BHM: Canada’s unions honour the past to help shape the future
February 1, 2024
This Black History Month, Canada’s unions are celebrating the history and legacy of Black community members who have stood for justice and made Canada a more equitable country. “In the face of adversity and deep inequities, the actions of courageous Black community trailblazers and activists have carved out room for increased equity for Black and racialized workers and community members,”…
BHM 2023: It’s time Canada takes care of Black care workers
February 1, 2023
Black History Month is an important time to recognize and celebrate the contributions, achievements and struggles of Black communities in this country. In recognition of the vital role Black workers have played in this nation’s care systems, Canada’s unions are calling for fair and decent work for care workers. From the hidden experiences of Black Nova Scotian domestic workers in…
Concrete action needed to address anti-Black racism and discrimination
February 1, 2022
Canada’s unions are marking Black History Month by calling for long-term, concrete government action to address systemic labour market discrimination and disadvantages faced by Black workers. “Black people in Canada have had to struggle with the impacts of colonial systems that have rooted anti-Black racism into our institutions, policies, workplaces and society,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour…
Canada’s unions mark Black History Month by calling for racial justice in pandemic response and recovery
February 1, 2021
Canada’s unions are marking Black History Month by calling for an end to systemic anti-Black racism. This includes urging the federal government to disaster-proof Canada’s social safety net to ensure a COVID-19 response and recovery that is rooted in racial justice. “This is a time of reckoning,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “The double crisis of…
Canada’s unions call for fairness to mark Black History Month
February 1, 2020
To mark Black History Month this year, Canada’s unions call on the government to take meaningful actions to address the disparities in employment for Black workers. Statistics show workers of colour are more likely to be employed in precarious, low-wage jobs with no benefits. These workers also have higher unemployment rates. In fact, the unemployment rate of Black women is…
Why Canada’s unions are highlighting environmental racism during Black History Month
February 6, 2019
Environmental racism is the development and implementation of environmental policy on issues such as toxic waste disposal sites, pollution, and urban decay in areas with a significant ethnic or racial population. Believe it or not, Canada is not immune to these policies. This Black History Month, Canada’s unions say there can be no environmental justice without racial justice: addressing anti-Black…
Canada’s unions have a role to play in promoting fairness, equality and freedom from violence for all workers, regardless of age, race, religion, ability, sex, gender identity and gender expression, or sexuality. As unions we can help to educate and empower our members so that all workplaces are welcoming and inclusive.
Canada’s unions call on federal government to create national strategy on anti-Black racism
February 1, 2018
To mark Black History Month, Canada’s unions are renewing their call on the federal government to commit to an anti-Black racism strategy. Such a strategy would require the government to commit to analyzing race-based statistics on how various institutional policies impact Canada’s Black communities. The key objective would be to eradicate institutionalized racism that is disproportionately harming this specific segment…