SUULT STE. Marie, Ontario, September 29, 2025 (Globe Newswire) – United SteelWorkers Union responds to today's announcement that the Federal Government will provide a loan of 400 million US dollars as part of a large company of tariff loan and additional financial support for 100 million US dollars as a financial Support Algoma Steel. While the trade union welcomes the expansion of liquidity to support Algoma in the short term, he emphasizes the need for public investments to transparent obligations to protect jobs and public interests, support the communities and a clear plan for diversification of ALGOMA products for a long -term prospect.
“This support is important for our members and their families and protects jobs in the short term in Sault Ste. Marie, ”said Marty Warren, National Director of USW. “But employees and the public deserve transparency regarding the terms of this transaction. These are public dollars, and the conditions should be made public, and not left closed doors. ”
USW complains that the package does not include the indicated investment obligations for diversification of products, for example, in structural steel and throughput that will be important for the satisfaction of Canadian demand for steel, since the governments undertake to use Canadian steel in infrastructure, housing and defense projects. To protect the future performance of steel in Sault Ste. Marie, as well as the safety of work, investments in expanding the capabilities of the Algoma product are of paramount importance. The federal government has already provided funds for Canadian manufacturers through a strategic response fund. The next step is to use these tools to expand Algoma products to ensure the long -term viability of the production of steel and steel jobs in Sault Ste. Marie.
“This announcement is a step forward, but workers continue to face too much uncertainty,” said Kevon Stuart, USW Director for Ontario and Atlantic Canada. “Steel workers in Sault Ste. Marie is already preparing for dismissal in the coming months from the algoma transition to EAF. Training, restructuring and diversification are necessary to maintain good work in this community. Our trade union will not accept public money that we need in the background, without guarantees of employment for workers and public and ensuring respect for collective agreements. We need productive investments.
The union confirmed that Canadian steel workers called the government’s decisive actions, since the United States has imposed 50% of tariffs on Canadian steel, effectively turning off Canada from the largest export market. USW continues to insist on a comprehensive industrial strategy, including the purchase of Canadian procurement, investment in diversification, strict control over imports and support for the transition of employees to guarantee that Canada can satisfy its own needs and never remain vulnerable to trade wars of foreign governments.
About the United SteelWorkers Union
USW presents 225,000 members in almost every economic sector throughout Canada and is the largest trade union of the private sector in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.
Each year, thousands of workers prefer to join the USW from a strong track record of the trade union in creating more healthy, safer and more good jobs and negotiating the best working conditions and more fair compensation, including good wages, benefits and pensions.
To obtain additional information, please contact:
Francois Suisi, USW Communications, 873 355-2841, [email protected]
