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Equity and Human Rights Committee

COMMITTEE

Lorene Oikawa, Co-Chairperson
Fernanda Sanchez, Co-Chairperson
Gilly Alook (1207)
Cheryl Gilbert (2011)
Sue Powell (602)
Sussanne Skidmore (1211)
Uget Johnson Kambonaba (1201)
Darryl Flasch (603)
Matt Salli (604)
Catherine Sullivan, Asst. Secretary
Holly Page, Secretary
 

TERMS OF REFERENCE

  • work to eliminate discrimination on the basis of: age, ancestry, colour, race or place of origin, family or marital status, sexual orientation, political or religious belief, physical or mental disability, gender/gender identity, and social condition in our Union, our workplaces and in society;
  • represent the interests of equity seeking partners (people with disabilities; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, people of colour and diverse ethnic heritage; First Nations and Metis people) consistent with union policy;
  • identify issues of relevance and importance to our equity seeking partners and recommend ways to incorporate these issues into our Union’s priorities through internal and external consultations with equity seeking partners, identify and recommend means to make our Union a more accessible and inclusive organization to the full range of our membership;
  • encourage and support participation of equity seeking partners among our members in leadership positions within our Union;
  • make recommendations on Union policy, procedure and practice to the Executive Committee and the Provincial Executive;
  • liaise with the Education, Activism and Communications Committee to: seek the input of equity seeking partners regarding our Union’s education programme and communications strategy; and promote equity and human rights education;
  • promote awareness of equity and human rights issues and initiatives, collective agreement language, provincial and national human rights legislation, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in our Union, our workplaces, the labour movement and the community;
  • provide resources and support to components, locals, bargaining committees and councils, and cross component committees on equity and human rights issues;
  • liaise with the Women’s, Community and Social Action and International Solidarity and other union committees to work on issues and initiatives of common concern;
  • develop and make recommendations to the Provincial Executive on resolutions to BCGEU bargaining conferences and conventions and to organizations to which we are affiliates;
  • ensure that the work of the committee is communicated to our Union’s membership through components and consider concerns and issues raised by component representatives on the committee on behalf of their component executives;
  • encourage and support standing and/or ad hoc caucuses of equity seeking partners;
  • liaise with BCGEU/NUPGE representatives on relevant external committees, working groups and community organizations.