Health, Safety & the Environment News
Five Fatalities at One Factory is Five Too Many: Steelworkers
This week’s fifth gruesome fatality of a temporary agency worker at Fiera Foods Group’s bakery facility in North York is another tragic reason to better enforce 2004 Criminal Code amendments, known as the Westray Law.
Steelworkers Support and Applaud Climate Day of Action
“We stand with the youth of the world who are taking to the streets to urge our leaders to commit to fighting climate change.” - Ken Neumann
Locked-Out New Brunswick Workers Build Solidarity in Colombia
Workers from Glencore operations in 12 countries build solidarity for workplace health and safety.
Westray Lessons Still Not Learned in Nova Scotia: Steelworkers’ Director Marty Warren
“No one, especially family members, should have to resort to filing a freedom-of-information request to find out the details of a loved one’s death.” - Marty Warren
New Training Brings Awareness on How to Address Mental Health Challenges
Members at Scapa Tapes in Renfrew, Ontario recently participated in a mental health training session offered and negotiated by the union.
United Steelworkers Welcomes Criminal Charges Against Kiewit Construction in Death of Sam Fitzpatrick
Kiewit and two supervisors each face one count of criminal negligence causing death.
NDP Climate Plan Protects our Planet and our Jobs – Steelworkers
The NDP climate plan is the most comprehensive environmental platform of any of the parties. It is worker-oriented and jobs-centred. Our members want to be involved in the decision-making, and this plan specifically mentions working with labour.
Remembering Westray
In the early morning of May 9, 1992, an explosion ripped through the Westray coal mine in Plymouth, Nova Scotia, killing all twenty-six miners working the night shift.
Labour a Key Partner in a Canadian Green New Deal
The Broadbent Institute's Rick Smith and USW National Director Ken Neumann write in The Toronto Star about putting the concerns of labour and environmental groups to work in a mutually reinforcing way in a Canadian Green New Deal.
Day of Mourning
APRIL 28TH Day of Mourning - Close to 1,000 workers in Canada die on the job every year.
USW Welcomes B.C. Government Review of WorkSafeBC Actions In Sawmill Explosions
The United Steelworkers' "Stop The Killing, Enforce The Law" campaign has been focused on lobbying governments at every level to protect the health and safety of all workers and ensuring that the Westray Law is applied when appropriate.
Former Rubber Workers Urged to Attend Occupational Disease Information Sessions
“We are committed to ensuring these workers and their surviving family members receive the justice and dignity they deserve.” - Marty Warren
Steelworkers Denounce Plea Agreement in Worker’s Death
“The consequences of workplace deaths and injuries must be more than a cost of doing business.”
Stephen Hunt Statement on USW Member's Death at Elkview Mine
Statement of condolences and support for USW member's family and co-workers following workplace fatality at B.C. mine.
Steelworkers Welcome Criminal Charges in Sudbury Worker’s Death
Company and owner face charges of criminal negligence causing the death of worker Rheal Dionne.
Steelworkers Call on New Ontario Government to “Stop the Killing and Enforce the Law” – Now
“It is far too late for excuses. We are calling on the Ontario government to step up and enforce the law – for the people.” - Marty Warren
Newfoundland Commitment to Criminally Investigate Workplace Deaths and Injuries Must Be Matched Across Canada
“This is a significant development that sends a strong message to employers about their responsibility to provide safe workplaces.” - Ken Neumann
The Body Count from Workplace Death Is Greater than Reported
Ottawa Citizen op-ed column by Ken Neumann and Steven Bittle: Day of Mourning must be catalyst for transformative change.
Day of Mourning 2018
This April 28th, the National Day of Mourning, our union must once again reflect on the continuing tragedy in workplaces.
District’s Incident Reporting System Tackles Chronic Problems
Like too many health care workers in Canada and the United States, health care members in District 6 struggle with short staffing, a problem that can quickly escalate into higher rates of workplace violence and patient injuries.
Rejection of Metron Appeal Welcomed, but Fight for Justice Continues: Steelworkers
USW calls on Ontario government to do more to apply Westray Law in every workplace fatality.
Steelworkers Arbitration Victory Ends Random Drug and Alcohol Testing At Teck’s Elk Valley Unionized Mines
The significant arbitration decision recognizes the importance of employee privacy rights and imposes a high bar on employers to justify random testing.