Human Rights & Equity Prepares For The Sector Conference in Washington, D.C.
By Michael D’Souza
Chair: TNG-CWA Committee on Human Rights and Equity
 

A thunderstorm was looming on the horizon as I started writing this column, and that seemed appropriate given the way the economic storm is battering our industry. From Canada we watched as jobs disappeared across the border in the United States. Union brothers and sisters I have met over the years at union meetings were losing their jobs, and so many of them had been in those jobs for decades. Now we are trying to do what we can to help brothers and sisters as their jobs vanish on this side of the border. Even the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, where I work, has cut 800 jobs. So many have left before their retirement date, accepting small payments to give up jobs they love in the hope of making room for those who are starting their careers. In some cases they have created vacancies, in others their work has simply disappeared.
 
Members of equity seeking groups are a disproportionate percentage of the people leaving. In a Canadian context, these groups include people of color, aboriginal or Native people, people with disabilities and women. Yes, even in 2009 women are considered members of equity seeking groups, especially in such areas as technical operations of the television business. In one department at the CBC’s operations in Toronto, a quarter of those given redundancy notices are members of equity seeking groups.
 
Research released by the University of British Columbia in Vancouver Canada shows that even finding a job in Canada is much tougher if your name is Sana Khan or Lei Li. Forty percent tougher than if your name is Jill Wilson or John Martin. This study was done this year and released in late May.  Sadly, it echoes studies I read about in the 70s.
 
All of this is happening as the face of the workforce is changing in the United States and in Canada. Analysis of the census in both countries show that the people we call the majority population will soon be yet another minority.
 
This makes it critical that unions like our reach out to the equity seeking groups if we wish to remain relevant. We have to review language in our collective agreements to make sure that it is not discriminatory but welcoming.
 
It is in this context that the TNG’s committee on human rights and equity is preparing for the sector conference in Washington in June. The committee is working on tools all locals can use to deal with human rights and equity issues even when the industry is under stress and is shrinking.

Workshop: Friday, June 19th
The committee will draw on accumulated research materials on addressing issues about human rights and equity and the fundamental principle of seniority and diversifying the union itself.

This research includes:

1) A survey of clauses on Human Rights and Equity currently in Collective Agreements.
 
2) The Community Talent Development clause in the new CA between the CMG and the CBC.
 
3) A legal opinion from the TNG lawyer on including special language in Collective Agreements.
 
4) Material from other unions on progressive language addressing Human Rights and Equity Issues.
 
5) A review of hiring policies within the TNG and CWA to ensure a more diversified staff.

Committee Meeting: Friday, June 19th
This session will discuss the general business of the committee. Other union members attending the sector conference are encouraged to attend. This will give them a better understanding of the workings of this committee. It will also prepare members who may be nominated by their sectors and regions to become members of the committee. Those choices are traditionally made early on the Saturday morning.

Plenary Session: Saturday, June 20th
The committee is planning a one-hour panel discussion on diversity, human rights and equity during the plenary session on Saturday. This session will include a historic perspective on human-rights issues and practical means of addressing these issues in your own local. The committee will draw heavily on the work of the Friday workshop to prepare for this panel discussion.
 
The committee is welcoming any contributions locals may have to make, including language they may have in their own collective agreements, experience in resolving issues on the shop floor or addressing legislative challenges at the local, state or national level.
 
Marian Needham is working with the committee on this project. Send your contributions to her at: mneedham@cwa-union.org
 
About that storm. It descended. Lightening. Thunder. Heavy rain falling in sheets. But it’s blown over now. The sun’s out and out and there are two - yes two - rainbows over Lake Ontario. And this storm that’s battering the work we love so much - it too shall pass. Now is when we must consider what we’ll do when sunny days are back again.