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Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States. It’s a day to celebrate the achievements of a civil rights icon – a chance to look back at how much progress that has been made and to look ahead at the tremendous amount work still left to be done in the name of equality.

This year will also mark the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s famous “I have a dream” speech, which he delivered during the March to Washington. While desegregation and racial harmony were key demands, the march also pushed for more jobs and the elimination of discrimination in hiring practices.

Over 200,000 people joined the demonstration for civil rights. The march had been organized, in part, with the help of labour unions. Asa Philip Randolph, an African-American labour leader, was the march’s head organizer. On that historic day, Randolph told the Times-News that it was “the greatest demonstration for freedom in the nation’s history.”

In 1964, a few months after the U.S. congress passed the Civil Rights Act, Dr. King was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. During the award ceremony, Nobel Committee Chairman Gunnar Jahn noted the following about Dr. King:

“He is the first person in the Western world to have shown us that a struggle can be waged without violence. He is the first to make the message of brotherly love a reality in the course of his struggle, and he has brought this message to all men, to all nations and races.”

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Human Rights Day

Today is the International Day for Human Rights, which is an occasion to celebrate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Declaration was adopted in the shadow of World War 2. The Nazis had given a new meaning to war. Pictures of concentration camp survivors shocked the world. Global leaders were determined to never let anything like this ever happen again. Thus the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 – and later that year, so was the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Meanwhile in Canada, our government was forced to look at its own actions and realize that it couldn’t take the moral high ground on the global stage while attempting to eliminate a culture at home. At the time, Canada was still banning certain cultural or religious practices of First Nations people, such as powwows and potlatches. Shortly after signing the Declaration, Canada revised the Indian Act to remove many of its most oppressive laws.

To find out more about this year’s theme and what you can do to make your voice count, go to the United Nations’ website.

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Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

On December 6, 1989, 25-year-old Marc Lépine walked into the École Polytechnique in Montreal and shot 28 people before turning the gun on himself. Lépine, who specifically targeted women because of their gender, killed fourteen women that day. The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is an occasion to remember those who died that day and take action to prevent other women from becoming victims of violence.

Violence against women takes many forms. In 2010, girls and women accounted for 7 in 10 victims of police-reported family violence.[1] Shelters for abused women in Canada took in approximately 62,000 women and 38,000 children in a one-year period between April 2007 and March 2008.[2] Women are about three times more likely to be victims of spousal homicide than men.[3]

When we speak of violence against women, we often talk about domestic violence. But many women are victims of violence in the workplace, which includes assault, sexual harassment, bullying, and harassment based on race, disability, sexual orientation, and religion.

In a 2004 study by the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children, researchers found that women “experience a range of physical, emotional and financial costs due to their harassment.[4]” The effects aren’t limited to the workplace; the psychological and economic toll often has repercussions on women’s family lives. These women find different ways of dealing with their experience:

Some coping mechanisms may help end the problem of harassment, and others may focus on getting through the day at work.  While some women confront their harasser, the majority of women cope in other ways, such as avoiding the harasser, denying the experience is happening and blaming themselves. [5]

The report identifies a number of suggestions for unions, including getting appropriate training, allowing women to bring their own personal support person into meetings with union representatives, and evaluating whether it is within a complainant’s best interest to address their complaints through a grievance, an employer designed process or a joint union-employer process.

For more information on workplace violence, consult the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. If you know a woman who is being abused, Health Canada recommends contacting the following services in your community: shelter or transition home, police department, victim services, crisis centre or crisis line, women’s centre, social service agency or health care centre.

[1] Marie, S. (2012) Family Violence in Canada, 2010: A statistical profile Statistics Canada Juristat Article. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2012001/article/11643-eng.pdf

[2] Family Violence in Canada: a statistical profile (2009) Statistics Canada. Retrieved from : http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/pdfs/fv-85-224-XWE-eng.pdf

[3] Beattie, S., Cotter, A. (2009) Homicide in Canada. Statistics Canada. Retrieved from: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2010003/article/11352-eng.htm

[4] Carr, J, Huntley, A, MacQuarri, B, and Welsh, S. (2004) Violence and Harassment in the Workplace. Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children. Retrieved from: http://www.crvawc.ca/documents/WorkplaceHarassmentandViolencereport.pdf

[5] Carr, J, Huntley, A, MacQuarri, B, and Welsh, S. (2004) Violence and Harassment in the Workplace. Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children. Retrieved from: http://www.crvawc.ca/documents/WorkplaceHarassmentandViolencereport.pdf

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Let's bring people together

Everyone knew that I was ‘different’ – everyone except for me.

My family tried very hard to take the concept of “different” out of my understanding. Others took great pride in pointing out my disability to my parents and siblings – and to me. Some, believe it or not, thought that they were being helpful. Some just intended to be funny; others meant to be cruel.

All I know is how it made me feel.

I learned early that I would have to toughen up if I was going to be able to deal with being ‘different’. After all, I was reminded of my disability every day. Sometimes it was intentional and sometimes it was accidental – but I was reminded nonetheless.

I remember riding in an elevator with a father and his young son. As I left the elevator, I heard the child ask his father, “Why does that man walk like that?” His father quickly and softly replied, “Don’t ask questions”.

Why not? What is the fear? The fear of offending? Walk around me, ignore me or laugh at me – will I not be offended then? Is it the fear of embarrassment? Whose embarrassment? Yours or mine?

I wish that everyone had the self-assuredness of that young boy; I wish they had the courage to ask their nonjudgmental questions so that they could come to an understanding to satisfy their curiosity. I wish everyone would simply accept me just as I am.

Yes, I am different. But so are you. We need to be! Imagine how boring life would be if we had 8.3 billion copies of the same person.

We all need to learn ways to bring people together, not force people apart.

Unity in Diversity should be celebrated every day. On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, make it a point to ask someone to share a part of their story with you – and yours with them.

You may be surprised at what you find out – about them, or about yourself!

Michael Freeman is the Union of National Employees’ Regional Representative for Human Rights in Ontario.

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Trans Day of Remembrance

This International Transgender Day of Remembrance, over 60 transgender people who have been murdered or who died under suspicious circumstances are being memorialized. Among these victims is 26-year-old January Marie Lapuz from Westminster, British Columbia.

Lapuz was found in her home, fatally stabbed, on September 29.

“The obstacles she overcame as an immigrant, as a transgender person, as a person in poverty, as a person working in a high-risk occupation, she really overcame a lot,” said Alex Shanga of Sher Vancouver, in an interview with the New West Record.

“I learned that society is not providing enough supports for people like January Marie,” added Shanga.

Queen’s Human Rights Office notes that while there is insufficient research on the violence perpetrated against transgender people, preliminary research points to a very high incidence.

Carrie Davis, Director of Operations for GenderPac, reported in a speech in March of 1999 that almost 60% of [transgender] people are victims of violence. GenderPac is also compiling statistics on the number of [transgender] people who are murdered because they are [transgender]. According to their figures, currently in the United States, one [transgender] person is murdered each month. It is believed that this number seriously underestimates the real level of violence because these crimes are often attributed to gay-bashing or other causes.

Additionally, Queens remarks that a transgender person who is a victim of violence may be reticent to identify themselves as transgender when reporting the crime to police.

Trans Day of Remembrance events and vigils will be held across Canada and around the world. To find an event near you, please consult the International Transgender Day of Remembrance website.

For more information on how you can be an ally to trans people in the workplace, please consult the Canadian Labour Congress’ publication entitled Workers in Transition: A Practical Guide for Union Representatives.

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International Day of the Girl

Today is the International Day of the Girl. It’s a chance to reflect on how many battles women have won in the name of equality and fairness. It can’t be understated how many more opportunities girls today have compared to generations ago.

But the fight isn’t over. Today, at the Union of National Employees, we’d like to spark a discussion about stereotypes. Don’t be shy; use the comment box below or go to our Facebook page to join the conversation.

On this Day of the Girl, we ask: do stereotypes still affect girls’ choices when it comes to career opportunities?

There’s a common stereotype about boys being better at math and science, girls being better at reading and writing. Does the theory have any basis in truth?

The last report (2010) from the Pan-Canadian Assessment Program revealed the following:

  • In math, there was no significant difference in the performance of girls and boys at the national level. However, more boys than girls were able to demonstrate high- level math knowledge and skill proficiency.
  • For Canada as a whole, girls performed better than boys in both science and reading. More variation was seen at the provincial and territorial level. [1]

So the lines are muddled a bit. However, consider that, as of 2009, Statistics Canada reported that only 3% of women had an occupation in the natural sciences and engineering, versus 10.5% for men. [2]

Could stereotypes affect girls’ performance and attitude towards math and science? Psychologists at the University of Massachusetts were equally curious about this question.

The psychologists asked female students studying biology, chemistry, and engineering to take a very tough math test. All the students were greeted by a senior math major who wore a T-shirt displaying Einstein’s E=mc2 equation. For some volunteers, the math major was male. For others, the math major was female. This tiny tweak made a difference: Women attempted more questions on the tough math test when they were greeted by a female math major rather than a male math major. On psychological tests that measured their unconscious attitudes toward math, the female students showed a stronger self-identification with math when the math major who had greeted them was female. When they were greeted by the male math major, women had significantly higher negative attitudes toward math. [3]

It’s an interesting result, especially when you consider that in the academic sector, women make up 19% of full-time faculty in the natural sciences and engineering. [4]

Finally, there’s another battle going on when it comes to stereotypes: an internal one. Psychologists at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, discovered that when we perceive someone as holding a particular gender stereotype, it affects how competent we sound. The theory is that your brain is so busy monitoring how you come across – because you’re so concerned about the perceived stereotype – that you end up sounding incompetent. [5]

When it comes to math and science, it’s important to recognize that girls are still battling stereotypes. It’s an important issue because stereotypes are the last thing that should bar girls from a career in a field they find fulfilling.

There’s still a lot of work to be done to bust the doors of opportunity wide open.

[1] The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada

[2] Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

[3] Slate Magazine

[4] Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

[5] Implicit Knowledge of and Explicit Beliefs About Gender Stereotypes: Their Relationship to the Perceived Competency of Women

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National Coming Out Day

This National Coming Out Day, come out as an ally!

National Coming Out Day is October 11. It’s a day for the men and women of the LGBT community to stand strong and be counted. It’s by being visible – not hiding in a closet – that we can make change happen.

But we can’t do it without allies! We can’t defeat homophobia and transphobia without our straight brothers and sisters standing with us.

There is strength in numbers. By standing together in solidarity, we break down the barriers placed in the way of equality; we form one strong human race.

Allies have an important voice; it’s by adding their voice to ours that we break down prejudice, injustice and closed-mindedness. It’s with their help that we succeed in protecting human dignity.

Injustices aren’t remedied by standing in the shadows, watching and doing nothing. Being a silent supporter will assist a select few people, but it won’t change things on a global scale. Allies need to be strong, visible and active to facilitate change.

For those out there who are already doing this: thank you very much.

Through education and activism, anyone is able to stand up and be heard as an ally. Do you have the courage to become an ally for change?

Chris Little-Gagné
Assistant Regional Vice-President, Manitoba region

The Canadian Labour Congress has a guide for allies [PDF] of the LGBT community. It’s a helpful tool for members who wish to educate themselves on how to become stronger advocates for equality.

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No more stolen sisters

Vigils were held across the nation, last Thursday, in memory of our stolen sisters. In more than 163 locations, Canadians gathered to remember the countless aboriginal women and girls who have been murdered or who are missing.

Girls like Maisy Odjick, 16, and Shannon Alexander, 17, who disappeared in 2008 from Maniwaki, Quebec. Young women like Terrie Ann Dauphinais, 24, who was murdered in her home outside Calgary in April 2002.

Those are just a few names; the Native Women’s Association of Canada has over 500 more confirmed cases. The numbers are astonishing and speak to the severe impact on aboriginal communities.

In Ottawa, victims’ families, activists and allies gathered on Parliament Hill to renew their demand for a national inquiry into this important issue.

Jennifer Lord of the Native Women’s Association of Canada says the vigils are about more than just shaming the government and demanding change; they’re about keeping the issue in our thoughts.

“We all have a role to play,” said Lord.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada is asking its allies to widely circulate their petition calling on the government to hold a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.

“I plead with our union sisters and brothers to make a renewed commitment to push for a national inquiry,” said Viola Thomas, the Union of National Employees’ National Equity Representative for Aboriginal People.

Thomas called for our union members to bring the issue back to their communities and to their Locals.

“Historically, it’s that collective energy between all Canadians that can make a difference,” she added.

“If all our Locals aren’t standing beside our indigenous sisters and fighting this issue, we will be coming back here for the next 20 years demanding a national inquiry.”

The Native Women’s Association of Canada is counting on our collective action to get Parliament to act. “The families have been asking for it and Aboriginal leaders have listened. And thankfully, MPs are listening too,” said Lord, who added that the Native Women’s Association fully supports Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett’s bill for national inquiry.

Click here to download the petition. Get your families, friends and colleagues to sign it. Be sure to return it to the Native Women’s Association of Canada as soon as possible. To see pictures of last Thursday’s vigil, click here.

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International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

August 9 is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. The United Nations created this day 18 years ago “to strengthen international cooperation for solving problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health.”

In honour of the 18th anniversary of day, Survival International, a non-profit organization working for tribal peoples’ rights worldwide, has created the following photographic gallery featuring 18 images of tribal and indigenous communities and their land.

Survival International is perhaps best known for their work to protect the lands of uncontacted tribes. Oil industries and illegal logging are encroaching on their land. They also pose a serious threat to these tribes; contact with outsiders could expose them to infectious diseases and wipe them out. To survive, uncontacted tribes must be left alone and their lands ought to be protected.

We encourage you to visit Survival International’s website to find out more and to get involved. You can start by sending a letter asking Brazil’s Minister of Justice to stop the loggers who are invading the uncontacted Awá’s land.