at Ottawa Airport Ottawa airport screeners ratify a new agreement that improves wages, pensions and other benefits.
28 June 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Contribute $50,000 to Flood Relief Efforts The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is contributing $50,000 to Manitoba and Saskatchewan communities devastated by historic flooding.
27 June 2011 Assault on Postal Workers Ignites Fight Against Conservative Agenda - Statement by Ken Neumann STATEMENT, 27 June, 2011 - Our fight is just beginning against the Harper Conservatives’ attacks on the democratic rights and living standards of Canada’s middle class.
9 June 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Mourn Loss of Two Miners Killed on the Job United Steelworkers members in Sudbury and across North America are mourning the loss of two miners killed on the job Wednesday.
7 June 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Ratify Agreement at Halifax Airport New deal includes 3% wage increase and improved pensions, vacations and working conditions.
3 June 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Vote to Strike at Ottawa Airport Pre-board screeners at Ottawa International Airport will strike if necessary if they cannot reach a fair collective agreement with Aeroguard Eastern.
2 June 2011 | Media release Ontario Taxi Workers Union Becomes Ontario’s Largest Advocate for Cab Drivers The campaign by cab drivers to form the Ontario Taxi Workers Union has been supported by the United Steelworkers. The USW has helped cab drivers form their own unions and associations in many jurisdictions in Canada and the United States.
27 May 2011 | Media release U.S. Steel Suffers Another Defeat in Federal Court Foreign corporations must be held to account for breaking promises to Canada, the United Steelworkers says. For the second time, a federal court has upheld legislation aimed at ensuring Canadians benefit from foreign corporate takeovers.
26 May 2011 | Media release Conservative Cuts Compromise Airport Security: Steelworkers Funding and job cuts in airport security screening services conflict with the government’s stated priority on national security.
20 May 2011 | Media release Halifax Airport Screeners To Vote on Tentative Agreement Steelworkers Local 5319 has negotiated a tentative agreement for 260 airport security screeners in Halifax. A ratification vote will be held June 6.
19 May 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Ratify Four-Year Agreement with IFLRA in Southern Interior Contract provisions include enhanced job security, wage increases, a trades rate adjustment, Long Term Disability Plan protection, strong health and safety language.
18 May 2011 | ANNOUNCEMENT We Are Creating Green Jobs There is no doubt that investment in the green economy is creating jobs. Over 20 firms are currently manufacturing solar components in Ontario and 20 more have announced plans to build facilities.
12 May 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Humanity Fund Contributes $50,000 to Quebec and Manitoba Flood Relief Contributions of Steelworkers mean residents in flood-ravaged communities in Quebec and Manitoba will have additional help to recover.
11 May 2011 | Media release Voisey’s Bay Report A Victory for Workers, Vindication for Union Government-appointed commission calls for labour law changes, recognizes Steelworkers' concerns in dealing with huge multinational corporations.
21 April 2011 Steelworkers, IFLRA Reach Tentative Deal for Forest Workers USW members in Cranbrook, Kamloops and Kelowna to vote on four-year proposal based on pattern agreement endorsed by other northern Interior members.
20 April 2011 Napoleón Gómez Receives Prestigious Human Rights Award Meany-Kirkland Human Rights Award recognizes “courageous commitment to defend the aspirations of Mexican workers.”
19 April 2011 March and Rally on Parliament Hill - May 1 Hamilton Steelworkers and their supporters bring the fight for Canada’s pensioners and working families to Parliament Hill.
15 April 2011 | Media advisory Vancouver Conference Features Green Jobs, Chilean Miner Steelworkers Health, Safety and Environment Conference highlights Vancouver as a hub in the green economy and features speakers including a union representative of the Chilean miners trapped underground for more than two months last year.
12 April 2011 | Media release United Steelworkers Endorses Horgan for BC NDP Leadership John Horgan picked as the BC New Democratic leadership candidate who best represents the interests of USW members, their families and the communities where they work and live.
8 April 2011 | Media Release Steelworkers Win Landmark Court Ruling on Pensions The United Steelworkers (USW) union has won a landmark legal decision forcing an insolvent corporation to honour pension obligations to employees.
6 April 2011 Election 2011 - Report Card on the Issues The USW has graded the three main federal parties on the issues that matter: foreign takeovers, leadership, women's equality and more.
6 April 2011 | Media release Halifax Airport Screeners Call In Federal Conciliator The Halifax airport screeners, members of United Steelworkers Local 5319, are facing demands to give up the parity they have with their counterparts in Montreal.
4 April 2011 | Media release Monetary Package to Rise 45% in New Deal for Quebec Steelworkers The contract includes wage increases totalling 25.6% over six years and improvements to the defined-benefit pension plan.
31 March 2011 | Media release Workers Occupy Legislature After Bill to Ban Replacement Workers Defeated Union members refuse to leave the legislature following government’s defeat of legislation to ban the use of replacement workers.
29 March 2011 | Media release Steelworkers: Ontario Budget Sticks to Failed Strategy "This budget does nothing for anyone looking for a job or worried about losing the job they've got," says USW District 6 Director Wayne Fraser.
29 March 2011 | Media release Teck Resources CEO Asked to Resume Bargaining at Elkview Operations Steelworkers call on Teck CEO to follow through with stated plan to get back to the bargaining table.
28 March 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Approve Strike Mandate in Southern Interior Forest Industry USW Locals 1-405, 1-417 and 1-425 have voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action, if necessary, to back up demands in collective bargaining with IFLRA member companies.
24 March 2011 | Media release Brantford Working Families’ Pain Is Dalton McGuinty’s Shame ECP could have negotiated a fair settlement in Brantford, but it knew Ontario’s Liberal government would allow it to operate with scabs to try to break the union.
24 March 2011 | Media release Western Coal Wolverine Mine Workers Join Steelworkers About 320 workers at Western Coal’s Wolverine mine site and maintenance shop have joined the United Steelworkers.
22 March 2011 | Media release Conservative Budget Fails to Meet Needs of Canadians "Prime Minister Stephen Harper clearly has the wrong priorities, with little or nothing to offer to help make life more affordable for families or to create jobs."
22 March 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Contributes $20,000 Toward Relief and Reconstruction in Japan "The contribution of the Steelworkers Humanity Fund means that Japanese unions will have additional resources to be able to alleviate hardship and speed recovery for their members."
18 March 2011 | Media release Weyerhaeuser Summoned to Court in Steelworkers Private Prosecution for Lyle Hewer Death "We expect that our union will either proceed on its own in the role of a private prosecutor or that the Crown Counsel may step in to prosecute the criminal case."
17 March 2011 | Media Release USW Members at Waterville TG Launch Japan Solidarity Campaign “Our aim is to show our solidarity with the Japanese workers we work with every day, our moral support of the Japanese workers at Toyoda Goseï and their families, and our solidarity with the Japanese people in general.”
17 March 2011 | Media release United Steelworkers Form Canada-U.S. Unity Council at Evraz Operations "We would like to see a worldwide group of Evraz workers that is able to meet regularly and work to ensure that the company’s workforce, regardless of country or nationality, is treated fairly and has strong union representation.”
10 March 2011 | Media release Steelworkers, Endako Mines Reach Tentative Agreement "We have a tentative collective agreement which our bargaining committee unanimously recommends that our members accept."
9 March 2011 | Media release Steelworkers Donate $10,000 to New Zealand Earthquake Assistance Donation to Maritime Union of New Zealand’s relief fund will assist emergency aid and reconstruction efforts.
1 March 2011 | Media release Canadian Steelworkers Win Extraordinary Ruling in U.S. Court “We are sending a message to corporations and their directors, that even if you leave the country, we will follow you and hold you accountable for your obligations to workers.”
25 February 2011 | NDP Media Release Filmmaker Michael Moore Joins Ashton’s Campaign for Thompson “Thompson is fighting a frontline battle in a war that’s been raging for the past 30 years – the global war of the world's rich on the middle class."
25 February 2011 | Media Release Steelworkers Hail Liberation of Mexican Union Leader After Two Years as Political Prisoner Mexican union leader Juan Linares is receiving a hero's welcome following his liberation from two years of political imprisonment by his government.
24 February 2011 | Media Release Huge Pittsburgh Rally Supports Wisconsin Workers A crowd of union members and working-class Americans packed the lobby of United Steelworker headquarters in Pittsburgh in a rally to show solidarity with state employees in Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio.
18 February 2011 | Media Release Historic Victory for Hamilton Taxi Drivers A two-year campaign has culminated with the Ontario Labour Relations Board’s certification of the Ontario Taxi Workers Union as a trade union and the bargaining agent for drivers of Hamilton Cab Co.
18 February 2011 | Media Release International Pressure On Mexico to Respect Labour, Human Rights Steelworkers were front-and-centre at demonstrations in major Canadian cities this week as the USW joined the Global Days of Action for trade union rights in Mexico.
17 February 2011 | Media Release HBC Employees Join United Steelworkers "The HBC workers want good union service and an effective approach to worker representation and that's what they'll get in the Steelworkers."
17 February 2011 | Media Release Mine Disaster Anniversary Sparks Calls for End to Mexico's Violent Repression of Labour and Human Rights "Mexico is a brutal country for independent trade unionists. The violence and repression of workers’ and human rights is spiraling out of control."
17 February 2011 | Media Release Taxi Drivers Demand Crackdown After Savage Attack ITaxiworkers and the Ontario Taxi Workers Association are demanding tougher penalties for violent acts against taxi drivers and a closer working relationship with city police.
17 February 2011 | Announcement USW Local 3950-65 Ratifies New Deal at Metal Koting USW Local 3950-65 members at Metal Koting have a new, three-year collective agreement with total wage increases of 7%, pension increases and several other improvements.
14 February 2011 | Media release Canada Joins Global Protests for Workers' Rights in Mexico "There are ongoing violations of basic rights to form unions, to bargain collectively, to strike and to defend workers' rights without repression."
11 February 2011 | Media Advisory Canadians Call for Labour and Human Rights in Mexico Demonstrations next week in major Canadian cities and 30 other countries will call for an end to the violent repression of labour and human rights in Mexico.
11 February 2011 | Media Release United Steelworkers Denounce Orazietti’s ‘Offensive Misrepresentations’ The Steelworkers and New Democrats have a strong and close relationship. The NDP is the only party that truly ‘stands with’ Ontario Steelworkers and that represents the best interests of Ontario’s working families in general.
7 February 2011 | Media Release Steelworkers Create National Council to Challenge Airport Security Changes The United Steelworkers union (USW) is calling on the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) to uphold the rights of thousands of pre-board screeners at Canada's airports.
1 February 2011 | NDP MP NIKI ASHTON - Media Release Thompson and Me? Michael Moore Takes Up Fight Against Vale Academy Award-winning documentarian Michael Moore has agreed to New Democrat MP Niki Ashton's request to join the fight against Vale's devastating decision to kill 500 jobs by closing the smelter and refinery in Thompson.
31 January 2011 | Media Release Voisey’s Bay Workers Ratify Five-Year Agreement “Our members are returning to work with their heads held high. They stood up for their families and their communities and fought for what they believed in.”
27 January 2011 Mexican Border Agents Arrest Steelworkers Union Leader “This outrageous treatment by Mexican federal authorities shows the extent of the government’s corruption.”
27 January 2011 | Media Release Steelworkers, Vale Reach Tentative Deal at Voisey's Bay Negotiators for the United Steelworkers (USW) and Brazil-based Vale have reached a tentative agreement to end the bitter 18-month strike at the Voisey's Bay nickel mine in Labrador.
27 January 2011 | Media Release Thousands to Demand U.S. Steel and Harper Government Respect Canadian Pensioners Labour, community and political leaders will join thousands of demonstrators in Hamilton on Saturday to protest corporate attacks on Canadian workers and pensioners.
17 January 2011 | ANNOUNCEMENT Ontario-Wide Mobilization Jan. 29 for Locked-Out Steelworkers Supporters from across Ontario will converge on Hamilton on January 29 to stand in solidarity with locked-out Steelworkers and pensioners under attack by foreign corporation U.S. Steel.
17 January 2011 | ANNOUNCEMENT People For Corporate Tax Cuts Ontario’s $2.4-billion corporate tax cut means you have to come up with $500 to pay your share! What are you giving up to pay for these corporate tax cuts?
14 January 2011 Vale’s Arrogance and Intransigence Require Government Action "Vale's contention that it wants to settle the strike has clearly been refuted by the Commission."
13 January 2011 Quality Jobs: A Regional Advantage The combination of job cuts and the subcontracting of many other positions by Rio Tinto Alcan is costing the regional economy at least $7.4 million annually, the United Steelworkers says.
11 January 2011 Commission Report Requires Immediate Government Action The Industrial Inquiry Commission on the Voisey’s Bay labour dispute is overwhelmingly damning of Brazilian mining giant Vale.
7 January 2011 U of T Employees Draw Public Attention to Fair Pay Battle University of Toronto employees have launched a unique advertising campaign in their fight for pay equity at Canada's wealthiest university.
6 January 2011 | MEDIA RELEASE Vale Abandons Talks Aimed at Settling Voisey's Bay Strike Negotiations aimed at resolving the 17-month strike at the Voisey's Bay nickel mine collapsed today after mining giant Vale walked away from talks.
4 January 2011 | Media Release New Steelworker Website Targets New Members and Gives Away Watches: www.usw.ca Starting today, Jan 4th, the United Steelworkers has launched our new Canadian website. This month by visiting the website (usw.ca) you can win a pair of USW watches, see our invitation to help organize your (or a friend's) workplace and learn about our coming campaigns.
4 January 2011 | Media Release United Steelworkers Identify Key Changes to Investment Canada Act Legislation must be strengthened to ensure foreign takeovers benefit all Canadians, Ken Neumann tells national roundtable.
13 December 2010 | Media Release Queen’s University Staff Join United Steelworkers “This is a great day for Queen’s staff. Now we can move forward with real bargaining rights that give staff a voice in the decisions that affect us.”
1 December 2010 | Media Release Anti-Scab Law Helps Resolve Hotel Labour Dispute “Experience shows that anti-scab legislation benefits workers, employers, their communities and the economy as a whole.”
30 November 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers Humanity Fund Contributes $100,800 to Canadian Food Banks Each year the Steelworkers Humanity Fund joins with community groups across the country to help alleviate the hardship faced by thousands of poor and vulnerable Canadians.
22 November 2010 | Media Release Sears Workers Approve New Contract – Lockout to End Sears' Vaughan, Ontario warehouse voted to accept an improved collective agreement. Ending the seven month lock-out.
17 November 2010 | Media Release Vale Announcement Long on Propaganda, Short on Investment Vale’s "good news" announcement actually contains word that it is closing its Thompson processing operations. And its announced "investments" are a slight of hand.
8 November 2010 | The Hamilton Spectator U.S. Steel Lockout Betrays 'Net Benefit' Promise to Canadians
3 November 2010 | Media Release BHP Rejection Proves Value of Public Pressure and Need for Investment Act Overhaul “Clearly we need an open and transparent process for reviewing and approving these foreign takeovers.”
28 October 2010 | Media Release Federal Mining Bill’s Defeat Another Black Eye for Canada Parliament’s defeat of a private member’s bill to improve corporate accountability by Canadian mining companies operating in developing countries is a huge backward step for human rights and for Canada on the international scene.
19 October 2010 | Media Release Say No to Canada-Jordan Free Trade Until Jordan Ends Indentured Labour Appalling sweatshop conditions in Jordanian factories should preclude Canada from implementing a trade deal with Jordan, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on International Trade was warned Monday.
14 October 2010 | Media Release Voisey's Bay Strikers Welcome Provincial Intervention Workers embroiled in a 14½-month strike against foreign mining giant Vale remain committed to negotiating a settlement, the United Steelworkers (USW) union says.
13 October 2010 | Media Release Deaths of Four Ontario Workers Lead to Rare Prosecution Under Criminal Code “This says to every CEO and manager that workers’ deaths are serious matters with real penalties attached and that they had better take safety seriously”
5 October 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers Angered at Harper's $1 Billion Taxpayer Financing of Vale Harper's government is condoning attacks on Canadian working families by awarding $1 billion in financing to the ultra-profitable mining giant Vale.
30 September 2010 | Media Release Trade Unions Resist Vale’s Expansion Into Africa International trade union activists are stepping up a campaign to build awareness and resistance to mining giant Vale’s expansion into Africa.
21 September 2010 | Media Release Canadians Join International Legal Scholars in Asking Mexican Supreme Court to Respect Mineworkers’ Autonomy In an important international legal move, the International Commission for Labor Rights (ICLR) announces the filing of an amicus curiae or “friend of the court” brief with the Mexican Supreme Court.
20 September 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers, FIR Reach Tentative Deal in Coastal Forest Industry The United Steelworkers (USW) has reached a tentative, four-year collective agreement with Forest Industrial Relations (FIR), an association whose member companies employ some 400 USW members.
17 September 2010 Two-Year Brantford Strike Exposes Need for Anti-Scab Law Ken Neumann speaks out in favour of working families and condemns the Liberal government's failure to protect workers.
14 September 2010 | Media Release Realtors Join Steelworkers’ Independent Workers Group Quebec realtors have joined the USW’s independent workers’ association, Travailleurs autonomes Québec (TAQ), to fight attacks on their working conditions and living standards.
3 September 2010 | Media Release Ontario Families Should Not Pay for Corporate Tax Cuts Ontario’s Liberal government should not make working families pay for its reckless corporate tax cuts and other misguided provincial policies.
25 August 2010 | Media Release Proposed Airport Cuts Threaten Security Screening Delays Pending job cuts at Atlantic Canada airports threaten to exacerbate problems with security screening and fly in the face of official reports on airport security, the United Steelworkers warns.
24 August 2010 Steelworkers, Los Mineros Explore Cross-Border Unification RELEASE, 21 JUNE, 2010 – The United Steelworkers and Mexico’s Los Mineros union are creating a cross-border commission to explore a unified union representing one-million industrial workers in Mexico, Canada, U.S. and the Caribbean.
23 August 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers Give $20,000 for Pakistan Flood Aid "The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is contributing $20,000 toward emergency aid for the millions of people in Pakistan who have lost homes, crops, and livelihoods to massive and widespread flooding.”
23 August 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers Ratify Agreement With Western Forest Products United Steelworkers (USW) members have ratified a four-year collective agreement with Western Forest Products.
20 August 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers Concerned Over Potash Corp Sale, Urge Governments to Stand Up and Demand Net Benefit “Such a takeover of a Canadian resource should not proceed until a net benefit is proven to Canadians under the federal Investment Canada Act and made public."
18 August 2010 | Media Release Los Mineros Wins Appeal at Grupo Mexico Mine A Mexican court has ruled Los Mineros can continue its strike against Grupo Mexico and the forced removal of strikers was illegal.
17 August 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers, CONIFER Reach Tentative Deal in BC Northern Interior The USW has reached a tentative agreement with the Council on Northern Interior Forest Employment Relations, which employs about 2,000 Steelworkers.
13 August 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers Welcome Ruling in Complaint Against Vale The United Steelworkers welcomes the Ontario Labour Relations Board’s latest ruling in a USW complaint against Vale’s dismissal of eight strikers during a year-long labour dispute.
28 July 2010 Steelworkers Commend Mexican Court's Vindication of Mexican Union Leader Napoleon Gomez Urrutia RELEASE, 15 July 2010 – Today United Steelworkers (USW) International Union President Leo Gerard and USW National Director for Canada Ken Neumann hailed a 9 July 2010 decision, by the Superior Court of Justice of the Federal District of Mexico, dismissing an arrest warrant issued against Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, Secretary-General of the National Union of Mining, Metallurgical, Steel and Allied Workers of Mexico (Los MIneros).
26 July 2010 | Media Release Appeal Court Rules Against U.S. Steel in Attempt to Delay Investment Canada Case Judge says 'no delay' – proceed with important Investment Canada Act case against U.S. Steel.
22 July 2010 | Media Release USW Calls for Reversal of Census Decision "Cutting Statistics Canada may be penny wise, but it is certainly pound foolish:” Ken Neumann calls on government to keep the long-form census.
12 July 2010 | Media Release Ontario Labour Board Forces Vale to Justify Position in Strikers Dismissal Action Labour board will consider Canadian Charter of Rights principles and legal argument that it is illegal for Vale “to insist to impasse that workers fired during a strike cannot access arbitration.”
9 July 2010 Steelworkers Ratify Five-Year Collective Agreement With Vale RELEASE, 8 JULY 2010 – Sudbury and Port Colborne workers approve new contract with 75% vote, ending vicious year-long battle against Brazilian mining giant.
8 July 2010 | Media Release Vale-Steelworkers Talks Break Off in Voisey's Bay Vale is trying to impose a lesser bonus system than the one negotiated with Ontario workers earlier this month.
4 July 2010 | Media Release Ratification Votes Set, USW and Vale Agree on Terms of Bad Faith Complaint The USW is pleased to announce that it has come to an agreement with Vale on the terms of a bad faith bargaining complaint that will be heard by the OLRB.
29 June 2010 | Media Release Humanity Fund Gives $20,000 Aid to Guatemala Storm Agatha National Director Ken Neumann announced $20,000 to assist peasant communities in Guatemala struggling in the aftermath of the tropical storm Agatha, where more than 100 people were killed, over 30,000 houses destroyed.
28 June 2010 | Media Release Glaring Need for Stronger Workplace Health and Safety Laws – USW The USW has provided a provincial review panel with clear and concrete examples of the pressing need for improvements to Ontario’s workplace health and safety legislation.
23 June 2010 | Sudbury Star Steelworkers File Bad-Faith Bargaining Complaint Against Vale Inco "It is unacceptable for Vale to reject Canadian labour-relations traditions in its attempt to impose its will on our working families and communities."
22 June 2010 | Media Release Genuine Improvement to CPP Is Essential, Affordable Significant pension reform is needed to ensure retirement security for all Canadians.
22 June 2010 Lack of Federal Leadership on Clean Energy Costs Canadians 66,000 New Jobs Blue Green Canada report measures how much we are falling behind other countries in renewable energy investments.
17 June 2010 | Media Release Victory for Taxi Workers at Toronto City Hall Taxi workers are celebrating City Council's decision to protect taxi lessees from being subjected to arbitrary cancellation of their lease.
14 June 2010 | Media Release Court Upholds Canadian Law’s Power Over Foreign Takeovers A court ruling has confirmed the federal government’s ability and obligation to ensure foreign takeovers of Canadian companies provide real benefits to the country.
10 June 2010 | Media Release Violent Attack on Striking Mexican Miners Undermines Efforts to Bring End to Conflict On June 6th, over 2,000 police violently stormed Los Mineros strikers who have been on strike more than four years. The USW has called on the Canadian Government to denounce the violence against union members in Mexico.
9 June 2010 | The Tyee.ca Steelworkers Urge Mexican Government to Respect Labour and Human Rights USW is urging the Canadian Government to condemn a violent assault on striking miners in Mexico and demand the Mexican Government adhere to labour laws and human rights.
1 June 2010 | Media Release Pension Gains Highlight New Contract at Xstrata-CCR Montreal refinery workers win improvements to their pension plan, wage increases and other gains with a new collective agreement.
31 May 2010 | Media Release Steel Industry Essential to Future Canadian Economy: Expert Study Steelmaking is an increasingly knowledge-intensive industry, requiring a highly skilled workforce and creating the foundation for a productive modern economy, according to a comprehensive study co-sponsored by the United Steelworkers, the Canadian Steel Producers Association and the Canadian Steel Trade and Employment Congress.
26 May 2010 | Media Advisory Two-Day Rally and Lobby to Focus on Changes to Investment Canada Act Rallies and lobbying on Parliament Hill this week are urging the federal government to protect Canadian jobs and communities from foreign takeovers of our natural resources and key industries.
17 May 2010 | Media Release Liberian Workers Warn their President to be Leery of Allowing Vale Operations into their Country United Steelworkers received a copy of a letter dated May 13, 2010 from David Sackoh, Secretary General of the Forestry, Logging & Industrial Workers’ Union of Liberia (FLIWUL) to Her Excellency Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the President of Liberia.
17 May 2010 Steelworkers Union Seeks Legislative Changes to Protect Labour Rights RELEASE, 10 May 2010 – The United Steelworkers union (USW) is lobbying members of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly to improve labour laws and the Fatalities Inquiries Act as it applies to workplace deaths.
17 May 2010 | Media Release Warehouse Employees in 7th Week of Lockout by Highly Profitable Sears About 500 USW Local 9537 members, employees of the Sears Canada warehouse in Vaughan, Ont., are in the seventh week of a lockout imposed by the highly profitable retailer in an attempt to impose concessions.
1 May 2010 | Media Release Short Strike Produces Results Following a strike that lasted less than a week, 31 Steelworkers returned to work today at the Metcor steel mill in Saint-Eustache with a good contract ratified by a strong majority of members.
27 April 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers Set To Expand National Organizing, Global Alliances The United Steelworkers union is launching its first national organizing campaign, a Canada-wide program to give unorganized workers a collective voice in their workplaces.
23 April 2010 | Media Release Hearing Date Set for Steelworkers Private Prosecution of Weyerhaueser for Millworker's Death A process hearing has been set in the United Steelworkers’ private prosecution of Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd. in connection with the death of millworker Lyle Hewer.
21 April 2010 Canadian Fact-finding Delegation Discovers Mexican Community Devastated by Mining Activities of Blackfire Exploration RELEASE, 21 APR 2010 – Canadian delegation calls for Canadian Parliament to censure Blackfire and pass Bills C-300 & C-354
19 April 2010 | Media Release Stephen Harper Used Dirty Tricks to Speed Colombia Trade Deal The New Democrats denounced the tactics of the Conservatives in forcing a preliminary vote on Harper's outrageous Colombian Trade Deal.
13 April 2010 | Media Release National Boycott of Sklar Peppler, Alan White Furniture About 100 Steelworkers lost their jobs when a Canadian plant was closed and production shifted to Mississippi.
12 April 2010 | Media Release Sears Continues Lock Out Of Its Warehouse Employees After Demanding Cuts The very profitable Sears Canada has locked out its 500 warehouse employees and forced them onto the picket lines.
8 April 2010 | Media Release United Steelworkers, US Steel Reach Tentative Deal in 8-Month Lockout A tentative agreement has been reached between negotiating teams for United Steelworkers Local 8782 and US Steel Canada's Lake Erie Works facility in Nanticoke.
25 March 2010 | Media Release Ontario Budget Give Break to Vale Inco and Little for Ontario Workers USW Economist Erin Weir points out that the Ontario provincial budget has given the massively profitable Vale Inco a significant rate cut, but has done virtually nothing to address the job crisis in Ontario.
24 March 2010 | Media Release Report Confirms Devastation in Face of Government Inaction on Forestry It's time for the federal and provincial governments to face up to the massive crisis in Canada's forest industry and take action, says Steve Hunt, Director of District 3 of United Steelworkers (USW).
24 March 2010 | Media Advisory Steelworkers to Initiate Private Prosecution Against Weyerhaeuser for 2004 Death of Sawmill Worker PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW (March 25) AT 1:00 PM
23 March 2010 Global Denunciation of “Vale’s Damaging, Regressive Agenda” Vale employees in other countries know they also face similar attacks on their working and living standards.
23 March 2010 Global Support Reaffirmed for Steelworkers Strike Against Vale Working people in several countries will hold public demonstrations and events next month during a “Global Week of Action” to denounce Vale Inco’s aggressive, destructive attacks on workers and communities.
22 March 2010 | Media Release USW, CEP Call for Urgent Action on EI Rules Changes Greater access to training and support programs needed for 40,000 unemployed forest workers, “shocking” report shows.
19 March 2010 | Media Advisory Union Support to Converge at Sudbury Rally Union representatives from Brazil and a number of countries will converge on Sudbury this Monday, March 22nd to demonstrate solidarity and support of the Vale Inco strikers.
18 March 2010 | Call To Action Join the Fight in Sudbury! Reserve your bus seat now for Monday’s Bridging the Gap rally for 3,000 working families striking against Vale Inco. Visit FairDealNOW.ca
12 March 2010 | Media Release Port Colborne Steelworkers Vote 98% to Reject Vale Offer After eight months of disrespect from Vale Inco, striking Steelworkers in Port Colborne have overwhelmingly rejected this foreign corporation's latest, substandard contract offer.
11 March 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers Defend Public Healthcare “The public healthcare system is a competitive advantage for Québec’s economy” – points out Steelworkers Director, Daniel Roy
9 March 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers Ratify Four-Year Agreement with Canfor in BC Interior Operations United Steelworkers (USW) members employed by Canfor in 15 operations in the BC northern and southern interior regions have ratified a four-year collective agreement, retroactive to June 30, 2009.
8 March 2010 | Media Release Criminal Dimension of Workplace Safety & Health being Ignored by Governments Steelworkers District 3 Director Stephen Hunt, Director points out that there have been over 2 million workplace injuries and over 6,000 workplace deaths since the Westray Act was passed by Parliament in 2004.
7 March 2010 | Media Release Talks Break Off Despite Steelworkers’ Repeated Attempts to Settle Vale rejects Union’s proposal for immediate return to work and binding arbitration to end dispute
5 March 2010 | Media Release Federal Budget Gives Little Hope for Unemployed Canadians -- Steelworkers Again the Conservatives have let us down. The budget provides almost no new money to create jobs or help unemployed workers, and proposes only token improvements to EI.
5 March 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers Negotiate Deal to Create Hundreds of Green Jobs The United Steelworkers union has reached an agreement with a South Korean firm that will create hundreds of new, green energy jobs in Nova Scotia, USW District 6 Director Wayne Fraser announced today.
4 March 2010 | Media Release Increased Airport Fees Should Be Used To Assist Security Personnel “The job of an airport screener has utterly changed over the last 10 years. How these workers are trained, treated and compensated must reflect that.”
4 March 2010 Throne Speech Goes in Opposite Direction from Protecting Canadian Communities: Steelworkers "This is a tragic failure of our federal government at a time when many Canadian workers are looking for leadership in protecting their jobs and their communities,"
2 March 2010 | Media Release Local 2020 Ratify Three Year Deal With Xstrata Nickel Xstrata Nickel in Sudbury have ratified a three year Collective Agreement reached between USW and the company late Sunday night.
2 March 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers Ask PM to Help Prevent Bloodshed Against Mexican Miners Canada must take every measure possible “to prevent the loss of life,” warns USW Canadian Director Ken Neumann.
25 February 2010 | Media Release USW, Vale Inco Representatives to Hold Exploratory Discussions Representatives of the United Steelworkers and Vale Inco will meet this weekend with a mediator for exploratory talks to explore potential ways forward in the collective bargaining impasse between the parties.
16 February 2010 Petition Calls on Hydro-Québec to Buy its Cables in Québec Hydro-Québec cannot close its eyes to the imminent death of the electrical cable industry.
16 February 2010 | Media Release USW Key Partner in $1M Climate Change Study Our union is proud to take a leadership role in addressing the serious workplace and environmental issues of the future.
11 February 2010 | Media Release Steelworkers Welcome Bilateral Response to Buy America Steelworkers applaud new provisions of the Buy America Act that should increase job opportunities for workers on both sides of the border.
11 February 2010 Successful Negotiations at Wabush Mines RELEASE - USW members win significant gains in wages, pensions, benefits and contracting out language with “best contract since 1990.”
8 February 2010 | Media Release United Steelworkers and Telecommunications Workers Union Sign Strategic Alliance The strategic alliance signed on behalf of the USW and TWU will allow the two unions to benefit from each other’s expertise, resources and programs, and to pursue joint initiatives in areas such as member education, political action and lobbying.
5 February 2010 Xstrata Deal Mandates Vale to Return to Negotiations RELEASE, 5 Feb 2010 – After nearly seven months of Vale holding working families and communities hostage, the Xstrata negotiated agreement demonstrates Vale should accept the time-tested Canadian tradition of good-faith negotiations with its employees.
2 February 2010 As Raw Logs Go, So Go Our Jobs STATEMENT – Bob Matters explains why raw log exports are the last thing Canadian communities and workers need.
2 February 2010 | Media Release CAW/Xstrata Deal Unequivocally Discredits Vale A tentative agreement negotiated by Mine Mill Local 598/CAW and Xstrata Nickel in Sudbury unequivocally discredits the damaging and unwarranted strategy Vale Inco is inflicting on 3,500 striking Canadian workers and their communities.
2 February 2010 | Media Release Organized Labour at Forefront of Retirement Security Campaign The United Steelworkers is a key partner in the Canadian Labour Congress campaign to reform and strengthen our country’s retirement security system.
29 January 2010 | Media Release Canadian Steelworkers Respond to Tragedy in Haiti The United Steelworkers union is providing immediate financial aid, extending condolences and pledging future support to the people of Haiti following the tragic earthquake in the Caribbean country.
27 January 2010 Union Challenges Invitation of Far-Right British National Party to US Conference Leaders of Workers Uniting, the largest trade unions in the UK, North America and Canada, have made a fierce protest against the decision of Weston Hotels to host a conference with the leader of the far right British National Party, Nick Griffin, giving the keynote address.
19 January 2010 | Media Release USW Hopeful Bargaining with Vale Can Resume in Voisey’s Bay Negotiations may be about to resume in one of the most contentious labour battles in recent Newfoundland & Labrador history. Vale Inco presented a counter proposal to USW Local Union 9508, which represents the workers at Voisey’s Bay, NL.
12 January 2010 Tembec Denies Pine Falls Workers Severance, EI and Workplace Rights RELEASE – Locked-out Steelworkers at Tembec operation in Manitoba unanimously rejected company proposal to deny them severance and employment security rights.
23 December 2009 | Media Release Tembec Denies Pine Falls Workers Severance, EI and Workplace Rights Locked-out USW members of at the Tembec Manitoba Newsprint operations in Powerview-Pine Falls, unanimously rejected a company proposal to change the lockout to a layoff if workers agreed to defer severance pay and give up their employment security rights unless the operations were running at 100 per cent capacity.
18 December 2009 Harper Must Start Building Low-Carbon Economy and Stop Embarrassing Canada RELEASE, 15 Dec. 2009 - USW's Ken Neumann calls on the Harper government to invest in new technologies to create jobs and reduce emissions rather than promoting the exploitation of the Alberta oil sands.
18 December 2009 It’s Time for both Steelworkers and Vale Inco to Say “No Pre-Conditions” and Go Back to Bargaining Now RELEASE, 17 Dec. 2009 - "We are ready and willing to kick-start negotiations and work with Vale to resolve our differences and ultimately reach an agreement that benefits workers, the company and the community” - Wayne Fraser, USW District Director for Ontario and Atlantic Canada
18 December 2009 Steelworkers Humanity Fund Contributes $145,000 to Canadian Food Banks RELEASE, 2 Dec 2009 – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Canadian National Director Ken Neumann today announced the Steelworkers Humanity Fund is contributing $145,000 to food banks in Canadian communities where USW members live and work.
18 December 2009 Steelworkers’ Fears Confirmed with Tembec’s Latest Move RELEASE - In a move that confirms Steelworkers’ fear that the company locked out its employees at its Pine Falls newsprint mill because it intends to close the plant anyway, Tembec has now asked its workforce to give up their severance benefits as a condition for lifting the lockout.
18 December 2009 United Steelworkers Beat Back Concession Demands, Win Contract Gains at Cameco Fuel Manufacturing RELEASE, 18 Dec. 2009 - Wage gains, signing bonus and more for USW local 14193 members at Cameco Fuel Manufacturing
14 December 2009 Blue Green Canada Attending United Nations Climate Change Conference MEDIA RELEASE- Blue Green Canada will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen calling on the Harper Government to support a strong international agreement to address climate change that will result in good green jobs for Canadians.
8 December 2009 Casino Rama Workers Reach Out to USW for Support RELEASE, Dec. 2, 2009 - Concerns over staff-reduction efforts and changes to terms and conditions of employment have prompted Casino Rama employees to reach out to the United Steelworkers (USW) for support in advancing their interests.
7 December 2009 Miners Come to Parliament Hill as Foreign Investment Bill is Introduced MEDIA ADVISORY 7 Dec 2009 - USW miners take their case against foreign takeovers to Parliament Hill. Bill to amend Investment Canada Act would require foreign companies to make their promises public.
7 December 2009 USW Names Vale CEO Winner of Global Bad Corporate Citizen Award USW members gather in New York to protest Vale CEO Roger Agnelli receiving Global citizenship award when the company has done so much harm to workers, their communities and the environment.
2 December 2009 26 NOVEMBER 2009 – Steelworkers Welcome C&C Wood Products to Carrot River and Hudson Bay
2 December 2009 DriveTest Workers Overwhelmingly Reject "Unacceptable Offer" RELEASE - At the suggestion of their bargaining committee, the membership of United Steelworkers Local 9511 resoundingly voted no (78%) to their employer's "final offer". This vote also represented an increase in voter turnout from the previous vote on the "original" final offer.
2 December 2009 Global Campaign Embraces Cause of Vale’s Canadian, Brazilian Workers RELEASE, 2 Dec. 2009 - Trade union activists and supporters around the globe are joining the campaign in support of workers under attack by mining giant Vale SA.
2 December 2009 USW Urges Greater Corporate Accountability RELEASE – Unionized miners from across Canada, members of United Steelworkers (USW), have urged all Members of Parliament to support Bill C-300, a private member’s bill on corporate accountability for Canadian extractive companies in developing countries.
2 December 2009 Vale Gives Brazilians Increase, But Demands Big Concessions from Canadians RELEASE – The United Steelworkers union congratulates mine workers in Brazil for negotiating collective agreements with Vale SA that provide significant improvements and avoid major concessions.
25 November 2009 Petition Denouncing Vale's Attacks 'Catching Fire' on Twitter RELEASE, 25 Nov 2009 - Sign on to Twitter's online petition protesting Vale Inco treatment of it workers.
17 November 2009 Global Union Pickets Vale in London RELEASE – Members of Unite the Union picketed today outside a Deutsche Bank metals conference in the City of London. The protest organized by the global union Workers Uniting was in support of striking mineworkers from Vale Inco in Canada.
12 November 2009 USW Members Ratify 3-Year Deal in Cobourg RELEASE – Members of USW Local 7175 in Cobourg have voted by an 84% margin to ratify a new collective agreement with their employer, Belden Canada.
5 November 2009 Vale Q3 Report Belies Need for Major Concessions from Canadian Workers RELEASE,29 Oct 2009 - The strike at Canadian facilities is hurting Vale and company's Q3 report shows that demands for concessions are unwarranted.
3 November 2009 Hydro May Export Electricity, But Not Our Jobs! RELEASE, 3 November, 2009 – More than 150 cable workers gathered over the lunch hour to protest in front of Quebec’s National Assembly to demand that Hydro buys Quebec manufactured cables. Plants are threatening to shut down while the Crown Corporation agrees to transfer its orders to Ontario and the United States.
3 November 2009 Steelworkers Confront Vale Customer in Sweden TORONTO, Oct. 15, 2009 – Two United Steelworkers (USW) members from Canada met with a Vale customer in Sweden asking for support in a struggle to reach fair labour agreements covering some 3,500 miners as a shipment of Vale copper made its way from Germany to a Swedish port.
3 November 2009 Steelworkers Protest Arrival of Vale Shipment in German Port - Union Going Global to Track Product and Reach Vale Customers RELEASE, 12 OCT 2009 - The United Steelworkers (USW) protested the arrival of a shipment of Vale’s copper in the German port of Brunsbüttel yesterday. USW was joined by leaders of mining unions from around the world.
28 October 2009 Vale Inco Strikers Hold Demo Against Hiding Vale Inco RELEASE, 21 Oct 2009 – USW keeps up with the fight, while Vale hides from investors, media and the union. Today, despite the cancellation of "Vale’s Day" at the New York Stock Exchange, the striking miners staged their “Vale Day” at demos in Sudbury, Toronto, New York, Rio and London.
16 October 2009 USW, Activist and NDP Efforts Kill Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) RELEASE – USW’S Ken Neumann credited union members for their persistence in opposing the SPP which has paid off and prevented another attack on democracy now that the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) has been withdrawn by Canada, the US and Mexico.
9 October 2009 USW Member Wins Freedom of Speech in the Workplace Case RELEASE – Following Syndicat des Métallos intervention, a worker successfully used the Quebec Charter to require the company to rehire him.
8 October 2009 Steelworkers Humanity Fund Contributes $10,000 to Assist Communities Affected by Severe Drought in Guatemala RELEASE, 2 Oct 2009 - United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann has announced a contribution by the Steelworkers Humanity Fund of $10,000 to assist peasant communities in Guatemala facing starvation due to failure of their crops.
8 October 2009 Steelworkers Humanity Fund contributes $10,000 to assist families affected by Typhoon Ketsana in Philippines RELEASE - USW National Director Ken Neumann announces a $10,000 contribution from the Steelworkers Humanity Fund to aid victims of Typhoon Ketsana.
8 October 2009 USW’s Humanity Fund contributes $20,000 to assist families in Philippines and Guatemala RELEASE – USW’s Ken Neumann announced a contribution by the Steelworkers Humanity Fund of $10,000 to assist people devastated by Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines and another $10,000 to assist peasant communities in Guatemala facing starvation due to failure of their crops.
7 October 2009 Steelworkers Welcome Extended EI Benefits RELEASE- USW endorses New Democratic Party's support of enhanced Employment Insurance. Full letter to Minister Finley is attached.
2 October 2009 USW Economist Explains Why E.I. Numbers Going Down While Employment is Declining COMMENTARY & MEDIA COVERAGE, 28 Sept 2009 - Erin Weir, USW Economist explains that the decline in E.I. recipients would be good news "if it reflected former recipients finding work. However, employment also declined sharply by 45,000 jobs in July." We should rather look at those loosing E.I. benefits.
1 October 2009 Manitoba Steelworkers to Endorse Steve Ashton at Upcoming NDP Leadership Convention RELEASE - 1 Oct 2009 – United Steelworkers (USW) members participating in the Manitoba NDP leadership convention on October 17, 2009 will be endorsing Thompson MLA Steve Ashton as the next premier and party leader. The event will take place in this capital city and through satellite meetings in The Pas and Thompson.
29 September 2009 African Trade Unions Tell Global Mining Giant Vale – Improve Your Labor Practices or Stay Out of Africa! RELEASE - African trade unions affiliated with the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), meeting last week in Lagos Nigeria, passed a unanimous resolution criticizing Brazilian-based global mining giant, Vale, for its “anti-worker, anti-union practices” and will be calling on their governments to stop Vale from developing mines and exporting these practices to their countries.
29 September 2009 Bad economy is worse, Liberals didn't help, say Steelworkers TORONTO, Sept. 28 - BC's economic fundamentals were already far from sound before the recession, which made things significantly worse, say United Steelworkers.
29 September 2009 Missed Opportunity for Ontario-Based Green Jobs RELEASE, 24 Sept 2009 – “Today’s announcement by the Ontario government outlining the regulations of the Green Energy Act is a real missed opportunity for creating clean energy manufacturing jobs in Ontario,” said Ken Neumann, National Director for the United Steelworkers.
28 September 2009 International Unions Release Economic Statement at G20 Summit As the leaders of the G20 nations gather in Pittsburgh, trade unions from around the world give a clear analysis and proposal concerning the current economic crisis.
18 September 2009 Academy Award Winning Filmmaker Brings Unreleased Film to Sudbury in Support of Steelworkers RELEASE, Sept. 18 - Academy Award winning filmmaker, Michael Moore, has taken a special interest in the Steelworkers Vale Inco strike. He has been moved by the importance of the struggle being waged by workers at Vale Inco. Moore is demonstrating his support for the strikers and the community of Sudbury by presenting a special screening of his new film that will be released in theatre later this year.
17 September 2009 Ten International Guests from Around the World to Highlight Saturday’s Steelworkers Rally in Sudbury RELEASE, 17 Sept 2009 – In the largest gathering of international labour leaders northern Ontario has ever seen, International guests representing over 168 millions of workers from countries around the world will join the citizens of Sudbury in a rally of support for Vale Inco strikers and their families this Saturday
14 September 2009 Steelworkers Call on Liberals to Refuse Support for Harper’s Colombia Trade Deal RELEASE - 11 Sept 2009 – As Parliament resumes, Ken Neumann, National Director of the United Steelworkers (USW) today called on Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal caucus to refuse to support the Harper government’s free trade agreement with Colombia when the bill is voted in Parliament next week.
14 September 2009 Sudbury Steelworkers Hold International Support Rally - September 19 RELEASE - MASS RALLY In Support of Steelworker Families on Strike at Vale Inco Saturday, September 19th, 11am, SUDBURY ARENA Join guests from around the world. (Brazil, Mexico, UK, Switzerland, Australia, USA...)
14 September 2009 USW Radio Ads Stand Up for Sudbury, and Advertise Sept 19 Rally RELEASE, 14 Sept 2009 – “You know… Sudbury’s a good place to grow up... to raise a family… to retire,” begins the radio ad launched by the United Steelworkers in support of the Vale Inco strike.
11 September 2009 Toronto Taxicab Drivers Hold Protest Against Premier McGuinty’s Unfair Support of the Airport Limousine RELEASE, 11 Sept 2009 - Toronto Taxicab drivers are calling on the Ontario government to reverse its decision to remove restrictions on Airport Limousines from picking up fares within the limits of City of Toronto. This unilateral and arbitrary regulation change creates an unfair disadvantage in the Taxi Industry against the Toronto Taxicab drivers.
10 September 2009 Sears Workers Reach Out to United Steelworkers for Support RELEASE, 10 Sept 2009 – USW has been called upon by distressed workers of Sears Canada, after the company announced layoff and cuts to vacations and benefits at its call-centre.
8 September 2009 Steelworkers Demand Feds Deny Vale Inco from Using Foreign Workers During Strike RELEASE – Ken Neumann, National Director of the United Steelworkers is demanding that Ministers Kenney and Finley insure that Vale Inco will not be permitted to bring in temporary foreign workers during the strike in Sudbury, Port Colborne and Voisey’s Bay.
1 September 2009 Steelworkers Call on Liberals to Stand Up for Canadian Workers RELEASE - 1 September, 2009 - USW met with Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff and called on his party to demand Vale live up to it's promise of being a "net benefit" to Canada.
1 September 2009 Steelworkers Ratify New Agreement With Tolko Industries RELEASE - The United Steelworkers Local 1-324 Sawmill, and Woodland workers have ratified a new three year agreement with Tolko Industries retroactive to February 1st, 2009.
1 September 2009 Steelworkers Say Lakeside Steel’s Commitments to Production Basis of Support RELEASE 31 Aug 2009 - Support for Lakeside Steel's bid to purchase former Stelco plants is due to its promise to honour collective agreements, pensions, benefits and employment and production levels says USW.
1 September 2009 Steelworkers Take High Profile at NDP Convention VIDEO & PHOTOS – Watch Leo Gerard give an astounding speech to some 1500 delegates at the recent NDP convention in Halifax. View lots of great photos of the convention activities.
1 September 2009 USW VICTORY: Government of Canada Investigates Chinese Steel Dumping RELEASE – The United Steelworkers union welcomes today’s announcement of a federal investigation into unfair steel imports from China and seeks legal reform that would allow it to participate in this process.
31 August 2009 Tembec Refuses to Work with Unions to Save Mill Jobs in Pine Falls Powerview Pine Falls, MB, 27 Aug 2009 – Representatives of the United Steelworkers and the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union say Tembec Inc. is refusing to share information on its cost reduction demands or share any records of its efforts with other stakeholders to reduce production costs at the company’s Manitoba Newspaper Operations here. The operations, which employ over 250 Local 3-1375 union members, is currently covered by a collective agreement that expires on August 31, 2009.
31 August 2009 Tembec to Lock Out Workers on September 1 at Manitoba Newsprint Operations in Pine Falls WINNIPEG, MB, 28 Aug 2009 – In an all-out effort to take away some 35 per cent in wage and benefit concessions from United Steelworkers and Canadian Office and Professional Employee Union members, Tembec Inc. negotiators have informed the unions that it will lock out its Manitoba Newsprint Operations in Pine Falls on September 1, 2009.
27 August 2009 Steelworkers Ratify Collective Agreement with Mosaic Potash Colonsay Operations NEWS RELEASE 27 AUGUST 2009 – United Steelworkers (USW) Local 7656 members employed at Mosaic Potash’s Colonsay Operations, about a hour east of Saskatoon, have voted to ratify a collective agreement which will be in place from August 14 to April 30, 2012.
27 August 2009 Union Angry and Disappointed, by Vale Inco’s Decision to Resume Production Vale Inco will use its 1,200 non-unionized employees and some outsourced staff to resume partial production at the Sudbury operations, despite a strike by 3,100 members of United Steelworkers Local 6500.
27 August 2009 Watch a Powerful Video Describing Canada's Health Care System to Americans VIDEO - watch this presentation about Canada's Health Care System featuring Roy Romanow, Danielle Martin, President of Doctors for Medicare, Linda Silas, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) President. Steven Lewis a noted Canadian Health policy leader.
26 August 2009 Threatened Closure of Prysmian Plant in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu “Enough with the blackmail – employer must negotiate for real” - Dominic Lemieux, USW Staff Representative.
24 August 2009 Striking Steelworkers Delegation Finds Support Among Brazilian Unions. RELEASE - Strong support found among Brazilian Unions is encouraging Canadian striking Steelworkers. Innovative strike website “FairDealNow.ca” has many interesting additions, including a blog from Brazil: "Myles and Rick's Adventure".
24 August 2009 Negotiations Break Down as Drivetest Employees Try to Stand Up for Road Safety and Working Conditions – Strike to Begin. Toronto, 21 August 2009 – After the union granted two extensions of the negotiation deadline and tried everything to make a settlement, Serco DES / Drivetest remained fixed on its position that continues to impose unacceptable working conditions and that see employees with dwindling hours and very little job protection.
24 August 2009 Quebec Strikers in U.S. Seeking Goldman Sachs to Influence Settlement RELEASE – In a creative move to jumpstart stalled negotiations, members of USW Locals 8428 and 7016 in Saint Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec have left their picket lines, journeying by bus to three U.S cities to bring attention to their fight to protect their pension plan, seniority rights and dignity in the workplace at Prysmian Cable whose largest shareholder is U.S. investment house Goldman Sachs.
24 August 2009 Steelworkers to Premiers: Use Public Procurement to Support Canadian Jobs RELEASE – As provincial Premiers have their annual meeting, Steelworkers call on them to use provincial and local procurement policy to create jobs in Canada and reject the proposed extensions of "free trade" rules.
24 August 2009 Vale Inco Strikers Receive Overwhelming Support and Help from Federal NDP RELEASE - At the New Democratic Policy Convention, as Ken Neumann spoke, the crowd of 1,500 rose to their feet and thunderously endorsed a resolution supporting the Canadian workers striking at Vale Inco and locked-out at U.S. Steel.
21 August 2009 Union Activist Awarded Honour for His Work for Democracy in Argentina. HONOUR - USW is contributing to the honour awarded to Pat Riles, a Longshoreman and union activist, as he is given the Order of San Martin for his years of activism for political prisoners and democracy in Argentina.
20 August 2009 Workers at U.S. Steel Say “We Need an Employer That Will Put Us Back to Work " Hamilton – As Lakeside Steel makes a move to purchase the former Stelco, USW reminds Minister Clement that U.S. Steel should keep its promise and bring back the workers now.
18 August 2009 Labour, Environment Group Calls for Strong, Fair Canadian Global Warming Law Toronto, ON - USW and Environmental Defence, through Blue Green Canada, called on Ottawa to make sure green job creation is the guide in designing the Cap and Trade response to global warming.
17 August 2009 Steelworkers Demand Clement Step-In as U.S. Steel Defies Feds and Locks Out its Employees. NANTICOKE, Ontario 4 Aug 2009 – In a stunning show of contempt for its workers and the federal government, U.S. Steel has locked out its Lake Erie Works employees. USW calls for Minister Clement to intervene.
5 August 2009 Parliamentary, Union Leaders Visit Mexico to Support Mineworkers Union MEXICO CITY, July 8 - Trade union and parliamentary leaders from 13 countries are visiting Mexico this week to support the National Union of Mine and Metal Workers, which has been under attack by the Mexican government and the Grupo Mexico mining company.
24 July 2009 Int'l Delegation to Mexico in Support of Miners was “Big Success for Solidarity”: USW’s Ken Neumann The Parliamentarian and union delegation from 14 countries lead by NDP Jack Layton brought a strong message of solidarity to besieged miners, and pressured the Mexican government to stop persecution of independent trade unions.
24 July 2009 Steelworkers Target Gender Barriers The United Steelworkers (USW) represent more than steel and construction trades.
22 July 2009 USW and Brazilian Union CUT Join Forces to Support Vale Workers July 22, 2009 - Last Friday, Artur Henrique da Silva Santos, President of the CUT Brazil, and Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), the largest industrial union in North America formed a strategic partnership to support workers in their negotiations with the Brazilian multinational Vale. The main objective is the renewal of collective agreements in Canada and Brazil.
21 July 2009 Amazing YouTube Video Says Why Unions are Necessary – Without Speaking a Word VIDEO - Watch this creative low-budget video on the pains of modern jobs.
21 July 2009 Canada’s E.I. Benefits “Far Below " Other OECD Countries Economist Lars Osberg fnds that in terms of access, benefit duration, and income replacement levels, EI in Canada falls far below other OECD countries and below Canadian recessions, of the past.
21 July 2009 USW VICTORY: Federal Govt. Announces Investigation of Offshore Steel Dumping following Steelworker Pressure Steelworkers’ Ken Neumann applauds Canadian Border Services inquiry into offshore steel dumping, and additionally calls for union ability to file complaints directly.
21 July 2009 Unions Make Family-Friendly Workplaces A major study has found unionized workplaces are more likely to offer family-friendly policies like paid family leave, paid sick days, and family health insurance.
15 July 2009 Canadian Scholars Intervene in Major U.S. Labour Battle 9 JULY 2009 – With the U.S. right-wing claiming that Canada is evidence that unionization is bad for the economy, 100 Canadian scholars prove that the exact opposite is true.
15 July 2009 Company Locks Out Workers at Heckett Multi-Serv, Even Though Workers Willing to Continue Bargaining HAMILTON, 12 July 2009 – In an unfortunate move at Heckett Multi-Serv in Hamilton, the company has LOCKED OUT it’s employees.
10 July 2009 USW’s Ken Neumann Joins Major Parliamentary and Union Delegation to Mexico in Support of Mineworkers Union 7 JULY 2009 – A Parliamentarian delegation from 14 countries lead by NDP Jack Layton will be joined by USW and many international unions in their call to stop the abuse of Mexico’s National Union of Mine and Metal Workers.
23 June 2009 Workers Uniting (the Global Union) Celebrates Bangladesh Denim Workers' Victory
16 June 2009 15 JUNE 2009 - Steelworkers Welcome U.S. Steel's Recall of 800 Workers, but Remain Guarded HAMILTON, ON - "We are pleased with U.S. Steel's announcement that they will be calling back approximately 800 workers at the Hilton Works facility," said Bill Ferguson president of United Steelworker (USW) local 8782.
16 June 2009 15 JUNE 2009 - Taxi Drivers Call for End of Two-Tier Taxi Plates TORONTO, June 15 - Toronto Taxi Drivers are calling for an end to the discriminatory status of Ambassador Plates. They are asking the City to convert all Ambassador Plates to Standard Plates, so every plate holders in the city can enjoy equal rights.
12 June 2009 12 JUNE 2009 - Steelworkers’ Leo Gerard Receives Honorary Degree International President of the United Steelworkers, Leo Gerard, was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Guelph in recognition of his contributions to social justice.
10 June 2009 4 JUNE 2009 - Saskatoon Area Steelworkers Donate Televisions to Local Cancer Centre SASKATOON, SK – Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre now have new television sets to help them pass the time during treatment. On Wednesday the United Steelworkers (USW) Saskatoon Area Council donated four brand new 15-inch LCD HD televisions for use in the Cancer Centre’s main floor chemo suite.
8 June 2009 2 JUNE 2009 - School Crossing Guards in Rouyn-Noranda - Five Years / 26.5% Increase ROUYN-NORANDA, QC - Yesterday, the 14 school crossing guards in Rouyn-Noranda accepted a new five-year collective agreement by a vote of 100%. They will receive wage increases in the order of 26.5%. "We had some catching up to do. The employer had to budge. It was not easy, but we have made progress. That is what we need to remember about these negotiations," declared Marc Thibodeau, Staff Representative of the United Steelworkers (FTQ).
3 June 2009 28 May 2009 - Colombia Trade Victory for Labour Lobbying! United Steelworkers (USW) along with our allies have scored an important victory with our rank-and-file lobby campaign against the trade deal signed by Harper with the murderous Colombian government.
1 June 2009 1 JUNE 2009 – To Nova Scotian Steelworkers: It’s Time for a Change in Nova Scotia Dear Steelworker Members, Are you concerned about good jobs, pensions, severance, health care and training? We need genuine leadership… Click here to read more
1 June 2009 26 MAY 2009 - Next Steps for Ontario in Creating Green Jobs Windsor Star - All agree good green jobs can be created in Ontario because of the new Green Energy and Environment Act. Wind turbines are a good example of good green manufacturing jobs made possible. Ken Neumann, USW’s Nat’l Director of Canada, explains government regulations and investments are the next needed steps.
1 June 2009 26 MAY 2009 - Unions Must FIGHT, so Good Jobs are the Outcome of Recession Measures IMF Conference, Gothenburg, Sweden. United Steelworkers, is a fighting union. And fighting is what unions need to do to make sure the stimulus measures don’t result in replacing family-supporting jobs with low-income temporary jobs, Ken Neumann explained to the International Metalworkers Federation.
29 May 2009 28 May 2009 - Colombia Trade Victory for Labour Lobbying! United Steelworkers (USW) along with our allies have scored an important victory with our rank-and-file lobby campaign against the trade deal signed by Harper with the murderous Colombian government.
27 May 2009 27 MAY 2009 - Steelworkers Say Commission Could Defuse Ugly Tax Fight BURNABY, BC - The United Steelworkers have called for the establishment of a Community and Jobs Protection Commissioner to deal with mounting tensions in resource-based communities.
26 May 2009 14 MAY 2009 - USW, Through “Blue Green Canada”, Congratulates Ontario for Passage of Green Energy Act TORONTO – Today, the United Steelworkers of Canada, as part of Blue Green Canada, congratulates the Ontario Liberals and NDP on the adoption of the Green Energy and Economy Act.
26 May 2009 14 MAY 2009 - Workers at the Chances Cowichan Gaming and Entertainment Centre Join United Steelworkers DUNCAN, BC - Workers at Chances Cowichan Gaming and Entertainment Centre recently won the right to be represented by BC's largest private sector union, the United Steelworkers (USW).
26 May 2009 25 MAY 2009 – NDP Introduces “Made In Canada” Legislation in Parliament OTTAWA – New Democrat Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe) will introduce legislation today that will ensure Canadian companies are given priority when the federal government makes purchases or acquires services.
26 May 2009 7 APRIL 2009 - Labour College of Canada: New and Improved Labour College is back! The new intensive program is the result of an extensive review and redesign of the College's program of study undertaken at the direction of the Labour College Board of Governors and the CLC Executive Council.
26 May 2009 9 MAY 2009 - Ontario Can Create 90,000 New Green Jobs United Steelworkers, as part of Blue Green Canada, released an independent study that demonstrates that by investing in green energy and the electrical grid Ontario can create 90,000 new well-paying green jobs.
25 May 2009 10 APRIL 2009 - Hidden Agenda of ABI in Bécancour - Exploiting the economic crisis to gut a collective agreement BECANCOUR, QC - Yesterday afternoon, management of the ABI smelter in Bécancour made a surprise announcement - with no prior union consultation. It clearly demonstrated that ALCOA has a hidden agenda.
22 May 2009 22 MAY 2009 - Daughter of Murdered Trade Unionist in Ottawa. OTTAWA – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann announced today that union rank-and-file members will come to Ottawa May 25-29 to directly urge opposition MPs to vote against Bill C-23, which would implement the Colombia trade agreement signed by the Harper government.
21 May 2009 21 MAY 2009 - Workers Go on Strike as Gerdau Tries to Take Advantage of Economic Recession to Bust Union and Permanently Punish Workers CAMBRIDGE - On Friday, May 15, by a strong majority the workers at Gerdau Ameristeel voted to reject the company’s final offer. The nearly 200 United Steelworkers have been on a legal strike since Saturday.
20 May 2009 15 MAY 2009 - Three Steelworkers Elected as NDP MLAs in British Columbia TORONTO – Ken Neumann, USW National Director of Canada, congratulates the three United Steelworkers members who were elected in Tuesday's BC provincial election.
15 May 2009 25 APRIL 2009 - Steelworkers Join Independent Workers Ass'n in Demanding Changes to Caregiver Program TORONTO - The United Steelworkers (USW) has endorsed the call by the Independent Workers Association (IWA) for serious changes to the Live-in Caregiver Program.
14 May 2009 12 MAY 2009 - Steelworkers Launch a Campaign to Save Québec’s Steel industry - The Steel Beam Mill: We Want It Now! Contrecœur - The United Steelworkers (FTQ) is launching a campaign today to pressure the ArcelorMittal company to honour its commitment, made in 2007, to build a steel beam mill at Contrecœur. “The layoffs that we are experiencing in this sector are threatening the viability of Québec’s steel industry. Québec needs this type of industry now more than ever. We have iron ore on the North Shore. It would be entirely logical for it to be processed here in Québec. Furthermore, the time to prepare for the economic recovery is now. Major infrastructure projects are in the offing. It would be inconceivable that we should import steel beams, since we are more than capable of producing it, particularly since ArcelorMittal has promised a mill. Finally, we are asking the government to get involved,” declared Daniel Roy, Québec Director of the United Steelworkers (FTQ).
11 May 2009 11 MAY 2009 - USW Members on Strike at Mike Doyle Dodge Chrysler Inc. SUDBURY, ON – A strike has started this morning at Mike Doyle Dodge Chrysler Inc. by 26 members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2020.
8 May 2009 8 MAY 2009 - Steelworkers’ Humanity Fund Gives $10,000 to Italian Earthquake Relief 8 MAY 2009 - Steelworkers’ Humanity Fund gives $10,000 to Italian earthquake relief
7 May 2009 6 MAY 2009 - At Host International, Dorval, Steelworkers Receive a Good Negotiated Settlement MONTREAL - Of the 550 Steelworkers employed by Host International at the international airport in Dorval, 80% voted to accept a good negotiated settlement yesterday. "Our members supported us throughout this strenuous negotiating process. On two occasions, they rejected management's offers and expressed their support for the bargaining committee.
6 May 2009 4 MAY 2009 - Even During Downturns there is Power in the Union Today the Toronto Star published an opinion piece I wrote that explains the vital role unions play in these difficult economic times.
6 May 2009 5 MAY 2009 - Independent Workers Assoc Call for Inquiry into Ruby Dhalla's Treatment of Her Nannies TORONTO - The Independent Workers Association - Homeworker Section is calling on the Attorney General of Ontario to launch an investigation into Ontario Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla's treatment of live-in caregivers under her employ.
6 May 2009 6 MAY 2009 - Government Acts on Steelworker Proposal TORONTO - The United Steelworkers (USW) union welcomes today's announcement from Industry Minister Tony Clement that he will hold US Steel to the investment, research and production commitments it made to Canada in taking over Stelco.
1 May 2009 1 MAY 2009 - Bargaining with ABI in Bécancour - Three-Year Collective Agreement Deal Reached BECANCOUR, QC - The 866 members of the United Steelworkers (FTQ) at ABI in Bécancour have voted 93 per cent in favour of a new, three-year collective agreement. "With this agreement, the company has agreed to salary increases, pension indexing and higher vacation pay. For their part, workers accepted a 15 per cent reduction in hours," said Clément Masse, President of Local 9700 of the United Steelworkers (FTQ).
23 April 2009 23 APRIL 2009 - Steelworkers Support Industry Association's - Call for Action on Forest Sector BURNABY, BC – It’s encouraging to see Canada’s major forest industry association at last calling for action on the forest-sector crisis, say the United Steelworkers.
20 April 2009 20 APRIL 2009 - Conflict at Prysmian - Ministère du Travail investigation related to anti-scab legislation BROSSARD, QC - A ministry investigator arrived at the Prysmian offices in St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu this morning. "We see former managers coming into the plant. Anti-scab legislation prohibits the use of outside workers. We have asked the Ministère du Travail to check up on this," declared Dominic Lemieux, union staffer with the Syndicat des Métallos (FTQ).
15 April 2009 14 APRIL 2009 - Steelworkers Welcome NDP Action on Forest Crisis BURNABY, BC - Today the United Steelworkers welcomed the BC New Democrats' forest platform, which promises to deal with the crisis that has knocked out dozens of wood-processing plants and killed some 25,000 jobs province-wide.
9 April 2009 9 APRIL 2009 - Indalex in Pointe Claire under Bankruptcy Protection MONTREAL - Indalex Aluminum in Pointe Claire has filed for protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) jeopardizing the jobs of more than 225 members of the United Steelworkers (USW).
8 April 2009 7 APRIL 2009 - Mass Layoff at Arcelor Mittal in Contrecoeur BROSSARD, QC - Arcelor Mittal has sent the Quebec labour minister notice of a mass layoff notice affecting 190 members of the United Steelworkers (USW) at the company’s Contrecoeur location.
3 April 2009 2 APRIL 2009 - Negotiations at ABI in Becancour - The Ball is in the Employer's Court BECANCOUR, QC - On March 19, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9700 requested the involvement of a mediator to helpsettle a dispute with Aluminerie de Bécancour Inc. (ABI).
3 April 2009 2 APRIL 2009 - United Steelworkers at Prysmian in St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu Striking for Respect BROSSARD, QC - About 200 members of the United Steelworkers (USW) are on strike at Prysmian Cable and Systems Canada in St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu.
31 March 2009 31 MARCH 2009 - Steelworkers Call for Colombia Trade Deal to be Stopped: No Partnership with the Hemisphere's Worst Human Rights Violator TORONTO - The United Steelworkers' (USW) Canadian National Director says last week's announcement by the Harper government that it has introduced legislation for implementing a free trade agreement with Colombia is an appalling move and calls into question why this government is providing legitimacy to a government that has been condemned around the world.
27 March 2009 27 MARCH 2009 - Bay Street Budget Off Target, Say Steelworkers TORONTO - At a time when bold action is needed to protect existing jobs and create new ones, Thursday’s Ontario budget pours billions into untargeted tax breaks for business without funding targeted measures to promote tangible investment and employment in the province.
27 March 2009 27 MARCH 2009 - Exiled Mexican Union Leader Wins Injunction Against Arrest Warrants: Steelworkers Seek End to Government Campaign of Harassment TORONTO - A panel of judges in Mexico City's Federal District Court granted legal protection to exiled mining union leader Napoleón Gómez Urrutia in a March 23, 2009 decision that invalidates both the arrest warrants issued for him and Mexico's extradition request to Canada, where he and his family now live in exile.
27 March 2009 27 MARCH 2009 - Steelworkers Strongly Urge Harper Government to Enforce Commitments on the Takeover of Former Stelco Operations in Hamilton and Nanticoke TORONTO - In a letter to federal Industry Minister Tony Clement, the United Steelworkers (USW) wants to know what steps the Canadian government has taken to require U.S. Steel to fulfil the commitments it made when its takeover of the former Stelco operations in Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ontario, were approved by the Harper government under the Investment Canada Act.
26 March 2009 26 MARCH 2009 - March to Save Gray Rocks Planned for Mont-Tremblant MONTREAL - Steelworkers employed at Gray Rocks are organizing a march at Mont-Tremblant to save this century-old resort. The results of a petition that has been circulating in the region over the past few weeks, and which will be handed over to National Assembly member Sylvain Pagé, of the Parti québécois, will also be announced at this event.
25 March 2009 23 MARCH 2009 - Promulgation of the decree regarding security guards - Baffling delays MONTREAL - Although an agreement has been reached between the United Steelworkers (FTQ), its 14,000 security guards and the Association provinciale des agences de sécurité (APAS), the Minister of Labour has still not signed the decree that would bring the new collective agreement into force. "We do not understand why the Minister of Labour is delaying, while our members are waiting for the wage increases they negotiated. We have followed all the steps of the process. We participated in good faith. It is baffling that we should still be waiting. Our members are growing impatient, and we understand them," declared René Dubé, President of amalgamated local 8922 of the United Steelworkers (FTQ).
20 March 2009 19 MARCH 2009 - Negotiations with ABI in Bécancour - United Steelworkers Request a Mediator BECANCOUR, QC - United Steelworkers (FTQ) local section 9700 is requesting the intervention of a mediator and a meeting with a company executive. "We've officially requested of the employer and the Ministère du travail that a mediator be appointed as proof of our good faith and our determination to work and find solutions. We believe that we've made progress in terms of work relations with the employer through the process of mediation and we want to take advantage of the expertise acquired to give us the best chance of being successful. We've also requested a meeting with the president of Alcoa - Primary Metals, Bernt Reintan, as soon as possible to convey our good faith and our concerns. The current situation at ABI in Bécancour requires emergency measures," stated Clément Masse, president of United Steelworkers (FTQ) local section 9700.
17 March 2009 17 MARCH 2009 - Security Guards Protest in Front of Sept-Iles Courthouse SEPT-ILES, QC - Pro-Est security guards and members of local union 8922 of the United Steelworkers (USW)) have been protesting in front of the Sept-Iles courthouse since eight o'clock Tuesday morning. They are demonstrating against their employer's lack of good faith. "Negotiations are being hindered by the employer's refusal to take on a portion of our members' education fees even though most employers in the industry have already agreed," said USW Representative Michel Courcy.
16 March 2009 13 MARCH 2009 - Owner of Four Plants in North America - Hexpol Compounding Closes its Most Profitable Plant Brossard, QC - Yesterday afternoon, all 40 United Steelworkers at Hexpol Compounding in Magog learned of their plant closing as of June 26. "The American company owns four plants, one of which is located in Magog. The latter is the most profitable and yet, it is the one being shut down. Against all logic, Quebec is being sacrificed once again. Profitability was indisputable and the exchange rate benefitted the company. We are meeting with our members shortly to determine the actions to be taken," declared Martin Courville, union representative for the United Steelworkers (FTQ).
13 March 2009 10 MARCH 2009 - USW International President Leo Gerard to Receive the Sefton Award for Contributions to Labour Relations on March 12 The Award will be presented by Woodsworth College and the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources, University of Toronto.
10 March 2009 5 MARCH 2009 - Steelworkers Key Player in Creation of Canada's First Occupational Cancer Research Centre World Renowned Scientist Leading New Research Centre TORONTO - Today health and workplace safety organizations, businesses, and labour groups joined forces with a common goal of reducing workplace cancer, and officially launched Canada's first centre dedicated solely to research in occupational cancers. The Occupational Cancer Research Centre will be charged with improving knowledge and evidence to help identify, prevent and ultimately eliminate exposures to cancer-causing substances in the workplace.
9 March 2009 9 MARCH 2009 - Steelworkers Saddened by Loss of Caregiver Rights Activist: Juana Tejada The Driving Force Behind Campaign to Change Law TORONTO – United Steelworkers (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Monday that the union is deeply saddened by the loss of Juana Tejada, the live-in caregiver whose struggle to remain in Canada under the federal Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) sparked a campaign to change immigration law and ensure a fair process to workers seeking permanent residence under the LCP.
6 March 2009 5 MARCH 2009 - Komatsu in Candiac - Definite Closing MONTREAL - Komatsu's management has just announced the definite closing of its Candiac plant. "We offered to involve the Fonds de solidarité. No way. The head office in Tokyo decided to consolidate its operations in the United States. They are not considering any type of revitalization whatsoever. Quebec is once again being sacrificed and some 200 good union jobs are disappearing," declared Richard Boudreault, union representative with United Steelworkers (FTQ).
5 March 2009 4 MARCH 2009 - A 15% Reduction in Hours of Work at ABI in Bécancour - The Equivalent of 150 Layoffs BECANCOUR, QC - The management of Alcoa Canada announced at 3:00 p.m. yesterday that it was demanding an agreement by the end of March to reduce the hours of work at the ABI plant in Bécancour by 15%.
5 March 2009 5 MARCH 2009 - No Pay for Six Weeks, Steelworkers Occupying Toronto Plant TORONTO - Thirty members of the United Steelworkers (USW) this morning are occupying their workplace, Price Mattress, because the company has not paid them for six weeks. Price Mattress is located at 200 Fenmar Road (north of the 401, near Finch). The workers have been in the plant since 7 a.m.
4 March 2009 4 MARCH 2009 - US Steel Shutdown: Company Should Have Consulted Earlier with The Union TORONTO -- Ontario and national leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW) say Monday’s announced shutdown of US Steel operations in Hamilton and Lake Erie, ON, is a devastating blow to Canada’s industrial heartland.
3 March 2009 2 MARCH 2009 - Westdome Kiena Complex in Val d'Or - Five Years and a 10% Wage Increase VAL D'OR QC - Yesterday evening, the 110 Steelworkers at the Westdome Kiena Complex in Val d'Or accepted by a vote of 70% a collective agreement that calls for wage increases of 10% over five years. The average hourly wage is $26.
27 February 2009 26 FEBRUARY 2009 - iWorkers Welcome Federal Committee Deliberation Over Changes to Immigration Law 26 FEBRUARY 2009 - iWorkers welcome federal committee deliberation over changes to immigration law
26 February 2009 23 FEBRUARY 2009 - Green Energy Act Good for Green Jobs: Blue Green Canada Applauds Key Aspects of the Green Energy Act Released Today TORONTO - Blue Green Canada, a new partnership between Environmental Defence and the United Steelworkers union, is very pleased with the provisions of Ontario's Green Energy Act, introduced today in Ontario's Legislature. The proposed Act, both organizations believe, could position Ontario as a leader in renewable energy on the international stage.
18 February 2009 13 FEBRUARY 2009 - Steelworkers Humanity Fund Contributes $15,000 to Relief and Reconstruction in Gaza. TORONTO --United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann has announced contributions by the Steelworkers Humanity Fund of $15,000 to support relief and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
13 February 2009 12 FEBRUARY 2009 - Canadians Betrayed by Empty Promises: Steelworkers Call on Industry Minister to Hold Foreign Owners to Commitments TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann says the layoffs at Xstrata Nickel violate a commitment made by the Swiss company to not layoff operating staff for three years following its 2006 purchase of Falconbridge.
10 February 2009 10 FEBRUARY 2009 - CAW/USW Joint Statement on a Buy Canadian Policy Toronto - Canadian workers are facing unprecedented economic challenges as the global financial crisis deepens. Hundreds of thousands of workers have already been thrown out of a job in recent years, including nearly half a million manufacturing workers. And there are more job losses on the horizon as Canada’s industrial base continues to weaken.
6 February 2009 6 FEBRUARY 2009 - Steelworkers on Both Sides of the Border Celebrate Movement on ‘Buy America’ Legislation TORONTO - The United Steelworkers’ union (USW) is pleased that its efforts on both sides of the border have contributed to “Buy America” provisions that serve the interests of Canadian and American Steelworkers, says USW National Director Ken Neumann.
4 February 2009 Steelworkers Tell U.S. Lawmakers Coordinated North American Approach Needed to Create and Preserve Jobs United Steelworkers (USW) Canadian Director Ken Neumann said he is in full agreement with the testimony by USW International Steelworker President Leo W Gerard about the need to get Canadian and US lawmakers to strengthen manufacturing and jobs in both countries.
30 January 2009 29 JANUARY 2009 - Steelworkers Union Will Try To Make 'Buy America' Policy Work For Canada – Ken Neumann TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Thursday that his union will work to ensure the ‘Buy America’ provision in the US $825-billion economic stimulus package works to the benefit of the entire North American steel industry.
28 January 2009 21 JANUARY 2009 - Xstrata Zinc Mine Matagami - Three Years And a 9.75 Percent Wage Increase ROUYN-NORANDA, QC - The 130 Steelworkers at Xstrata Zinc Mine Matagami have voted 88 per cent to accept a collective agreement that provides wage increases of 9.75 per cent over three years. The average hourly wage is $25.
28 January 2009 27 JANUARY 2009 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement With Auto Parts Company Tenneco
28 January 2009 28 JANUARY 2009 - Stimulus Package Falls Short on Key Issues, Defeat It - Steelworkers TORONTO – Despite being pushed by the opposition-led coalition to do something to stimulate the economy in recession, the Conservative Government’s budget is too small a step, says United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director for Canada, Ken Neumann.
12 January 2009 12 JANUARY 2009 - Steelworkers Approve New Contract with Lapaco Paper Products HAWKESBURY, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday that members of 9211 have a new, three-year collective agreement with Lapaco Paper Products Ltd., a Quebec-based maker of paper products for the food service industry.
11 December 2008 8 DECEMBER 2008 – Regina Steelworkers Reach Two-Year Agreement with Degelman Industries
8 December 2008 8 DECEMBER 2008 - ‘IWORKERS’ to Launch Campaign to Represent Ontario Taxi Drivers WHAT: News Conference to launch Independent Workers Association (iWorkers) Taxi Section WHO: Taxi drivers from Southern Ontario WHERE: Days Hotel, 1677 Wilson Avenue, Toronto WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008
1 December 2008 26 NOVEMBRE 2008 - Supporting the White Ribbon Campaign – November 25 to December 6 I want to encourage all Steelworkers to support the White Ribbon Campaign (WRC). The White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) is the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women (VAW). In over fifty-five countries, campaigns are led by both men and women, even though the focus is on educating men and boys. In some countries it is a general public education effort focused on ending violence against women.
28 November 2008 26 NOVEMBER 2008 - Steelworkers Support Colombia Trade Unionists: Oppose Harper Trade Deal With Uribe Government Toronto - Ken Neumann, National Director of the Steelworkers criticized the Harper government this week for signing a so-called Free Trade deal with the Uribe Government of Colombia.
28 November 2008 27 NOVEMBER 2008 - Economic Statement Does Further Damage, Say Steelworkers TORONTO - The United Steelworkers (USW) union says Thursday’s economic statement by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty ignores the need to stimulate the economy as governments around the world have correctly done. Instead, Flaherty claims to maintain a balanced budget by assuming that the Canadian economy will not experience a recession and he has instead unveiled belt-tightening measures.
24 November 2008 21 NOVEMBER 2008 - Steelworkers Win Improvements in New Agreement with Nestle Purina CALEDONIA, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Friday that workers who mix and bag kitty litter for Nestle Purina have ratified a new contract that boosts wages by 2.7 per cent in each of the contract’s three years.
17 November 2008 13 NOVEMBER 2008 - Steelworkers to Prime Minister Harper: Meet with President-Elect Obama to Seek Changes to NAFTA Toronto - The United Steelworkers today released a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking the Prime Minister “raise with the President-Elect Obama our concerns about the current NAFTA agreement.”
7 November 2008 7 NOVEMBER 2008 - United Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement With PotashCorp SASKATOON, SK – United Steelworkers (USW) Western Canada Director Stephen Hunt announced Friday that a tentative agreement has been reached in the three-month strike against PotashCorp.at three mine sites near Saskatoon.
7 November 2008 7 NOVEMBER 2008 - United Steelworkers Union Mourns Loss of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin THE PAS, MB – United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1-324, has sent sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Oscar Lathlin, Manioba Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, who passed away Sunday Nov. 2.
3 November 2008 1 NOVEMBER 2008 - Morning after US Election: BC NDP Leader James to address Steelworkers Women's Conference following ‘Transit Blitz’ WHAT: National Women’s Conference WHO: Members of the United Steelworkers from across Canada, along with international guests WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 2 to Wednesday, Nov. 5 WHERE: Coast Plaza Hotel, 1763 Comox Street, Vancouver, BC
3 November 2008 31 OCTOBER 2008 - Worker's Death at Essar a Failure of Enforcement SAULT STE. MARIE, ON -- United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser called Thursday’s death of union member Rocky Scullino at Essar Steel Algoma a “tragic failure to enforce worker protection on the job.
31 October 2008 31 OCTOBER 2008 - Another Major Saskatchewan Sawmill Closing MEADOW LAKE, SK - NorSask Forest Products Ltd. has informed the United Steelworkers (USW) that termination notices have been sent to 62 employees effective December 19, 2008. But USW Local 1-184 President Paul Hallen says members are left wondering whether the ‘terminations’ are temporary or permanent.
31 October 2008 31 OCTOBER 2008 - Three-year Agreement Ratified at Goldcorp TIMMINS, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Friday that a new three-year contract has been ratified by the 276 USW members at the Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines.
17 October 2008 17 OCTOBER 2008 - Nine-Month Strike at CIBC Over SUDBURY, ON – A long strike in Sudbury has come to a close. Since January 14, 2008, sixty-two employees of the five branches of CIBC in the City of Greater Sudbury have been on strike.
8 October 2008 6 October 2008 - Statement on the Financial Market Bailout by Leo W. Gerard, USW International President On Friday, the House of Representatives passed a bill that allows the government to buy up to $700 billion of bad mortgages and other loans from various financial institutions. The same bill was approved by the Senate earlier in the week, so with the President’s signature, it became the law of the land.
7 October 2008 7 OCTOBER 2008 - No Plan to Save Jobs: Conservative Platform Flimsy and Unstable say Steelworkers TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann says the Conservative Party platform released Tuesday fails to support the manufacturing sector that has languished under Stephen Harper’s do-nothing policy of the last two years.
6 October 2008 6 OCTOBER 2008 - Building for the Future: Steelworkers Ratify New Agreement with Ideal Roofing OTTAWA – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday that an agreement has been ratified by members of USW Local 8327 at Ideal Roofing Co. Ltd. in Ottawa, where the union negotiated wage increases of four per cent in each year of a three-year contract.
6 October 2008 6 OCTOBER 2008 - Steelworkers' Atlantic Director: TrentonWorks Should be an Election Issue TRENTON, NS – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Atlantic/Ontario Director Wayne Fraser says the fate of TrentonWorks and the hundreds of jobs lost in Conservative Peter MacKay’s riding of Central Nova has been absent from the campaign so far.
2 October 2008 2 OCTOBER 2008 - Sécurité Kolossal Experiencing Financial Problems Workers deserve full disclosure MONTREAL - - Agence de sécurité Kolossal, a 3,100-employee security services firm that includes 547 pre-board screening officers in Quebec who are members of the United Steelworkers union, are requesting an emergency meeting with the firm's executive management.
29 September 2008 29 SEPTEMBER 2008- Unions Link Together On Submission to Final Hearings at Inquiry into 2000 Death of Smelter Worker FLIN FLON, MB - Unions representing workers at the Hudson Bay Minerals mining and smelting complex in Flin Flon are meeting Monday in anticipation of the resumption and final hearings of the Inquiry into the 2000 death of Steve Ewing on Tuesday Sept. 30 at the Flin Flon courthouse.
25 September 2008 25 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Steelworkers Applaud Layton's Strong Stand on Harper-Bush Lumber Deal BURNABY, BC – The United Steelworkers union (USW) has applauded federal New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton’s courageous position on the Canada-US Softwood Lumber Agreement.
23 September 2008 23 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Steelworkers Humanity Fund Contributes $27,000 to Hurricane Relief in Haiti and Cuba TORONTO - United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann today announced contributions by the Steelworkers Humanity Fund of $27,000 to support relief efforts in Cuba and Haiti in the aftermath of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
23 September 2008 23 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Steelworkers Support NDP Demand to Renegotiate NAFTA, Add Meaningful Labour and Environment Standards; Where do the Other Parties Stand? TORONTO - United Steelworkers' (USW) National Director Ken Neumann says the New Democratic Party's call for important changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement are absolutely necessary to protect jobs and workers in Canada.
22 September 2008 15 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Vale-Inco Manitoba Operations THOMPSON, MB – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 6166 have voted 65.5 per cent in favour of a new, three-year agreement with Vale-Inco at the company’s Manitoba operations.
22 September 2008 19 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Loss of Sudbury Union Hall A Great Tragedy, Historical Records Lost – Wayne Fraser SUDBURY, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said the loss of the USW union hall on Frood Road is a tragedy, not just for the union, but for the community that has used the hall for banquets, weddings, town meetings, and thousands of other events since its grand opening in November, 1965.
19 September 2008 19 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Supporters of US Soldier Jeremy Hinzman Petition. Immigration Minister to Stay Deportation Order Toronto: Jeremy Hinzman, a US soldier who refused to fight in the Iraq war, is scheduled to be deported from Canada with his wife Nga, his son Liam and his Canadian born daughter Megan on Tuesday, September 23rd.
17 September 2008 17 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Striking Steelworkers Issue Alert to Investors At Credit Suisse Chemical Conference Today WHAT: Rally for striking miners at Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan WHERE: One Madison Ave (between 23rd and 24th) WHEN: Noon, Wednesday Sept. 17 WHO: Members of United Steelworkers and their supporters NEW YORK – Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) from the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, on strike for a month against the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PCS), will attend the Credit Suisse Chemical Conference today, where PCS Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Wayne Brownlee is scheduled to speak.
15 September 2008 12 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Steelworkers Ratify ‘Contract for Members and their Families’ At University of Toronto TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Friday that support, technical and administrative staff of the University of Toronto, members of USW Local 1998, have ratified by 90.6 per cent an agreement reached last Sunday with the University at its three campuses in Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough.
12 September 2008 12 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with Vale-Inco Manitoba Operations THOMPSON, MB – The United Steelworkers union (USW) has reached a tentative agreement with Vale-Inco at the company’s Manitoba operations.
7 September 2008 7 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with University of Toronto TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Sunday that a tentative agreement has been reached with the University of Toronto, hours before a strike deadline of midnight for 3,500 administrative, technical and support staff
5 September 2008 3 SEPTEMBER 2008 - USW to 'Adopt' 3,000 Striking Workers' Families in Mexico PITTSBURGH, - The United Steelworkers (USW) union has launched a campaign in which its local unions in the U.S. and Canada will adopt a striking family at the Cananea copper ore mine, owned by Grupo Mexico, where 3,000 workers have been on strike in Mexico for more than a year.
5 September 2008 4 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Staff Vote to Strike if Necessary at University of Toronto TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Thursday that members of USW Local 1998, representing administrative, technical and support staff at the University of Toronto, have voted 87 per cent in favour of a strike mandate if no agreement is reached with the university.
5 September 2008 5 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Sklar Peppler Furniture Declares Bankruptcy, Workers to Make Use of New Wage Protection Bill AJAX, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Friday the declared bankruptcy of Sklar Furniture in Ajax comes at a time when members of USW Local 50U had given the company numerous concessions to keep the operation, part of the US-based Sklar Peppler Furniture Corporation, in Canada.
2 September 2008 29 AUGUST 2008 - Labour Day 2008: Workers Need Union Strength to Defend their Rights Now More than Ever - Steelworkers' Neumann TORONTO - The rights workers enjoy in 2008 are only as solid as unions' ability and commitment to fight for them, Ken Neumann, United Steelworkers' (USW) National Director said today on the eve of the Labour Day weekend.
27 August 2008 27 AUGUST 2008 - Steelworkers say BC Liberals and Interfor have Worked 'In Synch' to Abandon Coastal Mills, Export Investment, Logs, Jobs NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – Today (Aug. 27) members of the United Steelworkers (USW) slammed both the Gordon Campbell government and International Forest Products (Interfor) during a “Grand Closing Event” at the Interfor Queensboro sawmill and planer site.
23 August 2008 21 AUGUST 2008 - Victory Party (Sunday August 24) for Terminally Ill Homeworker Now able to Stay in Canada: Struggle Continues to Change the Law TORONTO – Media are invited to join in a victory celebration for ailing homeworker Juana Tejada, who now has permanent resident status in Canada following a campaign to allow the terminally-ill woman to remain in this country.
19 August 2008 19 AUGUST 2008 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Canada Talc MADOC, ON – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 15303 have ratified a new three-year contract with Canada Talc Limited, USW Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Tuesday.
18 August 2008 18 AUGUST 2008 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Trenergy Inc. ST. CATHARINES, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday that 105 members of USW Local 6519 have ratified a new, three-year agreement with St. Catharines boiler manufacturer Trenergy Inc.
15 August 2008 15 AUGUST 2008 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with University of Guelph GUELPH, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced late Friday that members of USW Local 4120 have voted in favour of a settlement reached earlier in the week with the University of Guelph.
12 August 2008 12 AUGUST 2008 - Brazilian and Canadian Union Leaders Meet in Thompson: Agree to Support Each Other in Bargaining THOMPSON, MB - Trade union representatives from across Canada and from Brazil converged on Thompson Manitoba on August 12-13 to meet with United Steelworkers union (USW) leaders from Local 6166, and offer their support and encouragement for upcoming negotiations between Vale and Local 6166.
30 July 2008 30 JULY 2008 - Response to Summertime Drop in Donations: Steelworkers Humanity Fund Contributes $90,000 to Canadian Food Banks TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann today announced contributions by the Steelworkers Humanity Fund of $90,000 to food banks across Canada in communities where USW members live and work.
29 July 2008 23 JUNE 2008 - Parliamentary parties, Amnesty International Call on Prime Minister to Stop July 10 Deportation Proceedings Against U.S. Iraq War Resister TORONTO – With less than 16 days remaining until U.S. war resister Corey Glass’ scheduled deportation, three parliamentary parties and Amnesty International are urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley to cease deportation and removal proceedings against Glass and U.S. war resisters seeking refuge in Canada.
18 July 2008 18 JULY 2008 - Steelworkers Applaud Newfoundland Breakthrough Agreement for Victims of Occupational Disease: NOW THE SEARCH FOR FORMER BAIE VERTE MINERS ACROSS CANADA BAIE VERTE, NL -- A registry that will help identify former mine workers of the now defunct Baie Verte Asbestos Mine, who may have developed asbestos-related diseases, is a major breakthrough for workers’ health, says the United Steelworkers union (USW).
18 July 2008 18 JULY 2008 – United Steelworkers’ National Director Hails Decision to Allow Home Worker to Apply as Permanent Resident TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Friday the decision to allow a cancer-stricken home worker to remain in Canada and apply for permanent resident status is a victory for homeworkers.
8 July 2008 27 JUNE 2008 - First Global Union Being Created to Build Bargaining Power LAS VEGAS – The world’s first global union will be unveiled at the United Steelworkers (USW) international convention next week in Las Vegas.
7 July 2008 26 JUNE 2008 – Steelworkers Continue to Push Weyerhaeuser to Keep Mill, Employees Working in Saskatchewan HUDSON BAY, SK – With the final day of work fast approaching for the workers at Weyerhaeuser Corporation’s OSB 2000 mill here, the union (USW) continue to push the company for answers and action.
3 July 2008 3 JULY 2008 – Relationship Building, Union-Style: Steelworkers Ratify New Deal with Babcock and Wilcox Canada CAMBRIDGE, ON – Three years after a strike against Babcock and Wilcox Canada, the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 2859 has ratified a new three-year contract with the company that increases wages by a total of 8.5 per cent.
27 June 2008 26 JUNE 2008 - Competition Policy Report: A Bay Street Manifesto TORONTO - The Competition Policy Review Panel Report released today fails to address legitimate concerns about foreign takeovers say the United Steelworkers (USW).
26 June 2008 25 JUNE 2008 – Rally For Home Worker June 27 TORONTO – Cancer patient Juana Tejada, after twenty-four months of serving Canadian society through domestic work, Juana is now eligible to apply for permanent residency.
23 June 2008 23 JUNE 2008 – Steelworkers Ratify New Contract with C.E. MacPherson KINGSTON, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Friday that members of Local 343 have ratified a new collective agreement with C.E. MacPherson, a division of Conrex Steel Ltd.
19 June 2008 18 JUNE 2008 – News Conference to Show Support for Terminally-Ill Home Worker TORONTO - A news conference by the Independent Workers Association Home Worker Section, a joint initiative by the United Steelworkers (USW) and Migrante Ontario, will focus on the plight of a terminally-ill woman who is being denied permanent residence in Canada under the Live-in Caregivers Program (LCP).
12 June 2008 11 JUNE 2008 – Steelworkers Ratify Agreements With Teck Cominco Metals Ltd. TRAIL, BC – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Locals 480 and 9705 have ratified a settlement with Teck Cominco Metals Ltd. that includes a $5,000 signing bonus and total wage increases of 15 per cent over four years.
6 June 2008 5 JUNE 2008 – News Conference to Launch Association to Protect Home Workers TORONTO -- A news conference by the United Steelworkers (USW) and Migrante Ontario on Tuesday (June 10) at 11 a.m. will launch the Independent Workers Association-Home Worker Section.
6 June 2008 6 JUNE 2008 - Steelworkers Call for Decent Severance for Workers About to Lose Employment at Premier Wire ALEXANDRIA, ON – United Steelworkers (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director said Thursday workers who have been employed for decades at Premier Wire Limited deserve decent severance now that the plant’s owner, Quebec-based Norfil Inc., has announced a permanent closure as of June 20.
4 June 2008 4 JUNE 2008 - Wilderness Committee and Steelworkers Find Common Cause Pushing Sustainable Forestry Reforms BURNABY, BC -- Canada’s largest membership-based environmental organization, the Western Canada Wilderness Committee with 70,000 members and supporters, said today it supports a call by Canada’s largest forestry union for action to stop the decline of forestry jobs in BC.
14 May 2008 12 MAY 2008 – Steelworkers Ratify Agreement With DB Ontario/ABF Quebec HAWKESBURY, ON – United Steelworkers (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday that a first collective agreement has been ratified by employees of DB Ontario/ABF Quebec, a warehouse distributor for the Jean Coutu chain of pharmacies.
13 May 2008 2 MAY 2008 – Where’s the Premier? Workers in Victoria Next Week to Demand Urgent Action on Forest Industry Crisis VICTORIA – The United Steelworkers (USW) has asked BC Premier Gordon Campbell for a meeting here to discuss the need for immediate government action on the devastating crisis that has seen at least 46 wood processing operations close since 2001, with a loss of 20,000 BC jobs. More than 10,000 jobs have been lost in the past year alone.
13 May 2008 5 MAY 2008 – Strike Averted: Steelworkers Ratify New Agreement with AMSCO Cast Products SELKIRK, MB – Talks between the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 8407 and AMSCO Cast Products were down to the wire when an agreement was reached last week. Union members have now ratified a deal that raises wages, pensions and benefits over four years and addresses workplace redesign and worker accommodation issues.
13 May 2008 6 MAY 2008 – Steelworkers Ratify Two-Year Agreement with Canadian General Tower CAMBRIDGE, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Tuesday that members of Local 862 have ratified a new two-year agreement with Canadian General Tower Limited (CGT).
13 May 2008 8 APRIL 2008 – New Food and Product Safety Legislation Necessary But Fails to Address Root Cause of Toxic Imports – Steelworkers TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Tuesday that proposed federal legislation to protect consumers contains necessary steps to address recalls, fines and inspections but fails to adequately address the need to stop dangerous products before they get close to the Canadian marketplace.
13 May 2008 8 MAY 2008 – Steelworkers Donate $20,000 to Cyclone Relief TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann announced Thursday that the Steelworkers Humanity Fund is donating $20,000 to the Canadian Red Cross for emergency relief in the wake of the devastating tropical cyclone Nargis in Burma (also known as Myanmar).
13 May 2008 9 MAY 2008 – Environmental Alliance Part of United Steelworkers National Health, Safety and Environment Conference – For a Safe and Healthy Future TORONTO – A formal signing of an alliance between the United Steelworkers (USW) and Environmental Defence will form part of the union’s National Health, Safety and Environment Conference from May 12 to 14 at the Doubletree International Plaza hotel in Toronto.
12 May 2008 9 MAY 2008 – Steelworkers to mark Weyerhaeuser Kamloops Sawmill’s Permanent Shutdown with "Grand Closing Event" KAMLOOPS, BC – The opposite of a “Grand Opening”, a “Grand Closing” event will take place on Monday at the Weyerhaeuser Kamloops sawmill to mark the mill’s permanent closure.
24 April 2008 24 APRIL 2008 – Exiled Mexican Labour Leader to Attend Hot Docs Screening of “The Fallen” TORONTO – Napoleon Gomez, exiled leader of Mexico’s National Miners and Metalworkers Union (Los Mineros) will attend two screenings this week of “The Fallen”, as part of Toronto’s Hot Docs Festival.
2 April 2008 25 MARCH 2008 - Negotiations on Behalf of 14,000 Security Guards: Pressure Tactics Start Today MONTREAL -- Out of 14,000 Quebec security guards, 65.5 per cent have voted to reject management's most recent offers.
2 April 2008 27 MARCH 2008 - Steelworkers’ Door Remains Open to Dofasco Employees: USW Steps Back From Process That Would Have Led to Bargaining with Arcelormittal HAMILTON – The United Steelworkers (USW) is stepping back from a process that may have led to a union for employees of ArcelorMittal Dofasco.
31 March 2008 25 MARCH 2008 – Ontario Budget Fails Manufacturing and Forestry - Steelworkers TORONTO – The Ontario Liberal government failed again today in its budget to take serious action to deal with the crisis in manufacturing and forestry, said United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser.
31 March 2008 29 MARCH 2008 - Steelworkers Program Aims at Immediate Change in BC's Forest Industry NEW WESTMINSTER, BC -- The BC government can and should take immediate steps to stop the bleeding in British Columbia’s forest industry, say leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW).
28 March 2008 28 MARCH 2008 - Steelworkers Call on N.S. Government to Step In and Change Trenton Works Trustee: Workers Owed Millions TRENTON, NS – Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) are calling and visiting their MLAs, and have even met with the premier, to convince the Nova Scotia government to get rid of Ernst and Young as the trustee for the bankrupt Trenton Works.
19 March 2008 18 MARCH 2008 – First Sentence Under ‘Westray’ Bill Not Good Enough, Says Steelworkers’ National Director TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Monday’s fine for the first-ever criminal conviction under 2004 changes to the Criminal Code of Canada does not do justice to the legislation or to the family of the worker killed on the job at Quebec-based Transpavé Inc.
19 March 2008 19 MARCH 2008 - ArcelorMittal and Steelworkers Relationship Offers New Opportunites at Dofasco HAMILTON – A new chapter in steel sector labour relations is unfolding this week between the United Steelworkers (USW) and ArcelorMittal Dofasco.
29 February 2008 11 JANUARY 2008 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement Leading To Closure At Acument Global Technologies GANANOQUE, ON –- United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Friday that members of USW Local 3222 have ratified a one-year agreement with Acument Global Technologies that includes severance and benefit protection in advance of the plant’s anticipated phased closure later this year.
29 February 2008 17 JANUARY 2008 - 2008 Negotiations for More than 24,000 Steelworkers in Ontario and Atlantic Canada TORONTO - The United Steelworkers (USW) union in Ontario and Atlantic Canada is looking forward to 2008 collective bargaining for more than 24,000 of its members in Ontario, Newfoundland-Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
29 February 2008 26 FEBRUARY 2008 - Government Misses Golden Opportunity to Right Economic Wrongs TORONTO – The United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director for Canada says Tuesday’s federal budget offers little help for working Canadians facing an uncertain future.
29 February 2008 27 FEBRUARY 2008 – Steelworkers Vote for Strike Against Westfair Foods WINNIPEG – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 9469 members are furious that Westfair Foods Ltd., a regional division of Loblaws Companies Ltd., has tabled a contract demand to invoke a three-tier wage system, which would cap wages and benefits of its lowest-paid employees.
29 February 2008 29 JANUARY 2008 – Steelworkers Ratify New Deal with Tube City IMS Canada Limited L’ORIGNAL, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Tuesday that members of USW Local 8794 have ratified a new, three-year collective agreement with Tube City IMS Canada Limited.
20 February 2008 19 FEBRUARY 2008 – Weyerhaeuser Mill Closure and Overnight Sell-off of Public Timber A Sellout Say Steelworkers KAMLOOPS, BC – The United Steelworkers (USW) says Weyerhaeuser’s announcement of the permanent closure of a Kamloops sawmill, which includes the private sell-off of publicly-owned forest tenure, represents another example of how forest-dependent communities are being sold out by the BC government.
8 February 2008 8 FEBRUARY 2008 - Pharmacare Hearings Panel Discussions: Hearings Reflect Personal Stories Highlighting the Need for a National Drug Plan SUDBURY – The local health coalition is co-sponsoring national Pharmacare hearings and will collect personal stories highlighting the need for a national program.
24 January 2008 23 JANUARY 2008 – Auditor General Report Helps Expose Regulatory, Company Failures in the Forest Sector - Steelworkers BURNABY, BC – Wednesday’s report by BC’s auditor general is a condemnation of the BC forest industry and the provincial government’s lack of action on forest-worker safety, says the United Steelworkers (USW).
23 January 2008 23 JANUARY 2008 – Steelworkers Ratify Three-Year Agreement With Kubota Metal Corporation ORILLIA, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Wednesday that members of USW 9393 have voted to accept a new, three-year collective agreement with Kubota Metal Corporation.
18 January 2008 16 JANUARY 2008 - Steelworkers Ratify Ground-Breaking Agreement with CN TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann announced Wednesday that a tentative agreement reached in November with Canadian National Railway Company has been ratified by members of USW Local 2004.
18 January 2008 16 JANUARY 2008 – Steelworkers Call On Harper Government to Stop Promoting Toxic Trade BURNABY, BC – On Wednesday (Jan. 16), as part of a North American day of action and the campaign to Stop Toxic Imports, members of the United Steelworkers (USW) in Western Canada called upon the federal government to stop ignoring flaws in trade deals that expose Canadians to unsafe imports.
18 January 2008 17 JANUARY 2008 - Gordon Campbell Presiding Over Destruction of BC Forest Industry Say Steelworkers BURNABY, BC – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Western Canada Director Stephen Hunt said Thursday that BC Premier Gordon Campbell is presiding over the destruction of the province’s most important employer and economic engine – the forest industry.
16 January 2008 16 JANUARY 2008 - Sears Canada Warehouse Employees Vote to Join United Steelworkers TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Wednesday that about 700 workers at the Sears Canada Inc. warehouse in Vaughan, ON, will become USW members following a Tuesday vote in favour of the union.
15 January 2008 14 JANUARY 2008 – USW Members On Strike At CIBC Sudbury SUDBURY, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday that members of Local 2020 are on strike at five branches of CIBC in Sudbury.
14 January 2008 10 JANUARY 2008 - Federal Government Finally Recognizes Jobs Crisis: Steelworkers Want Federal Program To Focus On Rescue Not Only Adjustment TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Thursday’s announcement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper of $1-billion to help communities affected by global economic volatility is long overdue, but still falls short of the dramatic action needed to reverse the crisis in the manufacturing and forestry sectors across Canada.
7 January 2008 4 JANUARY 2008 - Steelworkers Support Tembec Recapitalization Plan BURNABY, BC – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Wood Council Chair Bob Matters has announced the union’s support for Tembec Inc.’s proposed Recapitalization Plan, which the union says will position the company to weather the crisis caused by the Harper-Bush Softwood Lumber Agreement, the high Canadian dollar and the state of the US economy.
7 January 2008 4 JANUARY 2008 - Steelworkers Urge Former Kaufman Employees to Claim For Monies Owed KITCHENER, ON – The United Steelworkers (USW) is using its website,www.usw.ca, to urge former Kaufman Footwear employees to make immediate claims for monies owed since the company’s 2000 bankruptcy from the receiver, Ernst and Young.
4 January 2008 17 DECEMBER 2007 - New Leadership at the United Steelworkers (FTQ) - Daniel Roy Becomes Director MONTREAL -- Québec's largest private sector union, the United Steelworkers (FTQ), is now under the leadership of Daniel Roy and his assistant, Guy Farrell. The new Director declared that the United Steelworkers (FTQ) will be involved in all actions intended to halt the shift to the right that is evident around the world, and in Québec in particular. "It makes no sense," he says, "to watch our political leaders standing idle while our members face massive job cuts.
4 January 2008 21 DECEMBER 2007 - Mouska Mine (Abitibi) - Settlement Agreed on After Two Strike Votes
2 January 2008 21 DECEMBER 2007 - Steelworkers Ratify New 3-Year Contract with North Atlantic Refining Ltd.
20 December 2007 20 DECEMBER 2007 - Steelworkers Applaud Pension Reform, Time Now to Save Jobs HALIFAX, TORONTO – The United Steelworkers (USW) said Thursday the final step in reforming Nova Scotia pension law is a great victory for working people and must be followed up by a commitment to save jobs.
20 December 2007 20 DECEMBER 2007 - United Church Archives to close Friday, December 21: Rally and Reading
17 December 2007 17 DECEMBER 2007 - Toxic Toy Law Misses Big Picture - Steelworkers say it Focuses on Symptom, Not Disease
13 December 2007 12 DECEMBER 2007 - Steelworkers Applaud Passage of Nova Scotia Pension Reform HALIFAX – The United Steelworkers (USW) has applauded Wednesday’s passing of a bill in the Nova Scotia legislature that requires companies to ensure pension plans are fully funded when plants are closed.
6 December 2007 6 DECEMBER 2007 - Pass Pension Reform ASAP Steelworkers Tell Nova Scotia Law Amendments Committee
2 December 2007 30 NOVEMBER 2007 - Time to Make Toys Safer for Our Children: Steelworkers to Test Children’s Toys for Lead in Multi-city Blitz Monday
27 November 2007 27 NOVEMBER 2007 - Calgary Steelworkers Provide Home Testing for Toxic Toys: Union Urges End to Toxic Trade’ CALGARY, AB - Appearing in a Calgary home with children and concerned parents this morning, representatives of the United Steelworkers (USW) conductedlea d testing of the children’s toys with kits that the union provides to thepublic.
25 November 2007 25 NOVEMBER 2007 - First Strike in 37 Years: Steelworkers to Set Up Pickets at Midnight, IMT Partnership PORT COLBORNE, ON -United Steelworkers (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Sunday that members of USW Local 8190 will be on strike tonight at midnight after union members rejected an IMT Partnership-PCForge offer that demands deep concessions from the workers.
21 November 2007 20 NOVEMBER 2007 - Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with Canadian National Railway Company MONTREAL —United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann announced late Tuesday that a ground-breaking tentative agreement has been reached between USW Local 2004 and Canadian National Railway Company (CN).
20 November 2007 20 NOVEMBER 2007 - Steelworkers Ratify New Deal with Country Village Health Care Centre WOODSLEE, ON -Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9329 have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new three-year collective agreement with Country Village Health Care Centre in Woodslee, ON, about 30 kilometres east of Windsor.
15 November 2007 14 NOVEMBER 2007 - Steelworkers Union to Represent Workers at Dynamic Windows and Doors ABBOTSFORD, BC – The BC Labour Relations Board will grant the United Steelworkers (USW) the legal right to be the bargaining agent for more than 150 workers at Dynamic Windows and Doors in Abbotsford.
15 November 2007 15 NOVEMBER 2007 - Steelworker Campaign at Arcelor-Mittal Kicks into High Gear HAMILTON – The United Steelworkers (USW) announced Thursday that its ongoing campaign among employees of Arcelor-Mittal (formerly Dofasco) in Hamilton has recently moved into a more intense phase.
15 November 2007 15 NOVEMBER 2007 - USW Members at CIBC Sudbury Vote to Call for Strike Action SUDBURY, ON - Members of Local 2020 of the United Steelworkers (USW), employees of CIBC, have voted over 90 per cent to allow their bargaining committee to call for strike action if necessary.
15 November 2007 9 NOVEMBER 2007 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Interfor: Close vote again signals companies need to work more closely with workforce BURNABY, BC – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) at three sawmills in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley have voted to accept a tentative collective agreement reached between the union and International Forest Products (Interfor).
8 November 2007 8 NOVEMBER 2007 - Make Products Safer by Making them in Canada: Steelworkers MPs urged to take toxic trade seriously as lead testing campaign kicks off
7 November 2007 5 NOVEMBER 2007 – Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with Interfor: Striking union members at three sawmills to vote this week BURNABY, BC – The United Steelworkers (USW) and International Forest Products (Interfor) have reached a tentative agreement, which the union will be taking to its members for ratification later this week.
7 November 2007 7 NOVEMBER 2007 - Time for MPs to Make Toys Safer: Make them in Canada OTTAWA—As more toxic toys are recalled and the manufacturing job crisis grows, the United Steelworkers union (USW) is calling on MPs to make products safer.
1 November 2007 15 OCTOBER 2007 – Tentative Deal Reached in 12½ Week Coastal Forest Strike: Steelworkers say deal will fetter company rights to impose shifts, improves safety BURNABY, BC -- Coastal forest industry employers will lose their unilateral right to impose shift schedules if striking United Steelworkers’ (USW) members ratify a tentative agreement signed Monday by the USW bargaining committee and Forest Industrial Relations (FIR). Safety and shift scheduling were the major issues in the dispute.
30 October 2007 30 OCTOBER 2007 - COASTAL FOREST PLAN FAILS TO DELIVER SAY STEELWORKERS: Communities and Workers left out of the mix
30 October 2007 30 OCTOBER 2007 - Steelworkers’ Fraser Praises Breakthrough Decision for Victims of Industrial Disease TORONTO, ST. JOHN’S – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Tuesday that a Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court decision is a breakthrough for workers suffering from work-related disease.
29 October 2007 29 OCTOBER 2007 – Irish Ambassador Helps Steelworkers Rise Thousands for Community Hospice SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) in Sault Ste. Marie have raised more than $40,000 to support the Algoma Residential Community Hospice, the latest event benefiting from the ‘luck of the Irish’.
26 October 2007 26 OCTOBER 2007 – Sask Party on the Wrong Track: Steelworkers’ National Director Ken Neumann SASKATOON, SK – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) and other working people in Saskatchewan need to reject the Saskatchewan Party’s agenda in November 7’s provincial election, says Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada.
22 October 2007 21 OCTOBER 2007 - Steelworkers Ratify Coast Forest Agreement: Close vote signals need for industry to listen to its workforce BURNABY, BC – Members in five locals of the United Steelworkers (USW) have voted 51 per cent in favour of an agreement reached last week with Forest Industrial Relations (FIR).
15 October 2007 12 OCTOBER 2007 – Steelworkers Humanity Fund Contributes $24,000 in Emergency Assistance TORONTO -- The United Steelworkers Humanity Fund has contributed $24,000 in emergency support over the last eight weeks to assist recovery efforts of people who have lost homes, community facilities, and livelihoods through devastating hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.
15 October 2007 14 OCTOBER 2007 – Steelworkers Back to Work after Reaching Agreement with AMCAN Castings HAMILTON – A nearly five-day sit-in by members of the United Steelworkers (USW) has ended with an agreement over severance with Amcan Castings at both its Hamilton and Burlington locations.
11 October 2007 11 OCTOBER 2007 – Workers Occupy Amcan Castings: Company Wants To Bail With No Severance/Pension Assurance HAMILTON – About 75 members of the United Steelworkers are occupying the Hamilton operation of Amcan Castings, where company officials said yesterday they would not consider restructuring under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) and would instead liquidate the plant.
10 October 2007 9 OCTOBER 2007 – Labour Leaders Speak Out To Support NDP TORONTO – The leaders of several unions and the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) said Tuesday there should be only one realistic choice for working people in Ontario on Wednesday, Oct. 10.
4 October 2007 4 October 2007 - Research Confirms Value of Manufacturing to Canada’s Economy TORONTO – An interim report on manufacturing prepared by Ottawa-based econometrics firm Informetrica shows that manufacturing plays an important role in supporting all sectors of the economy, and has been hurt by both the recent appreciation of the dollar and by increased offshore imports.
3 October 2007 3 OCTOBER 2007 - Steelworkers Issue Follow-up Statement with Respect to Press Conference Held September 26, 2007 VANCOUVER – On September 26, 2007, the United Steelworkers issued press releases, distributed a video and communicated with federal and provincial regulatory bodies raising concerns about TimberWest's current logging practices on Vancouver Island and calling for a regulatory audit. The United Steelworkers also sent representatives to SFI Inc.'s meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah to provide the same information and express the same concerns, seeking a review by SFI of its certification of TimberWest's forestry practices.
29 September 2007 21 SEPTEMBER 2007 - USW International Women’s Conference Promises to be Largest Gathering of Working Women TORONTO — With over 1,000 delegates expected, the United Steelworkers (USW) International Women’s Conference at Toronto’s Sheraton Centre Hotel Sept. 23-26 is expected to be the largest gathering of working women ever.
29 September 2007 27 SEPTEMBER 2007 - Michel Arsenault: The Best Choice to Lead Quebec's Labour Movement TORONTO – The leadership of the United Steelworkers (USW) is standing fully behind USW Quebec Director Michel Arsenault’s bid to replace Henri Massé as president of the Quebec Federation of Labour.
27 September 2007 24 SEPTEMBER 2007 - Steelworkers Launch Stop Toxic Imports Campaign : North American effort aims to ‘Get the Lead Out’ News conference to launch a North American ‘Stop Toxic Imports’ campaign, which includes the free distribution of tens of thousands of lead screening kits
25 September 2007 25 SEPTEMBER 2007 – CVRD INCO Walks Away From the Table, Steelworkers Support Their Bargaining Committee ARGENTIA, NL – Management at CVRD-Inco’s hydrometallurgical plant in Argentia has walked away from negotiations with the United Steelworkers (USW), whose 90 members at the facility have voted 100 per cent to support their bargaining committee; they pledged to vote for strike action if the company does not come back to the table and treat them fairly.
24 September 2007 17 SEPTEMBER 2007 – United Steelworkers vs. TD-Canada Trust: Federal Court of Appeal Quashes Anti-Union Application SUDBURY, ON – Reacting to what should be the final word on the issue, United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Monday that a judgment by the Federal Court of Appeal has again upheld the 2005 decision by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to certify the USW as the union to represent TD-Canada Trust employees in Sudbury.
24 September 2007 19 SEPTEMBER 2007 – Maynards Auction Starts 8 A.M. Thursday: Steelworkers to Picket Western Forest Products’ New West Mill NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – Starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, members of the United Steelworkers (USW) will be picketing Western Forest Products’ (WFP) New West sawmill and planer site.
19 September 2007 17 September 2007 - Steel Giant and Unions Commit to Innovative Health and Safety Program MONTREAL, QC – The world’s largest steel company Arcelor Mittal and trade unions representing its employees from over 20 countries today announced a new and innovative approach to Health and Safety concerns in the company.
14 September 2007 13 SEPTEMBER 2007 – Safety and Fairness for Kidd Creek Miners: Steelworkers’ Campaign at Xstrata Operation TIMMINS, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Thursday that a recent fatality at Xstrata-owned Kidd Creek Mine is one reason for workers to seek union representation.
6 September 2007 6 SEPTEMBER 2007 - Audit Confirms No Funds Missing: Report proves allegations against Gómez are unfounded and fraudulent GENEVA/MEXICO: An independent audit of a $55 million fund owned by the National Miners’ and Metalworkers’ Union (SNTMMSRM) in Mexico shows all funds are accounted for, exonerating SNTMMSRM general secretary Napoleón Gómez Urrutia of all charges of theft or misappropriation of funds.
4 September 2007 4 SEPTEMBER 2007 - Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with Aeroguard Eastern Limited TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Tuesday that a tentative agreement has been reached with Aeroguard Eastern Limited on behalf of 600 security officers at eight Ontario airports.
24 August 2007 24 AUGUST 2007 - Steelworkers Condemn Police Action at Montebello, Echo Calls for Inquiry TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Friday the admission by Sûreté du Québec that two of its officers were disguised as protesters at this week’s demonstrations in Montebello is shocking and anti-democratic in the extreme.
24 August 2007 24 AUGUST 2007 - Workers at Tinnerman Engineered Products Choose Steelworkers to Represent Them HAMILTON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Friday that employees at Tinnerman Palnut Engineered Products Canada Corp. have for the first time in the company’s 60-year history in Hamilton chosen a union to represent them. And that union is the United Steelworkers.
24 August 2007 24 AUGUST 2007 – Don’t Buy Struck Wood Products:Steelworkers’ Home Depot Campaign Goes Continent-Wide This Weekend; Rona Now Included BURNABY, BC; PITTSBURGH, PA – On Saturday, the United Steelworkers (USW) campaign to inform consumers about struck wood products will hit Home Depot outlets from Bangor Maine to Los Angeles, along with locations in Prince George, Surrey, Coquitlam and Abbotsford, BC. Saturday’s leafleting also includes Rona outlets in Surrey, Mission and Maple Ridge.
21 August 2007 21 AUGUST 2007 - Steelworkers Humanity Fund Steps Up with $25,000 for South Asian Flood Relief TORONTO – The Steelworkers Humanity Fund has made an emergency assistance contribution of $25,000 to Oxfam Canada to assist the victims of heavy rain and flash flooding in South Asia.
20 August 2007 17 AUGUST 2007 - Don't Buy Struck Wood Products: Steelworkers' Campaign Targets Home Depot Across Canada This Weekend BURNABY, BC – The United Steelworkers (USW) is ramping up the campaign to inform consumers about struck wood products at outlets of The Home Depot across Canada, in cities from Kamloops, BC to St. John’s, 13 in all.
20 August 2007 17 AUGUST 2007 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Scaw Metals (AltaSteel Ltd.) EDMONTON – Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 5220 have ratified a new collective agreement with AltaSteel Ltd. of the Scaw Metals Group.
16 August 2007 16 AUGUST 2007 - Timberwest Found Guilty of Illegal Bargaining: BC Labour Relations Board Shoots Down Company's 'Final Offer' BURNABY, BC – The BC Labour Relations Board has ruled that TimberWest’s application for a “final offer” vote of United Steelworkers’ (USW) members is illegal under the bad faith bargaining provisions of the BC Labour Relations Code.
13 August 2007 9 AUGUST 2007 - Excellent Severance Package Does Not Replace Lost Jobs: Steelworkers KITCHENER, ON –United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Thursday that the union has bargained a severance agreement with Nordia Inc. that will maintain employees’ benefits for up to five months and provide strong severance pay for employees when the company’s directory assistance service packs up for the Philippines starting in October.
7 August 2007 7 AUGUST 2007 – Steelworkers and CN Enter ‘Early’ Negotiations TORONTO – The United Steelworkers (USW) has begun negotiations with Canadian National Railway Company (CN) well in advance of the December 31 expiry date of the current collective agreement.
2 August 2007 1 AUGUST 2007 - Steelworkers Accept Two-Year Agreement: 'Road Map' Set for Conclusion of Forest Industry Strikes BURNABY, BC – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) at the MacKenzie Sawmill Ltd. operation in Surrey have voted to accept a two-year collective agreement, which provides a ‘road map’ to facilitate the conclusion of USW strikes against FIR-affiliated companies, Island Timberlands and Interfor.
2 August 2007 1 AUGUST 2007 - Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with Scaw Metals (AltaSteel) EDMONTON – The United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 5220 has reached a tentative contract settlement with AltaSteel Ltd. of the Scaw Metals Group.
30 July 2007 30 JULY 2007 - Precedent for Ariport Screeners: Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Shanahan's Investigation and Security Ltd. MONCTON, NB – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday that voting on a new collective agreement is now complete and has been ratified by members of USW Local 5319, who provide airport security screening services for Shanahan’s Investigation and Security Ltd. at several airports in Atlantic Canada.
30 July 2007 30 JULY 2007 - Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with Algoma Steel SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday that a tentative contract settlement has been reached with Algoma Steel Inc. for members of USW Local 2251, the company’s 2,714 production and maintenance workers at Canada’s third largest steelmaker.
27 July 2007 3 JULY 2007 - Steelworkers Vote to Strike if No Deal with Algoma Steel SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – The membership of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 2251 have voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action if necessary to reach a new collective agreement with Algoma Steel.
27 July 2007 4 JULY 2007 - Steelworkers Serve 72-Hour Strike Notice on Forest Industrial Relations as Contract Talks Fail BURNABY, BC - Late Tuesday evening (July 3), the United Steelworkers (USW) served 72-hour strike notice against Forest Industrial Relations (FIR), the association representing 31 companies that employ more than 4,500 USW members in the BC coastal forest industry.
27 July 2007 9 JULY 2007 - Steelworkers Vote to Accept New Contract with Cameco Corporation PORT HOPE, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday that the 226 members of Local 13173 have ratified a three-year contract with Cameco Corporation.
26 July 2007 26 JULY 2007 – Maintenance Workers Choose Steelworkers’ Union at Senior’s Facility in the Cariboo WILLIAMS LAKE, BC – Workers employed by B & C Maintenance at the Retirement Concepts seniors’ assisted living and retirement facility have won the right to be represented by the United Steelworkers’ (USW).
24 July 2007 10 JULY 2007 - Plant Could Reopen in August: Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with Possible Buyer for Hamilton Specialty Bar HAMILTON – Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 4752 will meet next Tuesday (July 17) to review details of an agreement reached with US firms Woodside Capital and Pinnacle Steel, which could lead to the reopening of Hamilton Specialty Bar as early as August.
24 July 2007 16 JULY 2007 - Steelworkers Prepared to Work with New IPSCO Ownership VANCOUVER -- United Steelworkers’ (USW) Western Canada Director Steve Hunt said Monday’s shareholder vote to approve the Svenskt Stål AB (SSAB) acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of IPSCO Inc. was not unexpected and the union is prepared to work with the new ownership.
24 July 2007 20 JULY 2007 - Steelworkers Move Towards Safe and Orderly Shutdown of BC Coast Industry Starting Friday Midnight BURNABY, BC – At midnight Friday members of the United Steelworkers (USW) will begin strike action against 31 member companies of Forest Industrial Relations (FIR) and Island Timberlands.
24 July 2007 23 JULY 2007 - Settlement Ratified: Steelworkers Vote to End TD-Canada Trust Strike SUDBURY, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday that, in a second vote, members of USW Local 2020 have voted 56 per cent in favour of a settlement reached early last week with TD-Canada Trust, putting an end to a month-long strike at eight of the bank’s branches in Sudbury.
23 July 2007 23 JULY 2007 - Could Set Precedent for Airport Screeners: Steelworkers reach tentative agreement with Shanahan’s Investigation and Security Ltd. MONCTON, NB – United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday that voting on a new collective agreement has begun among 700 security screeners at 12 Atlantic Canada airports following a tentative agreement with Shanahan’s Investigation and Security Ltd.
18 July 2007 18 JULY 2007 - Steelworkers Serve 72-Hour Strike Notice on International Forest Products BURNABY, BC – On Wednesday the United Steelworkers (USW) served 72-hour strike notice against International Forest Products (Interfor), which has three sawmills along the Fraser River. The union represents some 600 company employees.
17 July 2007 17 JULY 2007 - Steelworkers say Yes to Agreement with Hamilton Secialty Bar Purchaser HAMILTON – Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 4752 have voted 93 per cent in favour of an agreement reached last week with US firms Woodside Capital and Pinnacle Steel, which could lead to the reopening of Hamilton Specialty Bar as early as August once the purchase has court approval.
17 July 2007 17 JULY 2007 - Steelworkers and Communications Workers Sign Strategic Alliance Toronto – The United Steelworkers (USW) and the Canadian Region of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) have signed a Strategic Alliance to work together on issues of common interest in Canada and globally.
16 July 2007 16 JULY 2007 - Steelworkers Serve Strike Notice on Two Coastal Logging Companies BURNABY, BC – On Monday the United Steelworkers (USW) served 72-hour strike notice against Island Timberlands (ITL) and TimberWest Forest Company. Both are private-land owners and loggers, although TimberWest also operates on some public lands.
13 July 2007 12 JULY 2007 - Competition and Review Panel Needs Voice of Workers oronto – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann says Thursday’s announcement by Industry Minister Maxime Bernier and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty of a review panel on competition and foreign investment must allow working Canadians to have a voice in the future control of Canadian resources and manufacturing.
11 July 2007 10 JULY 2007 - Higher Interest Rates Will Hurt More Canadians Already Devasted By Loss Of Good Jobs - Steelworkers TORONTO – The Bank of Canada’s move to drive interest rates higher threatens to accelerate the destruction of good manufacturing jobs, United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Tuesday.
11 July 2007 3 JULY 2007 - Illegal Lockout Averted: Steelworkers Ratify Contract with Worthington Cylinders TILBURY, ON – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) 9143 have voted in favour of a new, three-year contract with Worthington Cylinders of Canada Corp.
11 July 2007 3 JULY 2007 - Steelworkers Ratify Contract with Koch Fertilizer BRANDON, MB – Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 7184 have ratified a contract settlement with Koch Fertilizer Canada, Ltd.
11 July 2007 6 JULY 2007 - United Steelworkers' Local 2724: Algoma Salaried Staff Authorize Strike SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 2724, representing 586 salaried staff at Algoma Steel, have given a strong mandate to their negotiating team by voting in favour of strike action if their executive deems it necessary to reach a contract settlement.
10 July 2007 9 JULY 2007 – Support Growing for Striking TD-Canada Trust Employees SUDBURY, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Monday that support is growing for the more than 100 members of USW Local 2020 on strike at several TD-Canada Trust branches.
5 July 2007 22 JUNE 2007 – Tax on Crown Lands Exports Won’t Solve Log Export Crisis, says USW
4 July 2007 30 JUNE 2007 - Report says Hôtel Le Georgesville Is Breaking the Law Québec -- The United Steelworkers/Syndicat des Métallos (USW) has made a formal complaint to Quebec's Commission des relations de travail (CRT) following an investigator's report filed with the Ministry of Labour, confirming that the Hôtel Le Georgesville is violating Quebec law by hiring scabs to break a strike by union members employed at the hotel.
29 June 2007 29 JUNE 2007 - Steelworkers and CEP Announce Northern Ontario Forestry Forums Northern Ontarians will finally get a chance to express their views about the economic crisis they face as a result of mill cutbacks and closures through a series of public forums beginning July 6 in Dryden. The public meetings, sponsored by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) and the United Steelworkers (USW), are a direct result of the Ontario government’s refusal to respond to demands from 17 municipal councils for hearings on the crisis that is devastating northern communities.
27 June 2007 27 JUNE 2007 - Steelworkers Win First Contract With Saint John Delta SAINT JOHN, NB – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Wednesday that workers have voted 83 per cent in favour of a first collective agreement with the Delta Brunswick Hotel.
19 June 2007 19 JUNE 2007 - Plant Occupation Ends with Severance Deal for Steelworkers at Collins and Aikman MISSISSAUGA, PORT HOPE, ON-- After an almost -24-hour work stoppage and occupation, an interim settlement has been reached by members of the United Steelworkers (USW) at two auto parts factories owned by US-based Collins and Aikman Corporation in Port Hope and Mississauga.
18 June 2007 17 JUNE 2007 - If No Deal Today, TD-Canada Trust Strike to Start Monday SUDBURY, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced today that 112 members of USW Local 2020, employees of TD-Canada Trust, have voted in favour of strike action, to begin at 8 a.m. Monday (June 18).
18 June 2007 18 JUNE 2007 - Frustrated Workers Walk Off the Job at Two Collins and Aikman Plants PORT HOPE, MISSISSAUGA, ON -- At the start of morning shifts on Monday, employees at two auto parts factories owned by US-based Collins and Aikman Corporation walked off the job in frustration at the lack of talks with management over plant closure details dealing with their collective agreement and legal rights.
15 June 2007 15 JUNE 2007 - USW Forest-Sector Members Give Strike Mandate to Bargaining Committee Vancouver, BC - Ninety per cent of the 8,000 United Steelworker (USW) members in logging, log transport, sawmills and other forest-sector occupations throughout coastal BC have voted in favour of a strike.
13 June 2007 12 JUNE 2007 – Striking Steelworkers to Widen Dispute ERIN, ON – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) on strike against Guardian Building Products are taking their dispute beyond the picket line.
13 June 2007 6 JUNE 2007 - Steelworkers Applaud Class Action on Bank Workers' Overtime TORONTO, ON – The United Steelworkers (USW), which represents more than 1,000 financial services workers in banks and credit unions across Canada, says the class action launched against the CIBC is another important step in the battle to improve working conditions for all bank workers.
7 June 2007 6 JUNE 2007- Steelworkers Reject Xstrata Offer MONTREAL - Last Friday, the 430 members of the United Steelworkers (USW) employed at Xstrata Copper in Montreal-East voted 92 per cent against the company's latest offer.
6 June 2007 4 JUNE 2007 – Forest-Sector Unions Call for Action on Growing Crisis
6 June 2007 5 JUNE 2007 – Steelworkers Ink Agreement with Timminco Metals HALEY, ON – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 6946 have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with Timminco Metals, which includes the company’s agreement to pay the full cost of the McGuinty government’s health tax, along with wage increases, an improved cost of living allowance and increased life insurance.
25 May 2007 25 MAY 2007 - Steelworkers Welcome Change to BC Coastal Forest Policy But Concerned about Government's Direction BURNABY, BC – The United Steelworkers (USW) has welcomed action on BC Coastal forest policy but remain concerned the government is moving in the wrong direction. Proposals from Forest Minister Rich Coleman reported Thursday indicate the government now agrees with most British Columbians that the province’s current forest policy is not working. But some of his ideas still miss the mark.
24 May 2007 10 MAY 2007 - Le Georgesville Hotel, Saint-Georges-de-Beauce: Union rejects management’s offer
24 May 2007 10 MAY 2007 - Manoir des Sables, Magog: Union rejects management’s final offer
24 May 2007 23 MAY 2007 – Mississauga – Steelworkers Have Had Enough: Occupation of Masonite International TORONT0 – A plant occupation at Masonite International, 1600 Britannia Road East in Mississauga is underway by members of the United Steelworkers (USW) and their supporters, following the company's announcement to close on August 10, 2007.
24 May 2007 24 MAY 2007 – Gerdau Ameristeel Agreement: Steelworkers Ratify Deal That Improves Pensions, Wages, Benefits SELKIRK, MB – Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 5442 have ratified a new collective agreement with Gerdau Ameristeel MRM Special Sections Inc. that includes a wage-improvement plan combining cost-of-living and wage increases.
24 May 2007 24 MAY 2007 – Steelworkers End Occupation of Masonite Ontario Division Plant MISSISSAUGA – The United Steelworkers (USW) has ended an occupation of the Masonite International plant, 1600 Britannia Road East in Mississauga, following a commitment by the company to continue negotiating a closure agreement.
23 May 2007 23 MAY 2007 - Steelworkers Protest Province-Wide Crisis in Manufacturing TORONTO – On a day starting with a news conference to kick off a province-wide campaign to stop massive job losses in manufacturing, nine plants, whose employees are or were represented by the United Steelworkers (USW), will be the scene of actions and demonstrations throughout the day (Wednesday May 23).
22 May 2007 18 MAY 2007 – May 23: Events Across Ontario to Launch Campaign to Save Manufacturing Jobs TORONTO – Across Ontario, starting at 11:30 a.m. in Kitchener on May 23, workers, both employed and unemployed, are taking action against the lack of interest shown by the provincial government over the growing loss of manufacturing jobs.
11 May 2007 10 MAY 2007 – Steelworkers Condemn Shooting Death of Chilean Forest Worker TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Canadian National Director Ken Neumann said Thursday a settlement reached between 8,000 striking Chilean forest industry workers and the country’s largest industry employer, Arauco y Constitución SA, is a “bittersweet victory” for Chile’s struggling workers.
10 May 2007 10 MAY 2007 - TD-Canada Trust Employees Keep Their Union SUDBURY, ON –United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Thursday that members of USW Local 2020 at several TD-Canada Trust branches in Sudbury have voted overwhelmingly to remain in the union.
8 May 2007 4 MAY 2007 - Steelworkers 'Wait and See' on Proposed Buyout of IPSCO by Swedish Steelmaker SSAB BURNABY, BC - Yesterday's announced US $7.7-billion purchase of IPSCO Inc. by Swedish Steelmaker SSAB Svenskt Stal marks another point in the United Steelworkers' growing concern about the rapid globalization of the steel industry.
7 May 2007 1 MAY 2007 - St-Hubert Restaurant in Richelieu: Fixed Work Schedules Ste-Thérèse - The 60 Steelworkers members of the Rôtisserie St-Hubert in Richelieu have accepted a new, seven-year collective agreement which addresses one of the bargaining committee’s highest priorities: the improvement of work schedules. The employer agreed to introduce fixed work schedules for regular, full-time workers. “This agreement was hard won; our members were obliged to reject two offers from the employer to force it to move on this issue. Once the employer agreed to do its homework on work schedules, the members were willing to accept the new collective agreement,” explained Jean-Yves Couture, Staff Representative of the United Steelworkers (FTQ).
7 May 2007 4 MAY 2007 - Steelworkers End Occupation of Hamilton Specialty Bar HAMILTON – A plant occupation at Hamilton Specialty Bar (HSB) by members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 4752 has ended after the company agreed to the union’s terms for ending the sit-in, including reinstating retirees’ benefits and providing active employees with vacation pay and unpaid wages in advance of the plant’s scheduled shutdown on May 29. Workers will also be paid lost time for Thursday.
4 May 2007 27 APRIL 2007 - Kiewitt in Raglan: Single-Room Accommodations, Significant Pay Increases Rouyn-Noranda, - The 55 Steelworkers employed by Kiewitt-Nuvuniut in Raglan have ratified a five-year collective agreement that includes significant pay raises and also guarantees a single room for each employee. "Our main priority was to ensure single rooms for each of our members. For the past ten years, they’ve had to share accommodations, two to a room. This was not right. From the outset of negotiations, the employer was advised that they would have to come up with a solution to this problem,” declared Marc Thibodeau, labour representative at the United Steelworkers (USW)/Syndicat des Métallos (FTQ) union.
4 May 2007 3 MAY 2007 - Steelworkers have had Enough: Occupation of Hamilton Specialty Bar 0930 May 3 HAMILTON – A plant occupation at Hamilton Specialty Bar (HSB) has begun by members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 4752 and their supporters, following the company’s move to end about 500 retirees’ medical and dental coverage as of Friday (May 4).
4 May 2007 4 MAY 2007 - Steelworkers and Calm Air International Ltd. Reach Settlement THOMPSON/CHURCHILL, MB -- – The United Steelworkers (USW) Local 6166 and Calm Air International Ltd. have agreed to a new, three-year collective agreement that boosts wages, improves northern allowances and benefits for the airline’s employees in Churchill and Thompson.
2 May 2007 18 APRIL 2007 - Steelworkers and Amicus Take First Steps Towards Global Super-Union Merger exploration group to create 3.4 million member Trans-Atlantic union OTTAWA – The United Steelworkers (USW), together with Amicus and the Transportation & General Workers Union (T&GWU) of the United Kingdom, today announced a formal process to prepare the ground for the creation of the first Trans-Atlantic trade union.
2 May 2007 30 APRIL 2007 - Steelworkers Return to Victoria: Forest Workers Continue to Meet BC MLAs Over Log Exports and Forest Policy BURNABY, BC – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) are back at the BC Legislature this week to lobby MLAs over the serious crisis in BC’s forest industry.
27 April 2007 26 APRIL 2007 - Day of Mourning: Steelworker Leaders at Rallies, Memorials across Canada TORONTO — At the end of a week in which two high-profile workplace deaths included a Toronto Transit Commission worker and an engineer on a runaway train in BC, national and international leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW) are taking part in events across Canada commemorating workers killed because of their work.
24 April 2007 13 APRIL 2007 – United Steelworkers National Policy Conference OTTAWA – Developing a Workers First Agenda locally, nationally and internationally is the goal of the United Steelworkers (USW) 50th National Policy Conference in Ottawa next week, April 17 – 19 at the Westin Hotel, 11 Colonel By Drive.
24 April 2007 13 MARCH 2007 - Steelworkers On Strike Over Basic Rights At Iron Ore Company of Canada LABRADOR CITY, NL – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Tuesday that Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) has unnecessarily forced a strike by members of USW Locals 5795 and 6731 over basic workers’ rights.
24 April 2007 16 APRIL 2007 - United Steelworkers Canadian National Policy Conference: USW and AMICUS to Make Historic Announcement Top Industrial Unions in North America and U.K. to Pursue Global Solidarity
24 April 2007 19 MARCH 2007 - ‘Election-ready’ Federal Budget Fails to Address Long Term TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said that Monday’s Conservative federal budget doesn’t do enough to address the continuing drain of jobs in manufacturing and the forest industry, and fails to address the most pressing concerns of Canada’s working families.
24 April 2007 2 APRIL 2007 - Steelworkers to Vote on Tentative Agreement Reached with CVRD-INCO SUDBURY, ON – Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 2020 will review the terms of a tentative agreement reached early Monday morning, the second day of a strike by Inco-CVRD office and technical employees
24 April 2007 20 MARCH 2007 - Steelworkers and Global Union Partners Announce Unity Accord Sudbury, ON – The United Steelworkers (USW) and unions from six of the world’s nations announced on Tuesday a new global union accord designed to advance the interests of workers employed by the rapidly growing Companhie Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD).
24 April 2007 23 MARCH 2007 – United Steelworkers to Lobby MLAs over Forestry Crisis: Forest Workers to Contact All MLAs over Log Exports and Forest Policy BURNABY BC– Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) in BC’s forest-sector will start lobbying provincial MLAs next week to address the looming crisis in BC’s number one industry.
24 April 2007 28 MARCH 2007 – Steelworkers Vote to Strike if No Deal Reached with CVRD-INCO SUDBURY, ON – Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 2020 have voted 99.1 per cent in favour of strike action if no settlement is reached with CVRD-Inco by the March 31 expiry of the office and technical workers’ current contract.
24 April 2007 3 APRIL 2007 - Solidarity Won the Day: Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with CVRD-INCO SUDBURY – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Tuesday the quick end to a strike by 330 members of USW Local 2020 was the result of strong solidarity among members of Local 2020 itself and USW Local 6500, production and maintenance workers at CVRD-INCO.
24 April 2007 4 APRIL 2007 - Striking Steelworkers Accuse Iron Ore Company of Canada of Abandoning Negotiations LABRADOR CITY, NL – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser has accused Rio Tinto-owned Iron Ore Company of Canada of wasting the union’s time and putting further hardship on workers by walking away from negotiations on Tuesday and making misleading statements to the media.
24 April 2007 7 MARCH 2007 - 7:30 a.m. THURSDAY: Steelworkers to inform public at GM Place about former Mexican President Vicente Fox VANCOUVER – Starting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, members of the United Steelworkers (USW) will distribute leaflets outside General Motors Place to inform the public about the actions of former Mexican president Vicente Fox.
18 April 2007 18 APRIL 2007 - Steelworkers Demand Fair Treatment for Women Workers at Struck Credit Union HAMILTON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser expressed outrage over Thursday’s storming of the First Ontario Credit Union (Upper Sherman Branch) by Hamilton-Wentworth police.
16 April 2007 5 APRIL 2007 – Poll Results: Steelworkers Happy that Public Supports Different Direction for BC Resource Policy BURNABY, BC –A new poll shows public support for fundamental changes in BC’s forest and resource policy, say the United Steelworkers (USW).
16 April 2007 5 APRIL 2007 – Sudden Closure of Genfast Manufacturing Outrageous say Steelworkers HAMILTON – Thursday’s closure of Genfast Manufacturing Company in Brantford is a terrible and unnecessary blow to the 210 people who are losing their jobs when the doors are locked later today.
10 April 2007 10 APRIL 2007 – Steelworkers Call on Goodyear to Live Up to Agreement and Preserve Jobs TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser says Goodyear Canada Inc. and any successor owner of the company’s Engineered Products Division (EPD) must live up to the spirit of the agreement reached in January to maintain plant security.
4 April 2007 4 APRIL 2007 – Steelworkers Demand Governments Live Up To Commitment To Keep Railcar Production In Nova Scotia TRENTON, NS – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Wednesday that the announced closure by Greenbrier Companies of its Trenton Works railcar facility in Trenton, NS, must be met with action by all levels of government to maintain production and prevent the plant from closing.
2 April 2007 28 MARCH 2007 - Steelworkers Ratify Two-Year Agreement with Upholstery-Maker Morbern, Inc. CORNWALL, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Wednesday that members of USW Local 9343 have ratified a two-year agreement with Morbern, Inc., providing increases to wages and benefits and a number of other improvements.
23 March 2007 22 MARCH 2007 – McGuinty Pre-election Budget Misses the Mark on Manufacturing and Job Loss - Steelworkers TORONTO –Thursday’s Ontario budget completely fails to address the jobs crisis in the province's manufacturing and forest sectors, says United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser.
18 March 2007 16 MARCH 2007 - 'Global' Union Meeting in Sudbury March 18-21: CVRD Workers to Arrive in Sudbury on Sunday TORONTO/SUDBURY, ON – Union members representing CVRD workers in Brazil, New Caledonia, Mozambique and Canada will start arriving in Sudbury this weekend in advance of a three-day meeting to plan strategies that put the interests of CVRD workers and their communities front and centre for the growing corporation.
8 March 2007 8 MARCH 2007 – Steelworkers and Trenton Works talks break down, strike could begin on Monday TRENTON, NS – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Thursday that contract talks between USW Local 1231 and Trenton Works Ltd. have broken down and the union has issued strike notice to begin as early as Monday if no settlement is reached.
28 February 2007 28 FEBRUARY 2007 - Hamilton Steelworkers to Celebrate International Women's Day with Breakfast to Honour USW Pioneer HAMILTON – Hamilton Steelworkers will celebrate International Women’s Day this Sunday, March 4, with a breakfast named to honour the late Norma Berti, a long-time union activist in Local 1005.
27 February 2007 27 FEBRUARY 2007 - ‘Global’ Union Meeting in Sudbury March 18-21: CVRD Workers Confront Corporate Growth TORONTO/SUDBURY, ON – Unions representing CVRD workers in Brazil, New Caledonia, Mozambique and Canada will be in Sudbury March 18-21 to plan strategies that will put the interests of CVRD workers and their communities front and centre for the growing corporation.
23 February 2007 10 FEBRUARY 2007 - Strategic Alliance Since 2006: Steelworkers Stand Behind Striking CN Workers TORONTO – United Steelworkers (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Saturday that the union stands firmly behind 2,800 striking members of the United Transportation Union (UTU), who began strike action at midnight against Canadian National Railway.
23 February 2007 21 February 2007 - An Open Letter to the Members of the United Transportation Union (UTU)
23 February 2007 21 February 2007 – Steelworkers call on Federal Conservatives to let CN and UTU negotiate a settlement to Rail Strike TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Wednesday that the Harper Government has no moral right to legislate striking members of the United Transportation Union back to work, contradicting the decision earlier this week by the Canada Industrial Relations Board to uphold the legality of the strike.
21 February 2007 21 February 2007 – Neumann thanks Steelworkers for supporting ACTRA Toronto, ON - Following several days of negotiations the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA), Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec (APFTQ) and ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) today announced that they have reached a renewed Independent Production Agreement (IPA).
13 February 2007 12 February 2007 – Steelworkers Urge Immediate Action on Coastal Forest Crisis BURNABY, BC – Current government policy cannot solve the problems affecting the BC Coastal forestry industry, say the United Steelworkers.
7 February 2007 7 FEBRUARY 2007 – Steelworkers Slam BC Premier For Mill Closure As Log Exports Continue to Skyrocket BURNABY, BC – BC Premier Gordon Campbell continues to remain silent while Western Forest Products Inc. permanently closes its most profitable manufacturing operation, says United Steelworkers’ (USW) Western Canada Director Steve Hunt.
5 February 2007 4 FEBRUARY 2007 - Former Steelworker President George Becker Dies Pittsburgh -- George Becker, a second-generation steelworker who became the sixth international president of the United Steelworkers (USW), died Saturday at his home in Gibsonia, Pa., surrounded by his family, following a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 78.
1 February 2007 29 JANUARY 2007 - Workers at Bell Pole Canada Inc. Win Vote to be Represented by United Steelworkers EDMONTON, AB – Workers at Bell Pole Canada Inc. have voted to join the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1-207.
30 January 2007 30 JANUARY 2007 – Settlement Averts Strike At Esco Engineered Products PORT HOPE, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Tuesday that members of USW Local 7175 have voted in favour of a three-year collective agreement with Esco Engineered Products.
26 January 2007 26 JANUARY 2007 – Steelworkers Pledge Support For Mine Mill/CAW Union In Talks With Xstrata PLC SUDBURY, ON - The United Steelworkers (USW) and USW Local 6500 have offered full support to Mine Mill/CAW Local 598 in its bargaining with Xstrata PLC.
12 January 2007 9 JANUARY 2007 - Steelworkers Stand Behind Striking Canadian Actors: ACTRA Negotiations Plummet TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Monday that the first strike in 64 years by Canada’s film and television performers would not have begun if independent producers recognized the value they get from Canadian performers.
2 January 2007 2 JANUARY 2007 - Steelworkers Thank Thousands who Supported Goodyear Strikers: 86-Day Strike Ends with Settlement Ratification TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Monday that last week’s ratification of the continent-wide agreement with Goodyear Tire and Rubber would not have been achieved without the support of thousands of working people, their organizations and others who supported the Goodyear strikers in Canada.
22 December 2006 22 DECEMBER 2006 - STEEWORKERS STAND BEHIND CANADIAN ACTORS - ACTRA negotiations with producers on the rocks TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Friday the 280,000-member union stands fully behind Canadian actors poised to take strike action following the breakdown of negotiations with producers demanding next to no pay increases along with other concessions.
15 December 2006 14 DECEMBER 2006 – Implement Measures To Encourage BC Manufacturing Now, Say Steelworkers BURNABY, BC – Although the United Steelworkers says it needs time to fully digest a report on log exports in BC, the union says forest and range minister Rich Coleman should implement some of its suggestions as soon as possible.
12 December 2006 7 DECEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Raise Money At Plant Gates To Support Goodyear Strikers SUDBURY, SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – In a week of raising funds through plant gate collections in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, members of the United Steelworkers (USW) gave more than $15,000 toward supporting striking Goodyear workers and their families.
8 December 2006 7 December 2006 - INVISTA Employees Reach Out To Steelworkers Union KINGSTON, ON - Employees at INVISTA’s Kingston plant will soon be receiving information about the United Steelworkers.
8 December 2006 8 DECEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers’ Demonstration Kick Starts A Return To Bargaining With Greenbrier Companies TRENTON, NS – A march through Trenton by members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 1231, which followed a refusal earlier this week to even vote on the ‘final’ offer from Greenbrier Companies at the Trenton car works plant was enough to get the company back to the bargaining table, starting Jan. 8, 2007.
6 December 2006 5 DECEMBER 2006 - Thinking globally, acting locally: Steelworkers continue to grow at CVRD Inco in Labrador and Welcome Brazilian Unionists to Sudbury TORONTO – Union leaders from Brazil will be in Sudbury this week as part of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) global outreach to workers employed by Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) outside Canada.
1 December 2006 1 DECEMBER 2006 - STEELWORKERS’ Anti-Goodyear Message Rolling in Ottawa, Regina on Saturday Ottawa, Regina – The campaign asking Canadians to refuse to buy Goodyear Tire and Rubber products until the strike involving 15,000 families across North America is settled will be going to Ottawa and Regina this weekend.
29 November 2006 29 NOVEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Raising Funds for Goodyear Strikers SUDBURY, ON – Following on the heels of last weekend’s demonstrations at local tire stores, when customers were asked not to buy Goodyear tires, members of the United Steelworkers (USW) in Sudbury will be pitching in on Thursday (Nov. 30) in a plant gate fundraising effort for the 15,000 families on strike against Goodyear Tire and Rubber across North America.
28 November 2006 21 NOVEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Collective Agreement with Scapa Tapes RENFREW, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Tuesday that members of USW Local 6946 have ratified a new, three-year agreement with Scapa Tapes, part of British-based multinational Scapa Group PLC, maker of standard and custom-engineered adhesive films, tapes and compounds.
28 November 2006 23 NOVEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers to Bring Goodyear Boycott Message to GM OSHAWA on Friday TORONTO – On Friday, Nov. 24, starting at 6:30 a.m., members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) from the Toronto area will distribute information on the seven-week continent-wide strike against Goodyear Tire and Rubber at gates of the General Motors Oshawa plant.
28 November 2006 28 NOVEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Prendiville Industries BIRCH RIVER, MB – In a community near the gateway to the Manitoba parkland region, about six hours northwest of Winnipeg, members of the United Steelworkers (USW) have unanimously voted yes to a new five-year agreement with Prendiville Industries.
21 November 2006 17 NOVEMBER 2006 - Who is Making Your Goodyear Tires? Get the Full Story at Goodyear Tire Demonstrations TORONTO, HAMILTON, VANCOUVER - Will defective tires find their way to Goodyear stores? That’s a question to ask your tire salesman. Some 15,000 experienced workers at Goodyear have been forced out on strike due to the company’s demands to gut their healthcare, close factories and import tires from China and other low-wage countries.
16 November 2006 16 NOVEMBER 2006 - Western Forest Products shuts mills, sells logs: PROVINCE NEEDS TO ACT TO PROTECT AND RESTORE SECTOR, SAYS STEELWORKERS
14 November 2006 13 NOVEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Won't Allow Gutting of ACTRA Contract: Million-member union supports performers in negotiations TORONTO - With more than one million active and retired members, the United Steelworkers (USW) is in support of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), during the performers’ union’s difficult negotiations with producers for a new film and television agreement.
10 November 2006 7 NOVEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Call for Government Attention to Manufacturing Crisis Following End of Corporate Tax Loophole TORONTO – Leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW) have welcomed the crackdown on income trusts announced last week in Ottawa.
10 November 2006 9 NOVEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Praise MP for Standing Up Against Softwood Sell-Out TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann says NDP MP Peter Julian (Burnaby New Westminster) deserves praise and gratitude from all Canadians for his attempt to put forward amendments to Bill C-24, the legislation to enable the deeply flawed Softwood Lumber Agreement.
8 November 2006 2 NOVEMBER 2006 – Steelworkers Help Other Facing Joblessness KITCHENER, CAMBRIDGE, ON – Steelworkers who lost their jobs when Michelin shut down its BF Goodrich tire plant in Kitchener last summer have come to the aid of a group of 500 workers whose employer shut down permanently in September.
8 November 2006 8 NOVEMBER 2006 - ON STRIKE AT NEXANS INC. SINCE JULY: steelworkers take a stand to protect defined benefit pension plans QUEBEC CITY – Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 6687, on strike against Nexans Inc. since July, got some welcome support and solidarity on Tuesday from representatives of other USW local unions at Nexans operations in Ontario and Saskatchewan.
28 October 2006 27 OCTOBER 2006 - Public Meetings Urge Rejection of Softwood Deal NANAIMO, BC – About 80 residents of Nanaimo and area who attended a public meeting on Thursday gave an overwhelming thumbs-down to the Harper-Bush softwood lumber deal, still before Parliament.
26 October 2006 26 OCTOBER 2006 - Steelworkers Applaud Anti-Scab Bill Moving to Committee Stage TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Thursday the House of Commons’ second-reading vote to move anti-scab legislation to the committee stage is good news for workers and employers covered by the Canada Labour Code.
25 October 2006 24 OCTOBER 2006 - Steelworkers Ready for CVRD-Inco Reality TORONTO/SUDBURY – Leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW) across Canada say they are ready to face the new CVRD-Inco reality with an iron-clad collective agreement in Sudbury that guarantees no layoffs and a new first contract with Voisey’s Bay Nickel that contains significant increases for the newest members of the Steelworkers ‘family’ of Inco employees.
25 October 2006 25 OCTOBER 2006 - Public Meeting to Address Softwood Deal, Crisis in Forestry Sector - Thursday, 26 October THUNDER BAY – The public is invited to share their views Thursday evening with federal and provincial politicians over the handling of the current crisis in the forest industry and the Softwood Lumber Agreement with the United States, which is currently before the Commons Standing Committee on International Trade.
20 October 2006 20 OCTOBER 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement With Canac, A Division of Kohler Co. TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Thursday that 950 members of USW Local 9492 have ratified a new collective agreement with cabinet maker Canac, a division of Kohler Co.
19 October 2006 19 OCTOBER 2006 - $70 Million To Retrain Older Workers: Too Little, Too Late, Too Short-Sighted Say Steelworkers TORONTO – United Steelworkers (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Thursday the federal government’s announced $70-million targeted to help older workers is no substitute for a real industrial strategy that creates and retains jobs.
18 October 2006 18 OCTOBER 2006 - Desjarlais The Best Person To Be Mayor of Thompson, MB Say Steelworkers VANCOUVER, TORONTO, THOMPSON – Along with Steelworker locals and the Thompson Labour Committee, District and National leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW) have thrown their full support behind Bob Desjarlais for mayor of Thompson in next week’s municipal elections.
17 October 2006 5 OCTOBER 2006 - Steelworkers Urge Calvert to Look at Withdrawing Weyerhaeuser SK Timber Rights WINNIPEG -- The United Steelworkers (USW) has asked Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert to begin the process of removing Weyerhaeuser Company’s huge timber rights in the province.
16 October 2006 14 OCTOBER 2006 - UNION BARGAINS INDUSTRY LEADING CONTRACT: Steelworkers Ratify Agreement at Highland Valley Copper KAMLOOPS, BC - Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 7619 at Teck Cominco's Highland Valley Copper mine have voted to accept a new multi-year collective agreement, which will be in place until Sept. 30, 2011.
16 October 2006 16 OCTOBER 2006 - STEELWORKERS VOW TO TAKE ON WEST FRASER - Union launches campaign as Alberta negotiations frustrated ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, ALBERTA – Negotiations between the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 1-207 and West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. took a sharp turn today, with the Steelworkers announcing the launch of a campaign against the forestry giant.
6 October 2006 5 OCTOBER 2006 - Steelworkers on Strike at Goodyear TORONTO – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) are on strike at Goodyear Tire and Rubber operations in Ontario, following the breakdown of negotiations for new collective agreements in both Canada and the US.
28 September 2006 28 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Elect Municipal Councils Who will Fight for Northern Ontario Forestry say Steelworkers THUNDER BAY – The United Steelworkers (USW) says the upcoming municipal elections are critical to putting pressure on the Ontario Government to make Northern Ontario forestry and the communities that depend on the industry a priority.
28 September 2006 28 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Feds Caught in a Web of Resistance: Still Time to Stop the Softwood Deal say Steelworkers TORONTO/OTTAWA – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Thursday the federal government is getting tangled in a web of deceit and resistance because of the haste with which it has attempted to push through Parliament its softwood lumber deal with the US in advance of a self-imposed Oct. 1 deadline.
26 September 2006 26 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Parity with Other Inco Operations: Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Voisey's Bay Nickel Co. GANDER, NL – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Tuesday that members of USW Local 6480 have said yes to a tentative agreement reached last Saturday with Inco Ltd. subsidiary Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company.
25 September 2006 19 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Report on CVRD Fact-Finding Project SUDBURY; TORONTO – After being privatized in the 1990s, the Brazilian company that seeks to take over Inco Ltd. moved towards outsourcing union jobs and restraining wage increases.
25 September 2006 23 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with Voisey's Bay Nickel ST. JOHN’S – The United Steelworkers (USW) announced Saturday that a tentative agreement has been reached with Inco Ltd. subsidiary Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company, which could end a strike that started July 28.
25 September 2006 25 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Say Gramlich Verdict Confirms Union Concerns about De-Regulation BURNABY, BC – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Western Canada Director Steve Hunt said Monday that the verdict and recommendations resulting from last week’s coroner’s inquest into the death of tree faller Ted Gramlich are a roadmap for re-regulating the forest industry.
25 September 2006 25 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers to Vote on Voisey's Bay Settlement at Goose Bay Legion Tuesday GOOSE BAY, NL – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) are scheduled to vote Tuesday starting at 11 a.m. on the tentative agreement reached Saturday with Inco Ltd. subsidiary Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company. The vote will be conducted at the Legion Hall in Goose Bay.
25 September 2006 27 JUNE 2006 - Phelps Dodge-Inco 'Engagement' Must be Challenged say Steelworkers USW STATEMENT: PHELPS-DODGE INCO ST. JOHN’S NL – Leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW) say the latest move to consolidate Canadian nickel mining is the wrong option for the Canadian resource sector and called on the federal government to support a made-in-Canada deal. A Phelps Dodge – Inco merger must be given the fullest possible review by Investment Canada, just as we demanded of Xstrata’s bid for Falconbridge.”, said USW National Director Ken Neumann, “This needs to be about Canadian control of our natural resources.”
21 September 2006 18 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway Company MONTREAL – Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Local 1976 have voted in favour of a new collective agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway Company.
18 September 2006 15 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Vote in Favour of Strike at Highland Valley Copper KAMLOOPS, BC – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 7619 have voted overwhelmingly to go on strike against Teck Cominco's Highland Valley Copper (HVC) mine, if a new contract is not reached.
13 September 2006 12 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Another Signing Won't Hide Lack of Lumber Deal Say Steelworkers TORONTO - The Canadian and US governments are signing the softwood lumber deal for the third time but there really is still no deal, say the United Steelworkers (USW).
11 September 2006 11 SEPTEMBER 2006 - 9-11 Anniversary: Union Security Officers Meet to Review Airport Security OTTAWA – Five years after 9-11, members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) Security Council Airport Screeners are meeting for two days to review the concerns they still have, including the direction of work, licensing, training, regulations and working conditions.
11 September 2006 11 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Work with Stelco Employees to Secure their Future HAMILTON; NANTICOKE, ON -- Salaried employees working at Stelco’s operations in Hamilton and Nanticoke are engaged in a campaign to join the United Steelworkers (USW). There are more than 700 office, administrative and technical staff working for Stelco in Hamilton and Nanticoke.
7 September 2006 6 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Tembec Agreement PINE FALLS, MB – An eleventh-hour settlement between the United Steelworkers (USW) and Tembec Industries Inc. has been ratified by members of Local 3-1375 ending any possibility of a lengthy strike at the Pine Falls, MB paper mill.
7 September 2006 7 SEPTEMBER 2006 - Steelworkers to confer with Brazilian workers about Companhia Vale Do Rio Doce (CVRD) SUDBURY – A United Steelworkers (USW) delegation is heading for Brazil next week to meet with workers and their unions from mining operations owned by Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD), the only bidder now left standing in the quest for control of Inco Ltd. The union’s delegation consists of members of the executive of USW Local 6500 from Inco’s Sudbury operations as well as senior bargaining and research staff. They will be attending meetings with Brazilian trade unions that represent CVRD workers across that country.
24 August 2006 23 AUGUST 2006 - Steelworkers Call on All Levels of Government to Prepare for Mine and Smelter Closure BATHURST, NB – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Wednesday that the union is anxious to involve the company, community and all levels of government as quickly as possible to ensure that members of USW Locals 5385 and 7085 are not disadvantaged by the anticipated closure of Falconbridge’s Brunswick Mine and Smelter operations.
16 August 2006 14 AUGUST 2006 - Steelworkers Want Open Dialogue with Latest Inco Suitor TORONTO – Leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW) in Canada have reviewed the latest bid to acquire Inco Ltd. by Brazilian-based Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) and say the union remains committed to principles adopted last December when a merger between Inco and Falconbridge was first proposed.
9 August 2006 9 AUGUST 2006 - Steelworkers' Fraser Calls on McGuinty to Solve Forest Crisis TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser has called on Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to meet with the union immediately and personally intervene in the crisis affecting northern communities dependant on forestry.
8 August 2006 4 AUGUST 2006 - Steelworkers Humanity Fund Donates $20,000 Toward Middle East Aid TORONTO – United Steelworkers (USW) National Director Ken Neumann announced Friday that $20,000 from the Steelworkers Humanity Fund will go towards humanitarian aid for the victims of escalating violence in Gaza, Lebanon, and Israel.
2 August 2006 1 AUGUST 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Gerdau in Canada; Gerard Slams Company’s Behavior in U.S. SELKIRK, MB – Members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 8740 at Gerdau Ameristeel’s Manitoba Metals in St. Andrews ratified a new collective agreement on Monday by a 57 per cent margin. The agreement covers 87 workers in the scrap prep facility that serves as a feeder for the company’s Selkirk mill, according to USW representative Tony Sproule.
1 August 2006 28 JUNE 2006 - Steelworkers Demand Flaherty Resignation St. John’s NL - The United Steelworkers (USW) is calling for the resignation of federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. On Tuesday, Flaherty joked about the dangers facing thousands of working people across Canada. He dismissed their worries about the effects of a possible takeover of Inco by the Arizona-based Phelps Dodge by saying, “I haven’t heard any suggestions that they are going to move the mines”.
30 July 2006 28 JULY 2006 - Steelworkers Greet Supreme Court of Canada Ruling: Courts Can't Rule on Successor Rights in Bankruptcies TORONTO, ON – Steelworkers National Director Ken Neumann says that a Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) Decision over union successor rights in the case of bankruptcies, released on Thursday, constitutes an important victory for trade unions in Canada.
28 July 2006 28 JULY 2006 - Forward, Not Backward: Steelworkers Launch Contract Negotiations with Goodyear TORONTO -- An exchange of contract proposals has taken place between the United Steelworkers (USW) and Goodyear Canada on behalf of about 1,000 Canadian employees of the world’s largest tire and rubber and company.
28 July 2006 28 JULY 2006 - Voisey's Bay: Steelworkers Say After Falconbridge Loss Inco Missteps in Labrador GOOSE BAY,NL; SUDBURY, ON – United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Friday that Inco Ltd. is on the wrong side of the track and it is time for the company to get its act together.
26 July 2006 26 JULY 2006 - Xstrata Still Wrong for Canada says Steelworkers Union TORONTO – The decision by Investment Canada to approve Swiss-based Xstrata PLC’s bid to buy Falconbridge is wrong for Canada, says the United Steelworkers union.
25 July 2006 20 JULY 2006 - Steelworkers Pride: Steelworkers to Attend Workers Out Conference TORONTO – Members of the United Steelworkers will be active participants in Workers Out!, the third international conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender trade unionists and their allies.
7 July 2006 6 JULY 2006 - United Transporation Union Signs Strategic Alliance with Steelworkers' Union (USW) TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann and Tim Secord, Canadian Legislative Director for the United Transportation Union (UTU) announced Thursday that the two unions have agreed to a strategic alliance to address a range of common issues in the transportation sector in Canada and the US, including the globalization of the industry.
5 July 2006 4 JULY 2006 - Extending Investment Canada Review of Xstrata a Good First Step, Now do the Same with Phelps Dodge: Steelworkers TORONTO – Two weeks after rank-and-file lobbyists met with politicians of all political parties to press for an extension of Investment Canada’s review of Xstrata PLC’s hostile takeover bid for Falconbridge, United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Tuesday the announcement that the review would indeed be extended is good news for Canada.
5 July 2006 4 JULY 2006 - Steelworkers Support NDP Call for Commons Debate: Softwood Deal Gives Up too Much to US VANCOUVER – Speaking from British Columbia, where 50 per cent of softwood exports to the US originate, United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann says the latest softwood lumber agreement is “a sell-out of Canadian interests”. Meanwhile, Neumann said the USW supports a call by NDP leader Jack Layton for an emergency session of Parliament to debate the deal.
23 June 2006 23 JUNE 2006 - Bargaining Issues, Political Action, Retirement Security, All Part of Steelworkers Conference TORONTO/ST. JOHN’S – The 509th birthday of the City of St. John’s will form the backdrop to this year’s United Steelworkers (USW) District 6 Conference, where an anticipated 400 delegates from Ontario and Atlantic Canada will focus on bargaining issues such as the trend to employer demands for two-tier wages and benefits.
22 June 2006 22 JUNE 2006 - Steelworker Pride: Union Members to Parade with Pride on Sunday TORONTO – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) are regular participants in the parade that marks the end of Pride Week in the Greater Toronto Area.
22 June 2006 22 JUNE 2006 - Steelworkers Favour Made-in-Canada Solution for Falconbridge OTTAWA – Approval by Investment Canada of a foreign hostile takeover of Canadian mining company Falconbridge threatens the Canadian mining industry and several communities that depend on it, says the United Steelworkers (USW).
21 June 2006 21 JUNE 2006 - Steelworkers Lobbying MPs to Support Intensive Review of Xstrata PLC Bid for Falconbridge Ltd. OTTAWA – Leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW), along with workers from Inco and Falconbridge operations in four provinces, and workers from an Xstrata-connected aluminium plant in Ravenswood, WV, will hold a news conference on Thursday to explain this week’s lobby on Parliament Hill to ensure that Investment Canada’s review of Xstrata PLC’s hostile bid to control Falconbridge Ltd. is full and extensive.
16 June 2006 15 JUNE 2006 - Competiton Bureau Ruling No Green Light for Xstrata - Steelworkers TORONTO -- Thursday’s ruling by the Canadian Competition Bureau that there are no competition and antitrust concerns triggered by Swiss-based Xstrata PLC’s hostile attempt to buy Falconbridge is not news, says the United Steelworkers (USW).
13 June 2006 13 JUNE 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Elk Valley Coal Corporation SPARWOOD, BC - Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9346 have ratified a five-year agreement with Elk Valley Coal Corporation (EVCC) at its Elkview operations.
12 June 2006 12 JUNE 2006 - National Debate Opens on Human Rights and Environmental Standards for Mining and Energy Companies TORONTO/VANCOUVER/OTTAWA -- Canadian civil society organizations are calling on the government to move beyond voluntary measures to ensure that Canadian mining, oil and gas companies uphold international human rights and environmental standards while operating abroad.
12 June 2006 Government Roundtables on Extractive Industries and Corporate Social Responsibility Briefing Note, June 2006 Canadian extractive companies, including mining, oil and gas, have been implicated in well-documented cases of human rights violations and environmental disasters abroad. These violations by Canadian companies include toxic dumping, the destruction of protected areas, forcible displacement of indigenous peoples, and threats and intimidation of local communities.
9 June 2006 8 JUNE 2006 - Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with Elk Valley Coal Corporation SPARWOOD, BC - Representatives for United Steelworkers Local 9346 (USW) at the Elk Valley Coal Corporation's (EVCC) Elkview operations, announced Thursday that a tentative collective agreement has been reached with the employer.
7 June 2006 6 JUNE 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Highland Transport MONTREAL -- Members of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) 1976 have ratified a new, three-year collective agreement with Markham-Ontario-based Highland Transport.
5 June 2006 5 JUNE 2006 - Steelworkers Applaud Industry Committee's Unanimous Support for Full Review of Xstrata PLC TORONTO-- The United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser and National Director Ken Neumann said Monday the union believes last week’s unanimous decision by the House of Commons industry committee to support an extension of Investment Canada’s review of Xstrata PLC’s bid for Falconbridge Ltd. is the right thing to do.
2 June 2006 2 JUNE 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Cleaver Brooks of Canada Limited STRATFORD, ON – United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Friday that embers of the United Steelworkers’ Local 7257 have ratified a new collective agreement with Cleaver Brooks of Canada Limited.
1 June 2006 31 MAY 2006 - Mexican Union Leader Seeking Support Not Asylum OTTAWA - United Steelworkers’ National Director Ken Neumann said Wednesday that rumours circulating in Mexico that union leader Napoleon Gomez Urrutia is seeking political asylum in Canada are false and diverting attention away from the issue of seeking justice and reinstatement for Gomez as the democratically-elected leader of the National Union of Mine and Metallurgical Workers of the Mexican Republic (known as Los Mineros).
1 June 2006 31 MAY 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Inco Ltd. SUDBURY, ON - Members of the United Steelworkers’ Locals 6500 (Sudbury) and 6200 (Port Colborne) have ratified a new, three-year agreement with Inco Ltd. averting a strike that would have started at midnight Wednesday if the deal had been rejected.
31 May 2006 30 MAY 2006 - Inco Settlement: The Right Time, The Right Deal Say Steelworkers SUDBURY, ON – With membership information meetings wrapping up Tuesday, and a vote scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday May 31), United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser revealed some of the details outlined in a tentative three-year agreement with Inco Ltd. at its operations in Sudbury and Port Colborne, ON.
29 May 2006 29 MAY 2006 - Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with Inco: Members Vote Wednesday SUDBURY, ON – United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday that after 24 hours of mediated talks and a strike deadline of midnight Wednesday, a tentative agreement has been reached with Inco Ltd.
25 May 2006 24 MAY 2006 - Raglan Mine: Steelworkers Accept a New Labour Contract Rouyn-Noranda - The 300 Steelworkers at the Raglan Mine voted 60% in favour of a new five-year labour contract this morning. The new contract provides for wage increases in the order of 3% each year, including bonuses, over a five-year period. “Negotiations were arduous, lasting a total of twenty days.
24 May 2006 17 MAY 2006 - Xstrata: Wrong for Falconbridge, Workers and Sudbury SUDBURY, ON - United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Wednesday that the long-anticipated bid by Xstrata Plc to overtake Falconbridge is “a nightmare come true” and cannot be allowed to proceed.
24 May 2006 19 MAY 2006 - Steelworkers Accept Agreement with St. John's Dockyard Ltd. ST. JOHN’S - United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Friday that members of USW Local 9503 have voted to accept the latest contract offer from St. John’s Dockyard Ltd., in advance of the previous contract expiry date of June 30.
19 May 2006 18 MAY 2006 - Steelworkers' Transportation Council: CATSA Needs to do More to Train, Retain Security Screeners OTTAWA – The United Steelworkers (USW), the largest union in Canada’s security sector, together with the union’s Transportation Council, has told an advisory panel reviewing the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) that not enough has been done to stabilize and standardize the environment in which airport security screeners do their work.
12 May 2006 12 MAY 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify First Agreement with Sudbury CIBC SUDBURY, ON - United Steelworkers’ (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Friday that 66 workers at five CIBC branches in Sudbury now have a first contract with the bank following Thursday’s ratification of the agreement reached earlier that day.
9 May 2006 5 MAY 2006 - Steelworkers to Protest Gerdau Ameristeel's Demand for Sweeping Concessions TORONTO - Steelworkers from Canada, the US, Chile and Brazil will protest Brazil-owned Gerdau-Ameristeel’s 19th-century-style labour relations and the negative impact on shareholders at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting next Wednesday, May 10.
9 May 2006 8 MAY 2006 - Merger/Takeover Drama Backdrop for Bargaining with Inco Ltd. TORONTO/SUDBURY – Leaders of the United Steelworkers said Monday that, regardless of the unfolding story of merger and control of Inco or Falconbridge, the most important job for the union is to conclude a strong collective agreement with Inco in Sudbury and Port Colborne, Ontario, by the time the current contracts expire on May 31.
9 May 2006 9 MAY 2006 - Steelworkers' Protest Against Steelmaker Gerdau to Focus on Slave Labour, Environmental Abuses TORONTO -United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Tuesday that tomorrow’s early morning protest at Gerdau-Ameristeel’s annual meeting will focus on Gerdau’s long-established record of renegade behaviour wherever the company operates.
4 May 2006 4 MAY 2006 - Steelworkers Elect New Leadership for Fraser Valley Local BURNABY, BC - United Steelworker Western Canada Director Steve Hunt said Thursday that election results for a large USW local union in the Fraser Valley signals the return to a fully-operational, member-driven local following a period of trusteeship that began in June, 2005.
3 May 2006 2 MAY 2006 - First Conservative Budget Fails Working Families TORONTO - United Steelworkers’ National Director Ken Neumann said late Tuesday that Canadian working families have been collectively short-changed by the first Conservative budget
1 May 2006 27 APRIL 2006 - Following the Reopening of the Almassa Sawmill in Baie-Trinité Steelworkers Negotiate a New Labour Contract
28 April 2006 26 APRIL 2006 - USW Negotiations with CIBC Enter Monetary Phase
28 April 2006 27 APRIL 2006 - Softwood Lumber 'Framework' Agreement Has No Legitimacy TORONTO - With more than 55,000 members in the forest industry across Canada, leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW) say the hastily announced framework agreement with the United States on softwood lumber was made at the expense of and without consultation with workers and their communities.
28 April 2006 28 APRIL 2006 - Day of Mourning - An International Day of Reflection say Steelworkers TORONTO—Following the deaths of 65 Mexican miners in February and the murder of two striking steelworkers by Mexican authorities last week, United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said today that the April 28th Day of Mourning is also a day to reflect on all workers everywhere who are killed, injured or made sick as a result of their work.
27 April 2006 26 APRIL 2006 - $5 Billion in Duties from Softwood Lumber Agreement Must be Returned to Workers and Communities Labour calls for fund to be set aside for strategic investments in long-term sustainability of forest industry
26 April 2006 19 APRIL 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Deloro Stellite BELLEVILLE, ON - United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Thursday that a strike has been averted at Deloro Stellite in Belleville with the ratification by the Steelworkers' Local 5533 of a new three-year collective agreement.
26 April 2006 26 APRIL 2006 - Steelworkers Call for Peace, Not Provocation in Land Claims Dispute TORONTO - United Steelworkers’ National Director Ken Neumann said Wednesday that the large number of Steelworker members who live in Caledonia and on the Six Nations Reserve make it important for the union to have a position regarding the stand-off over land claims in the troubled community.
25 April 2006 25 APRIL 2006 - Bilingual Activist, Educator Appointed Assistant to United Steelworkers Director for Western Canada BURNABY, BC - United Steelworkers (USW) District Director Steve Hunt is pleased to announce the appointment of Carol Landry as assistant to the director for Western Canada and the Northern Territories.
19 April 2006 19 APRIL 2006 - Reinstate Napoleon Gomez: Steelworkers Rally at Three Mexican Consulates TORONTO, MONTREAL, VANCOUVER - United Steelworkers’ National Director Ken Neumann announced early today that union members and supporters will rally at noon (Wednesday, April 19) in front of Mexican consulates in three cities to call on the Mexican government to re-instate Napoleon Gomez, the democratically elected leader of the National Union of Mine and Metallurgical Workers of the Mexican Republic (known as Los Mineros).
10 April 2006 7 APRIL 2006 - Steelworkers Tackle Long Hauling Hours and Fatigue for Truckers BURNABY, BC – Determined efforts are needed to reduce the long hours that endanger truck drivers in BC, say the United Steelworkers. In a submission on truckers' hours of work released today, the Steelworkers call on the provincial government to improve on recent federal government hours-of-service regulations.
4 April 2006 4 APRIL 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Cooper Standard Automotive STRATFORD, ON - Members of the United Steelworkers’ Local 168 have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with their employer, Cooper Standard Automotive.
3 April 2006 31 MARCH 2006 - Steelworkers Cautiously Optimistic with Government's Response to Forest Safety Lobby BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA – United Steelworkers Western Canadian director Stephen Hunt says that the union’s two-week lobby of BC MLAs in Victoria is paying off.
31 March 2006 29 MARCH 2006 - Michelin Loan Scheme a Non-Starter says Steelworkers' Wayne Fraser TORONTO/ KITCHENER, ON - United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Wednesday that tire giant Michelin’s announcement of a loan program to offset the effect to the community of closing the BFGoodrich plant this summer is nothing but a smokescreen.
28 March 2006 23 MARCH 2006 - Steelworkers say Budget Fails to Take Action on Crisis in Manufacturing, Forestry TORONTO - The Ontario Liberal government completely failed in Thursday’s budget to take effective action in response to a growing jobs crisis in manufacturing and forestry, said United Steelworkers’ Ontario Director Wayne Fraser.
28 March 2006 28 MARCH 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Significant Contact Improvements at Haley Industries Limited RENFREW, Ontario - After rejecting an earlier offer by the company and averting a strike through provincial mediation services, United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director announced that the 437 members of Local 4820 have ratified a three-year contract at Haley Industries Limited - a division of Magellan Aerospace Corporation.
28 March 2006 28 MARCH 2006 - Steelworkers Sign Good Agreement with Trimag HALEY, Ontario - United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Tuesday the ratification of a three-year agreement by the members of Local 6946 at Trimag, a company in limited partnership with Spectra Premium Industries Inc.
22 March 2006 22 MARCH 2006 - Steelworkers say Forest-Sector Workers Deadly Serious on Safety VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The United Steelworkers say forest-sector workers are prepared to take extremely strong measures to ensure that forest companies clean-up their safety practices.
21 March 2006 13 MARCH 2006 - Workers Win Steelworker Union Representation at West Fraser Subsidiary ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, AB - The Alberta Labour Relations Board has granted the United Steelworkers (USW) the legal right to be the bargaining agent for more than 160 workers at Sundre Forest Products Inc., a subsidiary of West Fraser Timber.
20 March 2006 17 MARCH 2006 - Powerless Ombudsman Not the Answer to Forest Fatality Woes Say Steelworkers BURNABY, BC - The new Forest Safety Ombudsman is not the answer to the BC forest industry’s massive safety problems, say the United Steelworkers (USW).
20 March 2006 20 MARCH 2006 - Workers at Voisey's Bay Getting their Union and it's the Steelworkers VOISEY’S BAY, NL – United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Monday that workers providing contract services to Inco-owned Voisey’s Bay Nickel are gathering steam as they vote to join the Steelworkers’ union (USW).
17 March 2006 17 MARCH 2006 - Steelworkers Recognize Anti-Racism with Weekend Events in Toronto and Mississauga TORONTO, MISSISSAUGA – The United Steelworkers is hosting two simultaneous events on Sunday, March 19th, to recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
10 March 2006 10 MARCH 2006 - Steelworkers Oppose Possible XSTRATA Bid for Falconbridge; No Benefits to Workers; Anti-Union Background SUDBURY, ON - The United Steelworkers has restated its opposition to Xstrata PLC trying to swallow Falconbridge Ltd.
10 March 2006 10 MARCH 2006 - What's in Store for Northern Mills, Steelworkers ask Weyerhaeuser VANCOUVER, B.C. - The United Steelworkers want assurances that Weyerhaeuser Company’s northern sawmills will continue to operate should the Prince Albert pulp and paper mill cease operations.
9 March 2006 9 MARCH 2006 - Steelworkers International Women's Day Breakfast: All you can eat for a good cause TORONTO - Celebrating 12 years of food and fellowship, the United Steelworkers’ Toronto Area Council is hosting its annual "Mary Spratt" Breakfast on Saturday, March 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the United Steelworkers’ Hall, 25 Cecil Street, Toronto.
5 March 2006 1 MARCH 2006 - Steelworkers Installation of Officers Celebrates Unprecedented Growth and Member Diversity 60% growth strengthens influence in wide range of industries - Pittsburgh - Citing a 60-per-cent increase in the union’s membership during his first full term in office, United Steelworkers’ (USW) President Leo W. Gerard said Wednesday that the union’s renewed growth across a wide range of industries means the USW is “stronger at the bargaining table and more powerful politically,” despite the general decline in the ranks of organized labour.
1 March 2006 27 FEBRUARY 2006 - Steelworkers Urge Early Coroner Appointment and Fatality Review The BC government should speed up the hiring of a special coroner for the forest industry so that a review of firms with serious safety records can commence, say the United Steelworkers. In a letter to forest minister Rich Coleman, the union urged the minister to ensure that the hiring process for the special coroner announced on January 18, 2006, should be speeded up to deal with a growing backlog of fatality cases.
27 February 2006 24 FEBRUARY 2006 - McGuinty Helps Companies but Not Workers or their Communities TORONTO - Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s latest aid package for forest companies might help the company’s bottom line but it does not offer a long-term solution to the problems facing industry workers and communities, say the United Steelworkers.
15 February 2006 14 FEBRUARY 2006 - As INCO/Falco Merger Proceeds, Financial Picture Good News for 2006 Bargaining TORONTO/SUDBURY - United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Tuesday that Inco Ltd.’s strong 2005 results and projected performance through the first quarter of ’06 will set the stage for successful collective bargaining in Sudbury this spring.
10 February 2006 9 FEBRUARY 2006 - What about the Forest Industry? Steelworkers Call Queen's Park Energy Announcement Pitiful TORONTO -United Steelworkers-IWA Council Chair Norm Rivard said Thursday’s Queen’s Park announcement on electricity pricing does not address the critical situation in the Northern Ontario forest industry.
8 February 2006 6 FEBRUARY 2006 Two School Assemblies Targeted on Tuesday, Feb. 7: Toronto Area Steelworkers Provide Culturally Relevant Books for Black History Month TORONTO - February is Black History month and the United Steelworkers Toronto Area Council has entered into a partnership with the bookstore, A Different Booklist, to provide culturally relevant books to young people in their schools.
8 February 2006 8 FEBRUARY 2006 - Steelworkers Ratify Agreement with Tamarack Lumber BURLINGTON, ON - United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Wednesday that members of the Steelworkers’ Local 16506-32 have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new three-year collective agreement with Tamarack Lumber.
3 February 2006 3 FEBRUARY 2006 - Steelworkers Call Court Decision and Government Inaction a Blow to Northern Survival TIMMINS/KAPUSKASING, ON - The United Steelworkers’ Local 1-2995 says another blow to the survival of northern forest communities has been dealt by an Ontario Superior Court decision that says reallocating timber and closing sawmills does not require an amendment to the Forest Management Agreement for the Gordon Cosens Forest.
2 February 2006 2 FEBRUARY 2005 - Steelworkers Call for Resignation of Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay: Wayne Fraser TORONTO -United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser is calling for the resignation of Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay following remarks made by the minister, blaming workers and their families for the crisis in the Northern Ontario forest industry, which includes the loss of thousands of jobs.
2 February 2006 2 FEBRUARY 2006 - Outrageous: Steelworkers Aim to Stop BFGoodrich Plans TORONTO - United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Thursday the announcement by Michelin North America (Canada) Inc. that it will close its BFGoodrich tire plant in Kitchener is a terrible blow to the community, and a decision that should be reversed.
30 January 2006 22 JANUARY 2006 - Tolko is Staying in Manitoba,Thanks to Joint Effort THE PAS, MB -- An unprecedented effort by all stakeholders, including the Government of Manitoba, the town of The Pas, the United Steelworkers, CEP, and the company has created a viable blueprint for survival for the 280 jobs at the Tolko operations in The Pas and surrounding areas.
25 January 2006 26 JANUARY 2006 - Steelworkers Join Forces Against Elk Valley Coal Corporation ELKFORD, BC - Two locals of the United Steelworkers in the Elk Valley, Fording River Local 7884 and Elkview Local 9346, met for three days this week to discuss and coordinate common bargaining issues and strategies for upcoming negotiations with Elk Valley Coal Corporation (EVCC).
24 January 2006 20 JANUARY 2006 - Steelworkers Welcome Government Announcement of Coroner to Investigate Forest Industry Fatalities BURNABY, BC - Yesterday, unionized workers welcomed an announcement that the BC government will appoint a coroner responsible for investigating deaths in the forest industry. "This is one of the things we asked for when we brought industry representatives together last December 5, at the BC Forest Fatality Summit," Steelworkers Western Canada Director Steve Hunt noted. "It is one of a series of immediate measures we believe are needed to stop the killing in the forests, roads and mills."
24 January 2006 24 JANUARY 2006 - Steelworkers Call for Compensation Reform in Newfoundland Otherwise injured workers doomed to a life of pain and poverty ST. JOHN’S – United Steelworkers’ Assistant Ontario/Atlantic Director Marie Kelly has told a committee reviewing Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health, Safety and Compensation system that, despite the highest average employer assessment rates in the country, the province has the lowest maximum ceiling on compensation benefits.
18 January 2006 18 JANUARY 2006 - Steelworkers say BC Forestry Safety Council Must Reconsider "Self-Regulation" VANCOUVER - United Steelworkers’ Western Canada Director Steve Hunt said Wednesday that unionized forest-sector workers in BC are disappointed with some of the latest BC Forest Safety Council proposals, citing the industry-dominated safety body’s insufficient coordination with the union or the former Workers’ Compensation Board, now Worksafe BC.
16 January 2006 16 JANUARY 2006 - Steelworkers Win First Contract with TD-Canada Trust SUDBURY, ON - United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday the ratification of a first contract by employees of TD-Canada Trust in Sudbury. The agreement, reached Sunday, and subsequent ratification averts a strike that would have started at midnight Sunday.
12 January 2006 12 JANUARY 2006 - Feb 28 Date to Hear Steelworkers' Motion Against Paulson & Co. Today, the Honourable Madam Justice Pardu of the Superior Court of Justice set Tuesday, February 28, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. to hear the United Steelworkers’ motion for an injunction against Paulson & Co. Inc. and Algoma Steel Inc. The hearing will be held at the Court House in Sault Ste. Marie, ON
11 January 2006 11 JANUARY 2006 - Steelworkers Start Work on 2007 Negotiations: Contract, Government Policies Need to Change, says Hunt VICTORIA, BC - Steelworkers in British Columbia's forest sector have begun debating strategies for province-wide contract bargaining.
11 January 2006 11 JANUARY 2006 - Steelworkers on the Verge of Strike Against TD Canada Trust, with Full Support of International Union PITTSBURGH, SUDBURY, ON - United Steelworkers’ International President and Sudbury native Leo Gerard said Wednesday that the successful negotiation of a first contract for 114 workers at TD-Canada Trust branches in Sudbury is important for the Steelworkers’ union, so important that Gerard has said the union supports its members all the way.
11 January 2006 11 JANUARY 2006 - Waltec Forgings Inc. In Bankruptcy Protection: Steelworkers Aim to Protect Jobs, Pensions WALLACEBURG, ON - United Steelworkers Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Wednesday the entrance by Waltec Forgings into bankruptcy protection under the Companies Creditors’ Arrangement Act (CCAA) must involve the union as a major stakeholder.
7 January 2006 5 JANUARY 2006 - Steelworkers Issue 72 Hours Notice to Strike at Laidlaw Education Services AMHERST, NS - United Steelworkers’ Atlantic/Ontario Director Wayne Fraser announced Thursday that members of Local 6551 have issued 72-hours’ strike notice to Laidlaw Education Services. Employees took a strike vote in November, vowing to take action if the company did not improve an offer containing very little wage increases and no benefits.
7 January 2006 6 JANUARY 2006 - Steelworkers Call for Fair Severance, Termination Pay Following Closure of Mahle Engine Components Canada Inc. GANANOQUE, ON - Nearly a month after workers arrived for their shift to find the plant padlocked, United Steelworkers Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said international automotive supplier Mahle Engine Components can afford to provide decent severance and termination pay to members of Local 3208.
4 January 2006 4 JANUARY 2006 - ALGOMA: Steelworkers File for Injunction to Protect Company Sault Ste. Marie ON - The United Steelworkers today applied for a court injunction to block a scheme by hedge fund manager Paulson & Co. that would threaten Algoma Steel’s economic viability

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