Regina steelworkers feeling uncertainty and frustration over U.S. tariff threat

For some, the talk of U.S. tariffs that’s become ever-present over the past couple months has faded to background noise.

But there are some in Regina whose livelihoods might depend on whether or not the tariffs go ahead.

“What’s this going to do to us?” said Mike Day, president of  United Steelworkers Local 5890, the union which represents the workers at Evraz Steel in Regina.

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“The sense on the floor is the possibility of a crew-down in the next three months. We’re not sure what that looks like, but order status is up in the air.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods going into the U.S., and has also threatened to stack another 25 per cent tariff for steel and aluminum products on top of that.

The broad tariff was originally threatened to take effect in early February, but that date was pushed back. On Wednesday, there was confusion around whether that deadline had been pushed back again.

Day said the confusion and uncertainty has been frustrating.

“The jobs situation is uncertain across the board. What we do know is that our international office has a subcommittee working with the White House, trying to get some leverage in there, but you know, it’s Donald Trump.” Day laughed

The small-diameter tubular section at Evraz has been working on a SaskEnergy order, but Day said that’s only three months’ work and there’s nothing lined up after it.

Day said the mill just north of Regina has relied on the U.S. market in the past. He said the Evraz’ head office is in Chicago, but that hasn’t seemed to help their case.

He said some union members have heard Trump talk about re-starting the Keystone XL pipeline recently, and were glad about it. Day said at least some of that work would probably come up to Canada, because the large-diameter mills in the U.S. are all booked up for the year, but he also questioned when that would happen.

“We need more product going east or west back out, more lines going that way to support and use Canadian-made products,” said Day.