ACTIONS

Equity and Human Rights

As Canadians, we have the 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.

Click here to access the equity survey.

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.

BCGEU EQUITY & HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

Are you a member of the BCGEU Equity Network yet?

The BCGEU is committed to ensuring that our activities and events are accessible to our members from all equity-seeking groups, and to connecting with and supporting our diverse membership. BCGEU members who identify with one or more of the four equity groups have joined the BCGEU Equity Network, and we would like to encourage you to sign up!

The Equity Network groups are:

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

Signing up to the Equity Network puts you on a confidential mailing list and you receive information, news stories and invitations to BCGEU-sponsored cultural and community events. We also welcome any interesting articles or events from your community that you would like us to distribute to the Network.

The email and contact list is kept confidential. Unless you agree by indicating on the form that you want to be contacted by other members of your equity group, there is no distribution of your email for any other purpose.

If you haven’t signed up yet, please click here to download and submit the survey form.

If you have any questions or require further information please contact the Equity and Human Rights Officer Earl Moloney, (email), or phone (604) 291-9611 or 1-800-663-1674.

Check out the Equity & Human Rights Photo Gallery

Download PDF file of the 2014 Aboriginal Roundtable Report

"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 Surrey City Centre branch of Vancity, is profiled here.

Former BCGEU Vice-President Lorene Oikawa on being active in thhe BCGEU, is profiled here.

Anti-bullying

The BCGEU takes the issue of workplace bullying very seriously. We're putting mechanisms in place to address the problem, such as educating our members about bullying and negotiating anti-bullying language in our collective agreements.

Our successes include:

Negotiated an MOU (#13) with the B.C. Government. The MOU is entitled Bullying in the Workplace and contained in our 16th Master Agreement.
Negotiated anti-bullying language in collective agreement for Component 17 members at BC Place and Atira.
The BCGEU also leads educational campaigns and holds workshops to educate members about workplace bullying.

PINK SHIRT DAY (HELD EACH FEBRUARY)

WHAT IS PINK SHIRT DAY?

Pink Shirt Day is an annual event meant to remind us about the misery caused by bullying. The “pink” campaign began in Nova Scotia in 2007 when two high school students learned a fellow student had been threatened for wearing a pink polo shirt. To support their friend, the teens bought 50 pink shirts and tank tops and urged others to wear them in support of anti-bullying. When the bullied student walked into school, he saw his fellow students dressed in pink. It was a powerful, supportive moment. When a large of group of people stand up against bullies in support of the victim, bullies lose all their power. Schools and workplaces across Canada have since adopted the campaign.

Visit the resources section below for anti-bullying posters and materials you can download and print for your worksite.

2016 EVENT INFORMATION

Pink Shirt Day is scheduled for Wednesday, February 24. The BCGEU is, for a fourth year, partnering with the CKNW Orphan's Fund.

A BCGEU-themed public service announcement will air on CKNW during the month of February 2016.

2015 EVENT INFORMATION

Pink Shirt Day is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25. The BCGEU is, for a third year, partnering with the CKNW Orphan's Fund. We'll have more information on ways BCGEU members can get involved, closer to the date. So, please keep checking back.

A BCGEU-themed public service announcement will air on CKNW during the month of February 2015. You can hear it here.

2014 EVENT INFORMATION

Since 2013, the BCGEU partnered with Vancouver radio station CKNW on its annual Orphans' Fund Pink Shirt Day. We were a proud sponsor again in 2014.

As part of our sponsorship, CKNW will air a public service message we've produced. Listen to it here.
The message will air on CKNW Radio between February 1 and Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 26, 2014.

We'll also participate in a radio interview airing on the Simi Sara Show.
As well, our activists participated in a special Pink Shirt Day event in downtown Vancouver. See CKNW's Pink Shirt Day website.

See our Pink Shirt Day 2014 photo gallery. Includes photos of the anti-bullying awareness luncheon co-sponsored by the BCGEU, PAVCO and Centerplate at BC Place on February 26, 2014.

2013 EVENT INFORMATION

News release about sponsors and guests at the campaign event in downtown Vancouver on February 27, 2013. Photos of BCGEU members at Pink Shirt Day 2013.