Time For A Canadian Steel Workers Union

During the anti-globalization rallies begiing in Seattle in '99 the USWA campaigned against China and its steel production demanding protection for American jobs. It was a very jingoist campaign, which brought onside the likes of America First Pat Buchanan. What the USWA was doing was the work for its corporate bosses, bosses who over the last six years have changed ownership and have been integrated into the global market. As many steel companies now are under foriegn ownership. Only Canada has an independent home grown steel industry. Split between unionized Stelco and non union Dofasco. And so we are a foreign industry, accused of dumping into the U.S. When the elephant sneezes we get a cold. Bush Jr.'s tarrifs hurt Canada as much as it hurt China. Probably more so, and it can be credited as a factor in Stelco's decline into bankruptcy. It pitted union brother against union brother, and USWA true to form, even with a Canadian VP on its international board, emphasised the America in USW. Well the WTO discussions are on. And USWA is at it again lobbying for protectionism for American steel with little regard for its Canadian members. In their narrow jingoist nationalism of America First, they seem to have forgotten they are an 'International' union, meaning that they operate in Canada representing Canadian workers. For steel workers in Canada it is time for autonomy and independence and creating a real democratic union run by the members themselves not by hacks in Washington. Despite having an token International VP, USWA is still an American union, it only keeps Canadians on its board to say it is an International. Read the rest of the article at; http://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2005/12/time-for-canadian-steel-workers-union.html [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on December 22, 2005]

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