Support our Canadian brothers and sisters on strike for 4 months!

13 November 2009

Our biggest ally in North America has reached out to Australian Workers' Union members asking for our help to win a strike in Canada which has now stretched out for 4 months.

Global solidarity with a few key strokes

You can help Steelworkers union members by a few key strokes of your keyboard - and sending off a LabourStart protest e-mail today.

The world's largest iron ore producer, Vale, is about to bring in strike-breakers to start up the nickel smelter in Sudbury, Canada, after unleashing a vicious attack on the work rights of 3,500 Steelworkers - who went out on strike on July 13.

Download a PDF factsheet on Vale dispute

Global giant's reputation for undermining health and safety standards

Vale has operations across the globe including in the United Kingdom, Brazil, the South Pacific French territory of New Caledonia, Guatemala and Indonesia, among others. The company bills itself as socially responsible, building health clinics and other amenities for rural communities and promoting the recycling of nickel.

The head of the 1.2 million member Steelworkers union, Leo Gerard, who started his working life in Sudbury, scoffs at this image pointing out that the Brazilian-owned company has a well-earned reputation for undermining health and safety standards in their own country.

Brazilian President wants a union win in Canada to flow thru to Brazil

Vale workers throughout Brazil are struggling to hold on to jobs, earn a living wage, achieve minimum standards for safe working conditions, and guarantee basic labour rights.

The president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva, has come out in support of the Canadian workers saying that a win for them will be a win for Brazilian workers as well.

Canadian and Brazilian workers employed by Vale work together

Now Vale employees and their unions in Brazil and Canada are fighting back together, reaching out to workers in a global campaign for fair treatment at Vale.

We've been asked by the Steelworkers and the International Metalworkers Federation to ask our supporters to send off protest e-mails as soon as possible - so please click here, type out your support and send off the e-mail.

Don't forget to tell your workmates and friends to join in this campaign as well.