OFL 2009 » Human rights

UFCW Canada and AWA win Bob Borch Human Rights Award

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:00:55 +0000

UFCW Canada and the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA) are the recipients of this year’s prestigious Bob Borch Human Rights Award, which the OFL presents at each convention to organizations or individuals who display an extraordinary commitment to furthering the rights of workers in Ontario.

“The tireless efforts of UFCW Canada and the AWA on behalf of agriculture workers is the amazing and untold story of the Ontario labour movement,” said OFL President Wayne Samuelson in presenting the Borch Award to Wayne Hanley, who serves both organizations as national president, on the third day of the provincial labour federation’s 2009 convention.

“This is a group of workers that play a fundamental role in our lives as food producers and most Ontarians don’t even know they exist. UFCW Canada and the AWA are the organizations that are finding the resources to fight for the respect and dignity of one our province’s most important and exploited labour forces,” said Samuelson.

Of the 100,000-plus agriculture workers in Ontario, 30,000 are migrant labourers who come to Ontario every season as part of a difficult and lonely effort to earn a living for themselves and their families. Because of their precarious status, migrant farm workers often find themselves exploited by unscrupulous employers. In cooperation with the AWA, UFCW Canada operates four support centres in Ontario to help migrant workers face the enormous cultural and systemic challenges waiting for them in Canada.

“It’s an honour to accept this award on behalf of all the people who have given so much of themselves to this campaign over the past 15 years,” said Hanley, flanked by several long-time activists who have helped to make the support centre program possible.

“Because of their commitment to doing the right thing for the right reasons, health and safety protections for farm workers are now guaranteed under the law, and the days of Ontario denying the basic labour rights of agriculture workers are rapidly becoming part of a very shameful past.

“What we need are over 30,000 of these awards — one for every migrant farm worker who comes to Canada every year. They part with their loved ones each year to work in our fields and produce our food. They are the real heroes, their courage inspires our efforts, and this award belongs to all of them.”

Unions are first and last lines of defence for many

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:11:37 +0000

Unions have to keep defending workers’ rights and elect political leaders who will do the same, CLC executive vice-president Barb Byers told delegates this morning.

As job losses continue to mount, and private sector workers struggle with unemployment and lost pensions, corporate leaders “are setting their sights” on the public sector.

“If they can silence us, they will have removed the first and the last lines of defense that many of our members and our community allies have,” said Byers.

She talked about the need to change the employment insurance program and pensions. Workers and communities across the country are suffering, and things are getting tougher for equity groups.

“The gains of women, workers of colour, Aboriginal workers, and workers with disabilities over the past 20 years are being wiped out by the effects of corporate greed,” she said.

Workers of colour, not ‘visible minority’

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:29:10 +0000

Delegates voted for a constitutional change that means the OFL will no longer use the term, ‘visible minority’, and will instead refer to ‘workers of colour’.

The OFL executive board recommended the change. The United Nations said in 2007 that Canada’s use of the term, ‘visible minorities’ may be discriminatory.

The OFL’s 2007 convention decided to review and change the term. It formed an affiliate and community working group, which filed its report to the OFL executive board at the beginning of this year.

Constitution resolution C – 1

Submitted by the OFL Executive Board

Because the United Nations in 2007 stated that Canada’s use of the term “visible minorities” may be considered suceptible to racial discrimination when identifying certain racial groups;

Because a 2007 OFL convention resolution was passed to review and change the term “visible minority” by forming a designated affiliate and community working group to review new terminology;

Because of the report from the working group and the OFL Visible Minority Committee to the OFL Executive Board on January 26, 2009;

The OFL Executive Board recommends that the OFL Convention amend the Constitution by deleting the term “visible minority” and replacing it with “workers of colour”.

Lots going on off the convention floor too

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:29:35 +0000

Here’s a list of events beyond the official convention proceedings.

Women’s Forum

Monday, Nov. 23

7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Civic Ballroom

Human Rights Forum

Tuesday, Nov. 24

7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Civic Ballroom

Youth Forum

7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Civic Ballroom North

Aboriginal Circle

4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

City Hall Room

Celebration Tribute

6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009

Grand Ballroom