Equality Statement and Indigenous Greeting
Equality Statement
Equality Statement
Union solidarity is based on the principle that union members are equal and deserve
mutual respect at all levels. Any behaviour that creates conflict prevents us from
working together to strengthen our union.
As unionists, mutual respect, cooperation and understanding are our goals. We
should neither condone nor tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or selfesteem of any individual or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
Discriminatory speech or conduct which is racist, sexist, transphobic or homophobic
hurts and thereby divides us. So too, does discrimination on the basis of ability,
age, class, religion, language and ethnic origin.
Sometimes discrimination takes the form of harassment. Harassment means using
real or perceived power to abuse, devalue or humiliate. Harassment should not be
treated as a joke. The uneasiness and resentment that it creates are not feelings that
help us grow as a union.
Discrimination and harassment focus on characteristics that make us different; and
they reduce our capacity to work together on shared concerns such as decent wages,
safe working conditions, and justice in the workplace, society and in our union.
CUPE’s policies and practices must reflect our commitment to equality. Members,
staff and elected officers must be mindful that all persons deserve dignity, equality
and respect.
MARK HANCOCK CHARLES FLEURY
National President National Secretary-Treasurer
Énoncé de l’égalité
La solidarité syndicale est fondée sur le principe voulant que les femmes et hommes
syndiqués soient égaux et qu’ils et elles méritent le respect à tous les niveaux. Tout
comportement qui crée un conflit nous empêche de travailler ensemble pour renforcer
notre syndicat.
En tant que syndicalistes, nos objectifs sont le respect mutuel, la coopération et la
compréhension. Nous ne devrions ni excuser, ni tolérer un comportement qui mine
la dignité ou l’amour-propre de quelque personne que ce soit ou qui crée un climat
intimidant, hostile ou offensant.
Un discours discriminatoire ou un comportement raciste, sexiste, transphobique
ou homophobe fait mal et, par conséquent, nous divise. C’est aussi le cas pour la
discrimination sur la base de la capacité, de l’âge, de la classe, de la religion, de
la langue et de l’origine ethnique.
La discrimination revêt parfois la forme du harcèlement. Le harcèlement signifie utiliser
du pouvoir réel ou perçu pour abuser d’une personne, pour la dévaluer ou l’humilier.
Le harcèlement ne devrait pas être traité à la légère. La gêne ou le ressentiment qu’il
crée ne sont pas des sentiments qui nous permettent de grandir en tant que syndicat.
La discrimination et le harcèlement mettent l’accent sur les caractéristiques qui nous
distinguent; de plus, ils nuisent à notre capacité de travailler ensemble sur des questions
communes comme les salaires décents, les conditions de travail sécuritaires et la justice
au travail, dans la société et dans notre syndicat.
Les politiques et pratiques du SCFP doivent refléter notre engagement en faveur de
l’égalité. Les membres, le personnel et les dirigeantes et dirigeants élus ne doivent pas
oublier que toutes les personnes méritent d’être traitées avec dignité, égalité et respect.
MARK HANCOCK CHARLES FLEURY
Président national Secrétaire-trésorier national
Indigenous Greeting
At the beginning of CUPE 1165 meeting, we acknowledge that we are meeting on aboriginal land that has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples from the beginning.
For those of us who are settlers, we are grateful for the opportunity to meet here and we thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land – for thousands of years.
Long before today, as we gather here, there have been aboriginal peoples who have been the stewards of Toronto.
We recognize and deeply appreciate their historic connection to this place. We also recognize the contributions of Metis, Inuit, and other Indigenous peoples have made, both in shaping and strengthening this community in particular, and our province and country as a whole.
For those of us who are settlers, this recognition of the contributions and historic importance of Indigenous peoples must be clearly and overtly connected to our collective commitment to make the promise and the challenge of Truth and Reconciliation real in our communities and in our union.
It also must be directly connected to our commitment to work with others to bring justice for murdered and missing indigenous women and girls from coast to coast to coast.
We (I) would like to begin by acknowledging that we are in the Robertson Huron treaty territory and that the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe people.