The United Steelworkers, through its Humanity Fund, has launched a union campaign to raise funds for relief to victims and survivors of last month's devastating tsunami.

Steelworkers' National Director and Humanity Fund President Ken Neumann announced an initial immediate donation of $100,000, half to go to Oxfam and half to another organization active in Tamil areas of Sri Lanka. At the same time an appeal is going out to Steelworker local unions across Canada for continuing donations, along with appeals to employers for matching contributions, to be sent the Steelworkers' National Office for distribution.

Neumann said the union is also pledging its support for democratic organizations representing workers in those countries affected by the disaster. "By now everyone knows the incredible scope and unimaginable horror of this event," says Neumann. "We intend to assist our brothers and sisters in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, India and elsewhere. The rebuilding process will be long and difficult and will not happen with a one-time donation. There must be a strategy of continuing aid."

Neumann added that the union's membership includes thousands of men and women originally from South Asia. "Many of our members have suffered losses of loved ones in this terrible tragedy. Our hearts go out to them, and we want to stand by them by becoming involved in the relief effort."

The United Steelworkers represents more than 250,000 men and women working in every sector of Canada's economy.