Posted: Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Thank you to the organizers and those of you here today who have taken the time today to engage and share your inputs on this important topic.
I would like to make a few inputs on how racial profiling is emerging in our workplaces and how labour is responding. I also want to ensure that I present nine ideas for action that we could discuss.
I’m the National Director of the Anti-Racism and Human Rights Department for the Canadian Labour Congress, which represents over 3 million workers in Canada, connected via 52 some affiliates and federations of labour.
These workers include letter carriers to pilots, from truck drivers to security guards. The membership includes workers of colour from diverse cultural and religious communities. They work in many different locations including hospitals, airports and manufacturing plants all across the country.
The CLC brings together Canada’s national and international unions, along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour, and 130+ district labour councils. The mandate of the CLC is to ensure that workers’ rights are protected and the principles of democracy and equality are promoted with the intent of upholding human rights for all.
It is also important to recognize the rank-and-file workers of colour and Aboriginal workers, for their track record to advance the race and rights agenda both within the labour movement and in our broader communities.
It is these workers who have first-hand experience with the systemic presence of racism and discrimination, both within the labour movement and in our society at large.
It is this group of workers who, for at least the last decade, have organized to challenge and confront systemic injustices such as under-representation in elected leadership or staff positions; or the manner in which critical labour issues are chosen, represented and advocated.
Through the Looking Glass: An Examination for Policy Alternatives