Steelworkers Humanity Fund Donates $35,000 to Quebec Forest Fire Response

MONTREAL & TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is donating $35,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to support communities affected by forest fires in Quebec.

Many Steelworkers and their families are affected by the fires, including in Lebel-sur-Quévillon in Northern Quebec, in Abitibi, in Chibougamau and Chapais, and in the North Shore region. This scope of the damage prompted the Steelworkers Humanity Fund to donate $35,000, through the Red Cross, to help affected communities.

“It's important to support local communities and people affected by these disasters,” said Dominic Lemieux, Quebec Director of the Syndicat des Métallos/United Steelworkers union (USW).

“Many of our members have been affected by the fires, as have their communities and workplaces. Some of our members have even contributed to efforts to protect their workplaces and communities from the fires. Our union is also answering the call, through the Steelworkers Humanity Fund,” Lemieux said.

The Humanity Fund donation will go to a Red Cross fund dedicated to disaster relief, community recovery and resilience in response to the fires, as well as community preparedness and risk reduction measures related to potential future disasters in Quebec.

“The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is always ready and willing to support affected communities as fast-changing weather patterns increasingly hit close to home,” said Marty Warren, USW National Director and President of the Steelworkers Humanity Fund.

Founded in 1985, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund is a registered charitable organization that focuses primarily on development projects and emergency aid in developing countries but also supports Canadian communities. USW members contribute to the fund through clauses negotiated into collective agreements. In some cases, employers make matching contributions to the fund.

The Syndicat des Métallos/USW, affiliated to the FTQ, is the largest private-sector union in Quebec, representing more than 60,000 workers in all sectors of the economy.