As Canadians we have rights to be treated fairly and with equality. These rights extend into our workplace. In our workplace we have the right to be treated fairly and without discrimination based on our gender, sex, disability, race, religion, or age.
Despite the laws that protect us such as the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Human Rights Code of British Columbia, and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights; which our country helped write, we still face racism and discrimination in our workplaces and in our communities.
The BCGEU works closely with our national union (NUPGE) and the Canadian Labour Congress to eliminate discrimination in the workplace and in our society and continues to do so.
Equity Questionnaire for BCGEU members
The BCGEU is committed to ensuring that our activities are accessible to sisters and brothers from all equity seeking groups. Please complete this survey and send it in. Click here for survey.
Human Rights Post Cards and Brochures
(in PDF format)
Workers of Colour
By the year 2017 Workers of colour will represent one out five Canadians. Workers of colour are considered to be persons of Chinese, South Asian, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Southeast Asian, Arab, West Asian, Japanese and Korean ancestry.
Throughout the history of British Columbia, and Canada, workers of color have chosen to come here and have contributed to the growth and diversity that British Columbia and Canada have come to be known for around the world. Canada is a multicultural society and it is due to the diverse and unique cultural traditions that we have such a rich country. But despite this fact many visible minorities are still treated as second class citizens.
Workers of colour at times are viewed by many in the dominant society as new immigrants failing to take into account that many families of workers have been here for generations and are proud to be Canadian. The ignorance of the facts of so many in the dominant society causes workers of color to face prejudice and discrimination in the workplace and society in general. Because of this prejudice and discrimination many are left to isolated and not as visible in the workplace. This treatment leaves workers vulnerable.
With increasing labour and skills shortages in Canada many companies take advantage of workers of color, new immigrants and foreign workers. Many of these workers are highly trained and educated but regrettably they do not get the recognition they deserve because they received their training in another country. Our hope is that we can work together to change that and have all workers be treated with respect they deserve and have a more inclusive society.
Though there is recognition that Canada needs to create a more inclusive work environment the fact is that this has not happened. Many areas in which these workers are employed is in the fastest growing sector of work: contract, temporary, part-time, casual, and shift work and this is where many Workers of Color find employment. What's more disturbing about this is that many companies take advantage of workers of color in these jobs and the BCGEU would like to see that change.
As part of our commitment to raising awareness and identifying the issues that racialized workers face we are developing networks and invite BCGEU members who are part of the designated groups to join and have a stronger voice for equity seeking members. The BCGEU and it's allies will continue to work hard to see the rights of workers of color advanced at their place of work as well as in society.
Be sure and check out the BCGEU photo gallery for activity by the Equity and Human Rights Committee.
