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The 2018 Unifor Human Rights Conference was a celebration and a call to action. Delegates came together after two years at the Unifor Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, Ontario.
A lot has happened in the past two years; the presence of right-wing governments that spread racist, xenophobic organizing was felt in all conversations. Delegates looked to their own experiences and to our shared history to plan a path forward.
Unifor Human Rights Director Christine Maclin laid out the task ahead of union activists, “The hate is here. We cannot pretend that it is not. We cannot send people with hateful ideologies into corners and pretend that they don’t exist. They won’t go away.”
Presentations from Alex Neve of Amnesty International Canada and author Robyn Maynard put this work into context.
Maynard, author of Policing Black Lives, shared some of her research on Canada’s legacy of anti-Black racism, framing this racism as a system of power, not a set of beliefs held by individuals.
Unifor welcomed two special guests from the Bermuda Public Service Union, President Jason Hayward and Vice-President Linda Bogle-Meinzer. Their union has begun to prioritize anti-harassment work in recent years and has made space for workers to share their whole stories and live their authentic lives.
Many of our workplaces are not accessible spaces for workers with disabilities. Unifor lawyer Niki Lundquist and Derek MacLeod, National Chair of the Workers with disABILITIES Committee, made an informative presentation on the dire need for increased advocacy for workers with disabilities, and to build workplaces that are truly accessible.
Before an inspiring Living Stories social, Unifor National President Jerry Dias shared stories about the legacy of Dr. Bromley Armstrong, and how his work showed that “racism and discrimination are deeply rooted in Canadian culture.”
Despite the challenges that lay ahead, delegates and presenters showed hope in the face of oppression. Alex Neve reminded all members present, “The international human rights movement is stronger than ever and does not relent. People do not stay silent in the face of oppression.”
Many speakers referenced great resources at the conference, find some of these below.
My Name’s Not George: The Story of the Sleeping Car Porters in Canada
Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present
Report of the Unifor Equity Advisory Task Force, 2018
