Media Advisory - Turn corporate social responsibility into accountability:
Steelworkers to ask MPs to support Bill C-300

OTTAWA , Nov. 13 /CNW/ - United Steelworkers' (USW) National Director Ken Neumann announced Friday that unionized miners from across Canada will be in Ottawa from November 16-20 urging Members of Parliament to support Bill C-300, a private member's bill on corporate accountability for Canadian extractive companies in developing countries.

The week includes a November 19th presentation to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development by Stephen Hunt , the USW's senior elected official in Western Canada . Hunt comes from the mining sector, has worked with workers employed by Canadian companies in developing countries and done extensive consultation on health and safety and other work-related issues in Canada .

"Our members in the mining sector have first-hand knowledge of the huge disparity between the corporate behaviour of Canadian companies at home and their corporate behaviour abroad," said Neumann. "We believe Bill C-300 takes an important step toward corporate accountability, which means there are real consequences for companies that do not comply with international human rights, labour and environmental standards.

"Voluntary self-regulation is not accountability for corporate social responsibility," said Neumann. "Canadian taxpayers provide generous support through Export Development Canada financing and insurance. They deserve the kind of accountability that Bill C-300 provides."

The USW is Canada's most diverse union, representing more than 250,000 men and women working in every sector of the economy.

For further information: Pat Van Horne, [phone]/[phone]