United Steelworkers Canada News Feed

  • Former Construction Manager Charged in B.C. Worker's Death Arrested in Montana
    Gerald Karjala faces trial for criminal negligence causing the death of Sam Fitzpatrick on a Kiewit work site A former manager for construction giant Peter Kiewit Sons has been arrested in the U.S. and is facing extradition to Canada to face trial for criminal negligence causing the death of a worker. Gerald Karjala is one of two men charged alongside Kiewit in connection with the 2009 death of Sam Fitzpatrick on a hydroelectric worksite on the central B.C. coast. The B.C. Prosecution Service confirmed Friday that Karjala was recently arrested in Montana and has been released on bail pending an extradition hearing scheduled for Nov. 10. Karjala, engineer Timothy Rule and the company each face a single charge of criminal negligence causing death, charges that have been called unprecedented for a business of this size. Fitzpatrick was 24 years old when he was killed by a falling boulder on a Kiewit construction project at Toba Inlet, north of Powell River, on Feb. 22, 2009. His younger brother, Arlen, watched it happen.WorkSafeBC investigators later noted a "reckless disregard" for safety on the project, something Fitzpatrick had spoken up about in the weeks before he died. Just one day before the fatal rock fall, another boulder had tumbled down the same slope, causing serious damage to a piece of heavy equipment. Though Fitzpatrick died more than a decade ago, criminal charges were only laid in May 2019 after a long campaign for accountability led by Fitzpatrick's friends, family and union activists. Read the full article at cbc.ca — Sep 15
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    *Standard messaging and data rates may apply. By submitting the above information, you agree to receive mobile alerts from USW District 3. At any time, you can stop receiving text messages by replying to a message with STOP. For help or more information, you can email [email protected]     — Sep 9
  • USW Endorses Motion 46 Guaranteed Livable Basic Income
    The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed how our economic policies and social programs are failing millions of Canadians and are contributing to disgraceful levels of income inequality in our country. Canadians need bold and thoughtful measures to invest in the human capital of our country, to eliminate poverty, to improve health and education outcomes, and to provide real economic opportunity to all. In accordance with our commitment to advancing economic and social justice in Canada, the United Steelworkers union is proud to endorse Motion 46 Guaranteed Livable Basic Income, submitted by Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre Leah Gazan on August 10, 2020, to convert the Canada Emergency Response Benefit into a permanent Guaranteed Livable Basic Income. A Guaranteed Livable Basic Income is an important step in eradicating poverty and strengthening our current economic safety net. Motion 46 addresses protections for all individuals in cases of future pandemics, natural disasters, increasing industry automation and job loss. Alongside a just labour market and living wage, a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income will help to ensure all Canadians are able to live with dignity and human rights, including responding to Call for Justice 4.5 of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which calls on the federal government to implement a guaranteed annual livable income. The United Steelworkers union encourages its members and all Canadians to sign in support of Motion 46 at www.leahgazan.ca/basicincomemotion and to write to their Members of Parliament in support of Motion 46. In solidarity, Ken Neumann United Steelworkers National Director Download PDF   — Sep 9
  • Labour Day 2020: the Pandemic Reminds us of the Importance of our Movement
    On Labour Day, I am reflecting on the meaning of solidarity and how it is the foundation of our movement. This pandemic has been a profound reminder of the importance of solidarity, for the trade union movement and progressive movements more generally. This Labour Day, and every day before and after, we need to stand up for people who have lost their jobs in the pandemic. As trade unionists, we have to stand shoulder to shoulder with the frontline workers who have worked around the clock during the pandemic, ensuring the sick and dying are cared for, that we can buy groceries, that safety precautions are in place, that parents can go to work with their children at daycare and so much more. This Labour Day we need to stand up against racial injustice and come to terms with it within our own lives and organizations. Solidarity is standing up against racism and the ways it is perpetuated – day after day. It’s a centuries old problem and our resolve and our solidarity must be even stronger. We have to continue our fights with renewed energy, and with the conviction that better is possible and WE CAN WIN. COVID has shone a flood light into the many ways that governments everywhere are letting us down and giving corporations a free pass. Many governments talk a good line – but where is the success to show for it? Why are they repeatedly failing to protect local jobs? Why has the gender wage gap not been eliminated? Why are they not protecting our industries from unfair trade and tariffs? Why, so many years after promising it, is there still no universal child care program? Solidarity is standing up against the challenges that we face, knowing always that we are in this together. I am as hopeful as I am committed. Ken NeumannNational Director — Sep 7
  • This Labour Day, Don’t Just Thank A Union – Join A Union
    Like everything else in our world right now this Labour Day is different.  A global pandemic has made very real how connected people are.  At the same time across North America, the struggle against racism and inequality has become a rallying point for overdue systemic change.  Whether it’s the pandemic or the fight against racism our union understands that we’re all in this together. Rightly so many are singing the praises of essential workers.  In fact, over the last few months, governments, and some employers, have provided pandemic bonuses to essential workers. The value of their work hasn’t changed, it’s just finally being recognized.  If we’re sincere about celebrating essential workers then those wage increases must be made permanent.    Throughout this pandemic, most of our members have been working delivering the goods and services we all depend on.  Steelworkers know workers are essential every day, but essential doesn’t mean sacrificial.  Workers’ have a right to a healthy and safe workplace but today too many are being asked to take risks that bosses themselves would never take. Health and safety are at the forefront of our union’s work, and we can say it doesn’t discriminate, but jobs today still do. The reality remains too many front-line workers, often a highly genderized and racialized workforce, are underpaid, under-protected and undervalued.  Without question race and gender play a role.    Many workers have been reaching out to us as they do not feel safe on the job.  Others feel unsafe because of the outright racism or discrimination they experience, whether from the boss, customers or the community they serve.  One thing remains very clear – no employer will protect workers like a union collective agreement.  The good news is that courageous workers are seeing this and are taking the next step.  This Labour Day workers are not just thanking unions they are joining them, from coffee shops to credit unions, from mills to mines. The labour movement has long known this truth, that workers only get ahead when we know we are in this together.  It’s our job as unions to ensure we are open and inclusive.  We have a proud history of doing that.  We haven’t always got it right, but we’ve never been afraid to get better.  We’re committed to ensuring our union looks like our members and that our union looks more like our society. All of us whether as organizations or individuals, have a job to make space for diverse voices that need to be heard and lend our voices when the forces of division and disunity try to drown them out.  As Steelworkers that’s what we do for our members when dealing with bad bosses – we have to do the same when dealing with systemic injustice.  For us, that means reaching out to workers who because of their job, race or age, may not have considered joining a union.   I know this Labour Day many will feel unsettled.  Have faith – we are in this together.  In our union, we don’t go looking for fights, but when we get in them we’re committed to outlasting the boss – one day longer.  In the fight to build a better world, we pledge the same. Solidarity forever! Stephen HuntUSW District 3 Director — Sep 4