Educational

National Day of Mourning, April 28

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Workplaces are not safe. Despite health and safety laws and health and safety mandated training, in 2022 in Canada, 993 workers were killed while on the job because of unsafe working conditions.  In 2022, there were 993 recorded fatalities on the job in Canada! About 15 years ago, the labour movement  developed a campaign, Kill a Worker Go to Jail! While there were some improvements in sentencing employers for causing injury and death,  not much have changed since. The number of workplace fatalities is higher in 2022 than 2020.

Mourn the dead and fight like hell for the living. (Mother Jones)

Every year, on April 28th, workers commemorate those who lost their lives on the job with the resolve to keep fighting for the safety of their working conditions. The Niagara Regional Labour Council holds annual ceremonies at 10 locations in the region. We encourage our members to visit any of them on April 28th.

Source: Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards https://awcbc.org/en/statistics/#fatalities

Black History Month Events at Brock and throughout Niagara

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February 1 – 29th: Recontextualizing Black History Through Art – Month long events City of St. Catharines Community Partners @ various locations in St. Catharines.

Feb 7 & Feb 28: Black History in Niagara at the Brock Library. The Brock community will have the opportunity to engage in a tour of the Brock Library Archives to learn more about Black history in St Catharines and the Greater Niagara Region.

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February 8th, 7 – 9 pm: Reclaiming the Narrative: Black Archives at the Archives of Ontario Talk – Black Student Success Center, Online – Registration Required

February 25th, 11 AM – 7 pm: UMOJA Black History Pop Up Market Black Owned 905 & Falls Barbershop @ Exchange Niagara Falls.

Understanding Palestine: Critical Insights and a Way Forward – Panel on January 24th

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Join us on Wednesday, January 24th at 6 pm for a panel presentation of five speakers followed by a Q&A period. Refreshments and light food will be provided. All are welcome.

It will be held in person at Brock. You will receive the event room via email 3 – 4 days before the event once you are registered. Register at tinyurl.com/4207Palestine.

Hosted by the Political Action and International Solidarity Committee.

Panelists: Rabbi David Mivasair, Moe Alqasem, Simon Black, Jana Bataineh, & Josh Decker.

Honouring the Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

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On Dec. 6 — the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women — Brock University remembers and honours the 14 women whose lives were tragically cut short by a horrific act of gender-based violence that took place on Dec. 6, 1989, at École Polytechnique in Montreal.

On this day, the University community also re-commits to ending gender-based violence and discrimination in all of its forms.

Intimate partner violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault and unwanted sexual attention are real problems encountered by women and girls in Canada every single day.

For Indigenous women, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and other vulnerable groups, the issue is even more severe, as these individuals are at even greater risk of experiencing gender-based violence.

That’s why today, and every day, we remember those lost at École Polytechnique and commit to ending gender-based violence and discrimination once and for all (Link to Brock News Article)

Additionally, read CUPE Ontario’s statement on National Day of Remembrance and Action to End Violence Against Women.

New CUPE Cast Episode: Accessible for Who?

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In this month’s episode, we explore the importance of accessibility in the workplace, focusing on the AODA Act and discussing disability rights, health and safety measures, creating an ability-smart workplace, and the Duty to Accommodate. The episode also highlights the political parties’ response to the AODA alliance’s questionnaire to addresses barriers, and an interview with Brenda Cervantes, a member of the Workers with Disabilities Committee and how CUPE Ontario, is committed to keep workers informed and empowered.

Listen here!

November 20th: Trans Day of Remembrance

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Recently, governments across the country have been playing politics with trans people’s safety.

Policy makers in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are trying to force education workers to out trans and questioning youth, putting them at increased risk for violence and isolation in their homes.

In September, Conservative Party of Canada convention delegates supported efforts to ban young people from accessing life-saving gender-affirming care, and to exclude trans women from women’s spaces.

Trans Day of Remembrance serves as a stark reminder of how much work we still must do. We are committed to continuing to make our workplaces, unions and communities safer for trans people.

Egale Canada – Free Workshops

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From the Pink Triangle Committee:
Egale is Canada’s leading organization for 2SLGBTQI people and issues. We improve and save lives through research, education, awareness, and by advocating for human rights and equality in Canada and around the world. Our work helps create societies and systems that reflect the universal truth that all persons are equal and none is other.
Sign up for the free online workshops on the website:
  • 2SLGBTQI History in Canada
  • Affirming Adults in the School Community
  • Trans and Nonbinary Youth
  • Draw the Line Against Transphobic Violence

If you are interested in joining the Pink Triangle committee or perhaps you’d like to help in other ways, please email info@cupe4207.org.