USW All In on Health, Safety and Environmental Protections 

Convention delegates passed a resolution Thursday demanding stronger workplace health, safety and environmental protections, citing rising fatalities, injuries and occupational illnesses. 

Across the U.S. and Canada, more than 6,000 workers die each year on the job, with an estimated 120,000 more dying from work-related illnesses.  

Delegates criticized corporate safety programs that blame workers instead of addressing root causes like understaffing, excessive overtime and unsafe conditions, vowing to defend injured workers from management retaliation. 

They further pledged to keep organizing, educating and fighting for safer workplaces on a variety of fronts, from bargaining strong contracts to advocating for more stringent health and safety legislation and regulations.  

“We need to make sure that our members have PPE no matter what their sizes, genders or disabilities might be,” said Paul McCrea from USW Local 8782, affirming his support for the resolution’s call for gender-inclusive safety equipment and facilities. “We need proper controls in place to protect workers and hold companies accountable.”

The resolution also demands full enforcement of Canada’s Westray amendments, which allow for criminal prosecution of negligent employers. Speakers said the law is often ignored by police, prosecutors and politicians. 

“We are the health and safety union, and we will always fight to ensure that our employers are held criminally accountable,” said Will Foresi, vice president of USW Local 7135. “When it comes to health and safety, we have no choice but to always be all in.”