REGINA – The United Steelworkers Union (USW) is blaming pending layoffs at Evraz Steel in Regina on a lack of commitment from the federal government to use Canadian products in infrastructure projects.
Steelworkers may lose their jobs at the Regina pipe mill because an order to make 48-inch pipe for TC Energy in northern Alberta has been given to an offshore company, the union claims.
“It should not happen that one Canadian company can decide not to use Canadian steel products in its infrastructure projects. Our government has failed to protect Canadian jobs and does not even have a Canadian-made procurement strategy for public infrastructure projects, let alone private projects that impact our economic future,” USW national director Ken Neumann said in a statement.
USW Western Canada director Stephen Hunt also urged Alberta Premier Jason Kenney to preserve regional jobs.
“Mr. Kenney says his support for the energy sector in Western Canada is all about jobs and the economic future of Canadians working in the sector. It’s time he proved it by talking to his friends at TC Energy and telling them that if pipelines are going to be built, they must be made in Canada,” Hunt said.
The USW has launched Stand Up for Steel, a national campaign aimed at encouraging a made-in-Canada policy along with reformed trade policy that would allow unions to launch trade complaints.
“Demand for steel products has dropped as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The only way to rebuild a strong, resilient economy will be to inject massive funding into physical infrastructure projects. Many projects are not using Canadian-made steel. Instead they are using cheaper steel obtained offshore,” Neumann said. “Reform means it is necessary to ensure that the jobs of Canadians are a higher priority than getting the cheapest possible product.”
“My members are demanding that both Jason Kenney and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe show some courage and demand that projects in Canada use Canadian products,” said USW Local 5890 president Mike Day. Local 5890 is the union representing workers at the Evraz mill.
“Our members should not be made victims because of bad public policy and a lack of attention to the future of our domestic industry.”
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