May 1, 2018 - In May, we celebrate Asian Heritage Month in Canada, a time to honour and connect our diverse communities, and learn from each other.

Asian immigration in Canada started more than 150 years ago, when Chinese workers arrived on the west coast to help with the construction of the railways that contributed in the building of Canada as a nation. They worked under terrible conditions for ridiculously low pay. People of Asian descent were subjected to discrimination and had to fight for human rights and social justice in Canada. May is a month to reflect on these diverse struggles.

April 27, 2018 - Every year on April 28, we celebrate the National Day of Mourning throughout Canada. This day is dedicated to remembering and honouring those who have lost their lives, or suffered injury or illness on the job.

The statistics from the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada show that 905 workplace deaths were recorded in 2016 in Canada. There were more than 241,500 claims for lost time due to a work-related injury or disease - this figure only includes the cases reported and accepted by the compensation boards. In Canada since 1985, over 25,000 workers have died due to work-related injury or disease.

April 26, 2018 - International Labour Day will be celebrated in Montréal on Saturday, April 28, 2018, a date that coincides with the National Day of Mourning. This year, the march for International Labour Day will focus on the 5 following demands:

• $15 minimum wage;
• Reinvesting in public services and social programs and implementing concrete measures to put an end to work overload;
• Finding work-family-study balance;
• Fighting against tax havens;
• Enabling a fair environmental transition for workers.

April 23, 2018 - Yesterday the Company and the Union formally requested assistance from the Federal Minister of Labour by filing for conciliation

April 19, 2018 - Today, Thursday, April 19th, 2018, USW Local 1944 conducted the Election of Local Union Officers and Unit Officials 2018. Voting ran from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm (Pacific Time) by electronic ballot using Intelivote.

The election results can be viewed online.

The newly elected officials will take their positions in May, for a three-year term.

April 18, 2018 - Tomorrow, Thursday, April 19th, 2018, members of the USW Local 1944 will be electing the Local Union Officers and Unit Officials. The vote will be occurring between the hours of 5:00 am and 8:00 pm (Pacific Time).

This will be a secret ballot electronic vote and your vote will remain confidential.

The list of nominations can be viewed here.

April 13, 2018 - Over the past week, USW Local 1944 members should have received a package containing voting instructions and a unique PIN for the upcoming Election

April 10, 2018 - In 2018, Equal Pay Day is on April 10, the 99th day of the year, because it took an average 99 more days for Canadian women to earn what men earned in 2017.

In 2018, Canadian women still earn 30% less than men. The gender wage gap is even greater for women of color (over 35%) and Aboriginal women (over 40%).

However, Canadian women are as well or more educated than men, women's work is undervalued and the gender wage gap persists.

April 9, 2018 - USW Local 9700 members from ABI Smelter in Bécancour, Québec, are currently on tour around Québec to reach out to our USW Brothers and Sisters, in a call for massive solidarity.

April 4, 2018 - Seven more members from Local 1944 will be attending the prestigious USW's Leadership Development Scholarship four-year program in 2018.

Participants are selected based on their activism, interest, and commitment within our Local and their communities.

The program provides our members with the opportunity for specialized activist training in a classroom of rank and file Steelworkers from various workplaces across North America, where they will learn with and from fellow USW members.