March 23, 2018 - Last Thursday, our Local Union Delegated Meeting (LUDM) started with a rally around the Shaw Communications headquarters in Vancouver, to show support for our Shaw Unit 60 members as they are negotiating a new contract.

Three buses filled with USW Local 1944 delegates, staff and guests gathered at 9:00 am, marching and chanting.

"If Shaw does not agree to negotiate a fair contract for our members, they have no idea what we have ready for them," said Lee Riggs, National President of the USW Local 1944. "We know that it takes more than one million Freedom Mobile customers to pay the top 5 Shaw executive salaries. In the face of such outrageous social inequality, we have never been so united. We've got Unit 60's backs for this round of bargaining."

March 22, 2018 - Our Local Union Delegated Meeting (LUDM) continued yesterday in Burnaby.

The day started with a report from our Secretary-Treasurer Michael Phillips, explaining the cost-saving measures and investment strategies that were implemented over the previous year.

Delegates heard speeches from the nominees for TWPP Pension trustees, Czar Loquia (from Unit 10) and Candace Knoll (from Unit 51).

The report from the Executive Board commenced following the TWPP Pension trustees' speeches.

March 21, 2018 - Our Local Union Delegated Meeting (LUDM) started yesterday in Burnaby, British Columbia, with 170 delegates, guests and staff in attendance.

The LUDM is being held at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown Hotel, from March 20 to March 22, 2018.

After an address from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation spokesperson Carleen Thomas, the day started with opening remarks from our National President Lee Riggs, calling for unity, especially with the collective bargaining with Shaw and Telus in the months to come.

March 15, 2018 - Today, we have received correspondence from USW International President Leo W. Gerard that new By-Laws for USW Local 1944 have been established, effective immediately, replacing all previously approved By-Laws and Policies for Local 1944.

March 8, 2018 - On March 8th, International Women's Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and encourages everyone to take action against the remaining barriers that impede gender equality.

With the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms providing for gender equality, our country has made huge advances regarding gender equity in several areas, such as education and workforce participation, but many challenges remain: too few women undertake leadership roles and, women are still under-represented in politics.

February 22, 2018 - On February 28th, 2018, we celebrate Pink Shirt Day, a day that aims to raise awareness of the bullying issue and raise funds to support anti-bullying programs.

This year, Pink Shirt Day focusses on the theme of cyberbullying: the internet can be a place for kindness, and we all can be active in stopping the spread of bullying online. #NiceNeedsNoFilter.

Bullying is well known to happen at school, but it also occurs in the workplace. It affects people physically, emotionally and mentally, and can cause anxiety, low self-esteem, or depression. Bullying can be compared to harassment in the way that it involves cruel, offensive and insulting behaviours towards a person.

February 13, 2018 - On February 14th, Women's Memorial Marches shall be held in various cities across Canada to commemorate the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

This annual event originated in 1991 in Vancouver, as a day to remember and to honour those women. These marches represent an opportunity for communities to come together, remember our lost sisters, and dedicate ourselves to justice.

Since the 1980's, in Canada, more than 1,000 Indigenous women have either gone missing or been murdered.

February 1, 2018 - "In our union's proud history of promoting and supporting equality, Steelworkers celebrate Black History Month annually," said Ken Neumann, National Director for Canada of the United Steelworkers.

"We celebrate the accomplishments of black Canadian people in society, acknowledge the achievements of activists in our union and encourage Steelworkers to continue the struggle for equality. We are beginning to recognize that despite advances in equality, racism has played a historic part in our national experience. This experience has also led to discrimination against black immigrants and Canadians in our workplaces." (Read the full statement at http://1944.fyi/aTLp7h).

January 30, 2018 - Through the program Veterans of Steel, the United Steelworkers recognize members and retirees who have served or who are serving our country.

January 27, 2018 - January 27th is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Holocaust saw upwards of 6.5 million Jewish, Romani, intellectuals, persons with disabilities and homosexuals put to death in concentration camps throughout Germany and Poland. These camps still bear testimony to the atrocious living conditions and medical torture experiments that were inflicted on prisoners.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is not only a day for remembrance but also for engagement. Talking with survivors of the Holocaust is an inspiring and essential way that we can learn from the atrocities of the past, born of racism and hate.