Human Rights


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.



Are you a member of the BCGEU Equity Network yet?

For the past two years, BCGEU members who identify with one or more of the four equity groups have joined the BCGEU Equity Network .

The equity groups are:

  • Aboriginal
  • Workers with Disabilities (this includes any hidden disability)
  • Workers of colour
  • Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender

Signing up to a network puts you on a confidential mailing list and you receive information, news stories and invitations to BCGEU-sponsored cultural events. The BCGEU also welcomes any interesting articles or events from your community to distribute to the network.
The email and contact list is kept confidential. Unless you agree there is no distribution of your e mail.

If you haven’t signed up yet, please click here.

This information will go directly to the aboriginal liaison-equity officer who will be producing a group summery of the self-identification information and only contacting those who include their contact information.

If you have any questions or require further information please contact Holly Page: Holly.page@bcgeu.ca. Phone (604) 291-9611 or 1-800-663-1674.



"My Life, My Union"

BCGEU member Kiran Kang shares her thoughts in the latest installment of the "My Life, My Union" series featured in a number of newspapers. Kang is a member of the union's provincial Women's Committee and a member of the Equity Network. Read about Kang  here.

Mimi Murray, a steward at the newly certified Surrey City Centre branch of Vancity, is profiled here.

BCGEU Vice-President Lorene Oikawa on being active in thhe BCGEU.


Statement on the International Day against Homophobia

From the Canadian Labour Congress, on behalf of the 3.3 million affiliated members Read more »

‎March 21, 2012 – International Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination

A message from Lorene Oikawa, BCGEU vice president, co-chair of the Equity + Human Rights Committee, and chair of the BC Federation of Labour Human Rights Committee Read more »

2011 - the year human rights went viral

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10,  1948, grew from the experience of the Second World War. With the creation of the United Nations, the international community vowed never to allow the atrocities experienced during the war to happen again. Read more »

Transgender Day of Remembrance - November 20th

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Read more »

Please join us for Vancouver Pride 2011

Each year, Vancouver's Pride Parade gets more spectacular and more crowded. Last year over 650,000 people lined the streets for Western Canada's largest celebration of the LGBTTQ community. As Vancouver Pride celebrates its 33rd year, expect more fabulous floats, more elaborate costumes and an even greater number of people filling the streets of Vancouver with Pride! Read more »

March 21, 2011 - International Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination

A message from Lorene Oikawa, BCGEU vice-president and chair of the Equity + Human Rights Committee
Read more »

Public Education Initiative - Indian Residential School Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Read this article on the "Public Education Initiative" put on by the Indian Residential School Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The article, written by BCGEU Vice-president Lorene Oikawa, was published in the December 2010 issue of The Bulletin magazine. Read more »

City of New Westminster to apologize to Chinese Canadians

The City of New Westminster will be apologizing to Chinese Canadians for past injustices.

Read the article here.