Scott Lunny

Director District 3

Scott Lunny is the Director of USW District 3, representing members in the largest geographic area of the international union. The District encompasses Canada’s four Western provinces and its three Northern territories.

After earning a degree in industrial relations from the University of British Columbia, Lunny began a career as a labour, social justice and political activist in 1994. He worked for a decade for the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA) as a national staff representative, researcher and communications officer. He served as a senior staff and policy advisor to the national president and executive officers, overseeing numerous organizing, bargaining, legislative and public campaigns to support the locals and membership of the IWA.

Lunny became a proud Steelworker in 2004 when the IWA merged with the USW. He was actively involved in the planning and implementation of the historic merger. He went on to work as a USW staff representative and key staff for several years, working with the USW Wood Council on forest policy issues and coordinating many campaigns.  

In 2008, Lunny attended the Harvard University Trade Union Program. Later that year, he was appointed Assistant to the District 3 Director.  

For over a decade, Lunny oversaw many activities and key issues on behalf of the District’s 50,000 members. He was instrumental in developing District 3’s comprehensive Steelworkers Vote political action program and worked with staff and local unions on bargaining, organizing, education, strategic campaigns and other member services.

Lunny played a key role in negotiating and implementing the merger agreement with the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) to welcome over 12,000 members to the USW. He has worked closely with the national local to support staff, provide mentorship and build a stronger future for the members within the USW.

In November 2021, Lunny was elected by the membership to the position of District 3 Director during the USW International Executive Board election. In his first term as Director, he has worked to build a more inclusive District: He has expanded local union leadership meetings and education sessions, built up District-wide networks and committees for women and 2SLGBTQIA+ members, actively supported the anti-racism working group, and promoted the work of the indigenous engagement coordinators and committee.  

Lunny hosts the monthly Strong as Steel podcast, in which he talks with staff, members, activists, friends and allies of the union about current and emerging issues in District 3.   

As a longtime political activist and social democrat, Lunny served five years as vice-president of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP) and currently serves on the BC NDP Provincial Executive. He also serves as a vice-president for the Federation of Labour in both B.C. and Alberta. He is actively involved in the community and is the president of the nonprofit Union Protein Project, a union charity supporting food banks and advocating for food security.

Lunny lives in Richmond, B.C., with his spouse, Nina, and their three sons, Aidan, Gavin and Owen.