A new direction for Toronto: Toronto Steelworkers

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Steelworkers Toronto Area Council (STAC) is endorsing Olivia Chow to be the next Mayor of Toronto.

“The city has become unaffordable with crumbling infrastructure, transit and streets. A new direction for Toronto is desperately needed. Olivia has the vision and plan to set us on a new path,” said Carolyn Egan, President of USW Local 8300 and the STAC.

A former Toronto City Councillor and Member of Parliament for Trinity–Spadina, Chow has proven to be a champion for working people in Toronto and across the country. As a City Councillor, she was instrumental in creating lasting municipal programs like free dental care for children from low-income families and school breakfast and lunch programs that continue to help thousands of families in Toronto each year.

As a Member of Parliament, Chow launched a national campaign to implement universal child care in Canada and introduced legislation for a national public transit strategy.

“Throughout her career, Olivia has proven to be a friend and ally to working people. She backs her words with action. In her time in office, she’s always stood up to protect good union jobs and against public service cuts like childcare and transit,” said Myles Sullivan, USW District 6 Director (Ontario and Atlantic Canada).

Over the next few weeks, Steelworkers in the Greater Toronto Area will be mobilizing to get Olivia Chow elected. Activists will be knocking on doors, making phone calls, putting up signs and talking to neighbours about the city we want – one that is affordable, one that has strong public services and a city that cares for everyone.

The Steelworkers' Toronto Area Council (STAC) represents 14,000 members of the United Steelworkers union (USW) in Toronto and York Region. Members of STAC work in manufacturing, healthcare, post-secondary, banking and other service workers.

The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of its strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation – including good wages, benefits and pensions.