Environment Hamilton statement of support for striking USW 7135 workers.

Workers in the United Steel Workers 7135 union local are on the 17th day of their strike, which started Wednesday, August 12 at 12:01am. This union consists of about 1200 workers at National Steel Car, a facility in the industrial north end of Hamilton that produces railcars, parts, and components.

We support the workers in their struggle for fair pay and better workplace protections.

There is historical tension between the environmental movement and labour movement. In Canada, when facilities are phased-out to prevent pollution that causes harm to the environment and community health, the jobs are often replaced with positions where workers do not receive the same pay, benefits, and worker protections as good, unionized jobs. This is a key barrier to addressing the climate emergency.

When we push for clean steelmaking in Hamilton, we also have to push for guarantees that every worker in the steel industry holds onto the workplace standards they have, or better. Business owners care more about short-term profit than they do about worker and environmental safety. The workers at industrial facilities are often the most impacted by pollution. For many decades, these workers have been on the front lines of winning important health and safety protections.

At National Steel Car, the company’s administration enforces an incentive “piecework” system where workers only receive a portion of their wages if they make enough product. Union leaders say this has contributed to three workers being killed at the facility between 2020 and 2022 for which the company only paid $650,000 in fines.

The same companies that are responsible for unsafe workplaces are also responsible for unsafe environmental pollution. National Steel Car is one of many facilities in Hamilton with special environmental regulations that allow it to pollute above Ontario’s health-based air quality standards. It is profitable for the owners of these companies to continue to pollute and keep workplaces unsafe. Decision-makers at all levels of government are influenced by rich business owners to keep environmental and labour regulations weak.

The power that it is going to take to win a sustainable future for Canada with good, unionized jobs requires community members, environmentalists, and industrial sector workers to work together. Strikes are the most powerful tool communities have to fight back against ultra wealthy business owners and push for improvements.

National Steel Car needs to come to the bargaining table with a fair deal.

We encourage community members to visit the picket line at Kenilworth Ave N and Burlington St E to support these workers. The picket line runs 24/7.