USW Demands Trade Talks as Workers Feel Brunt of Canada-US Trade War

The United Steel Workers (USW) union is urging Canada and the US to resume trade talks, citing the devastating impact of their ongoing trade war on workers. According to Roxanne Brown, international president of the USW, 'Right now [workers] are paying the price for a dispute they did not create.' The union represents over 225,000 members in Canada and 850,000 in the US.

Brown delivered a message of unity and solidarity for workers across North America, emphasizing their shared interests and values. However, she warned that the escalating trade war has quickly turned these commonalities into common fears.

The union is concerned about the ripple effects of the trade war, which are being felt by workers on both sides of the border. Brown stated that 'When a steelworker in Pennsylvania loses work because of market disruption, workers in Ontario feel it.' The USW estimates that 90,000 jobs could be lost across Canada due to the tariffs.

Trevor Tombe, a professor of economics at the University of Calgary, echoed these concerns. He warned that the uncertainty surrounding the tariffs is having a significant impact on businesses, leading them to slow their hiring rates and post fewer vacancies. Tombe estimates that job losses resulting from the 50% tariffs would contract the Canadian economy by approximately 0.4%.