TORONTO – Steelworkers in Toronto and in communities across the country are participating in demonstrations in support of 2SLGBTQIA+ community members and trans and gender-diverse youth on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 9:00 a.m.
“We will not tolerate attempts to divide us or roll back the clock on human rights,” said Carolyn Egan, Steelworkers Toronto Area Council President, representing 14,000 members in Toronto working in manufacturing, health care, post-secondary education, banking and other services.
“Hate groups are making schools and public spaces unsafe, making threats towards 2SLGBTQIA+ community members, workers, educators and families. As workers and as trade unionists, we refuse to stand by and allow this to happen. All people deserve to be free from hate, bigotry and violence,” said Egan.
Steelworkers in Toronto will join the labour and community counter-demonstration at the south end of Queen’s Park, with the clear message: There is no space for hate in our communities.
“Steelworkers of all backgrounds and identities stand with our 2SLGBTQIA+ members, staff and their families and the broader 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” said Myles Sullivan, USW District 6 Director for Ontario and the Atlantic region, on behalf of one of the largest private-sector unions in North America.
Community organizers, including trade union activists, have been targeted on an ongoing basis by members of hate groups for defending human rights, as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.
Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of our strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation – including good wages, benefits and pensions.
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