Spring 2003
FALL 2003
Regional Pride Conference
The 2003 CAW Regional Pride Conference will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia along with the Canadian Labour Congress Regional Pride Conference on November 7, 8 and 9. More details will be out soon. Look for the call letter at your local!
Victories in the
House of Commons
Our community can celebrate two victories which took place in the House of Commons recently. On September 16, 2003, the Canadian Alliance introduced a motion calling for all necessary steps to be taken to defend the heterosexual definition of marriage. A narrow majority of MP's voted against the Alliance motion which would have required Parliament to use the "notwithstanding" clause of the Charter to overrule Court judgments.
The Supreme Court of Canada has set April 16, 2004 to consider arguments on the federal government's draft marriage bill. In addition to writing to the government in support of same-sex marriage, the CAW has also joined a new coalition called Canadians for Equal Marriage.
The second victory is the passage of the Hate Crimes Bill (Bill C-250) on September 17, 2003. Thanks to Svend Robinson's tenacity, this Bill passed amending the Criminal Code of Canada to include "sexual orientation" in the prohibited grounds of hate propaganda. Buzz has written to Svend on behalf of the CAW thanking him for his work.
CAW Constitutional Convention
Delegates from coast to coast gathered recently in Toronto for the CAW's Seventh Constitutional Convention where they debated key issues facing the union and where they celebrated the many challenges and victories since the last convention. It was the CAW's largest convention ever with approximately 1,100 delegates, guests and staff attending.
CAW president Buzz Hargrove opened the convention with a wide ranging speech covering important issues facing the CAW, international events as well as electoral politics. He spoke strongly on our issues:
I was never prouder of our union than when I read The Toronto Star, and saw CAW Local 222 President Mike Shields demanding that Marc Hall, a young gay man, have the right to be treated like every other student, and be able to take his partner to the prom. Those are the kind of actions that make this union different.
Later in his speech he said:
We have made some progress on human rights for our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered members. The federal courts and legislators have also moved to respect the rights of this group of people: their right to benefits, their right to adoption, and many other legitimate concerns that this community has put before the people of Canada.
A Pride Policy Statement was introduced which reviews the accomplishments of the CAW over the last 10-15 years on LGBT issues, outlines current challenges, and maps next steps on the road to equality:
- continued promotion of the one day Confronting Homophobia workshop, especially for union leadership;
- pro-active enforcement of the CAW anti-harassment policy and continued negotiation of anti-harassment training in all workplaces;
- same-sex benefit inclusion and expansion in collective agreements, and transgender rights;
- encouragement and removal of barriers to participation by LGBT members in the union, as well as the creation of an LGBT Advisory Committee to CAW Council;
- activism on a host of legal initiatives including the addition to the Criminal Code of hate crimes against the LGBT community, inclusion of gender identity within human rights codes, amendment of documents that assume heterosexual parents, and the right to same-sex marriage.
Many speakers at Convention congratulated the CAW on the Pride paper, including Council president Ken Lewenza and Council vice-president Mike Shields. In a heartfelt and forceful address, Lewenza told delegates that LGBT issues are about justice and equality -- values at the very core of the union.
Mike Shields said that since his highly public involvement in the Marc Hall struggle (the young high school student who fought to take his boyfriend to his prom) CAW LGBT members have approached him to say that for the first time they feel like they are part of their union.
The Pride Policy Statement was overwhelmingly passed by convention delegates. The full text of the Policy can be found on our website at www.caw.ca/pride.
In addition to the Policy Statement, two resolutions were passed. Local 199 submitted a resolution calling for an education campaign for our members and others on LGBT issues. Local 2002's resolution supports transgender inclusion in CAW campaigns, educationals and bargaining agendas.
Following the Convention, Buzz Hargrove wrote to the Prime Minister on behalf of the CAW calling on the government to impose caucus solidarity to ensure the equal marriage legislation is passed. The full text of this letter, as well others on LGBT issues, can be found at www.caw.ca/pride.
A Convention delegate raised the issue of homophobia within the Salvation Army. He told the convention that his local had decided to stop sending donations to the Salvation Army because of their position on our community. Buzz followed up with a letter to the Salvation Army urging them to change the position.
Pride Events
Halton
It was a beautiful day for Halton's Pride Picnic. Although rain clouds were looming in the sky at the beginning of the day, it did clear up shortly after the picnic started and turned out to be sunny for the rest of the day. We were one of a number of information tables set up. We had on display CAW Pride literature, and our CAW and Pride flags. We made contact with a person at a plant in Niagara Falls and discussed the need for human rights training at that unit. There were games for the kids, tug of war for the adults, a live band plus more. A great family day!
Toronto
The CAW had a strong presence in the Toronto Pride Parade again this year. The Oshawa Caucus along with the Pride Standing Committees of Locals 1285 and 199 did a great job of organizing our float. CAW activists from across the province came to help set it up. Our contingent marched proudly beside our new CAW Pride placards, stepping to the funky beats of John and Jef. Our float was among the labour floats ensuring that the political edge to this year's theme of "Diverse, Defiant, Divine" went out to the crowd of almost a million people. Some of us wore coveralls as we handed out "CAW: Know Your Workplace Rights" to interested spectators.
London
A committed group of CAW activists came out to the
Parade this year. Stephanie Johnstone co-chair of the CAW London
and Area Working With Pride Caucus proudly waved the CAW/TCA flag
and received a good welcome from the crowd.
The London Caucus says thanks to all those who supported the Movie Social on September 13th. Also a special thanks to CAW Local 1520 and CAW Local 636 for their generous donations to help make the event possible. A fun time was had by all.
Windsor
The Windsor Caucus hosted a Pride Picnic opening the 11th Windsor Pride with a good turn out of CAW LGBT activists and allies. We were happy to see Alan Sears, Professor at the University of Windsor and a friend to the CAW, receive Windsor Pride's Man of the Year. Hedy Halpern and Colleen Rogers, activists in the fight to attain equal marriage, were the recipients of the Woman of the Year award. We made some more links during Pride week including with the Crossroads Transgender Support Group from Michigan with whom we hope to get involved. We continue our work with Habitat for Humanity in building two houses in the Windsor area.
Vancouver
Vancouver's Pride week "Building Pride 2003" attracted over 120,000 people. The celebrations peaked with a cultural, political, and colourful Pride Parade on August 4th. There were over 100 float entries and the CAW was visible as part of the Multi-Union Pride float. We marched with other MUP members wearing our "Pride in Unions" t-shirts. This year marked the 25th anniversary of celebrating our proud culture and taking our community space.
Trans Issues for the Labour Movement
Early in 2001, the Canadian Labour Congress, through its Solidarity and Pride Working Group, prepared and distributed a "Transgender Discussion Paper."
The response, including the direct input of trans activists in our unions and in communities, was enormous and positive. The result is a paper, "Trans Issues for the Labour Movement" that invites further action, education, debate and discussion among trade unionists and LGBT community activists.
The paper asks and answers important questions: Why should the labour movement take up the cause of transgender workers? Who are transgender people? What are the issues facing transgender workers? What can the union movement do at work and in the community?
Included among the paper's suggestions for what unions can do at work are specific ideas for the negotiation of collective agreement protections, how to defend trans workers, and how to do education on trans issues. See www.caw.ca/pride for the full paper.
Trans Healthcare Fight
In 1998, Ontario's right wing government removed Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) from the list of medically necessary procedures covered by the provincial health insurance plan (OHIP). Not all transsexuals choose SRS but for those who do, it is recognized as an appropriate treatment and should be covered. The procedures represented less than .00001% of Ontario's health care budget. Since the de-listing there have been lobbying efforts by trans women and men and allies as well as a legal challenge. The CAW has recently lent its voice to this struggle.
CAUCUS CORNER
Oshawa & Area Caucus
CAW members in the Oshawa, Peterborough and Toronto East area can
leave a message for the LGBT Caucus at Local 222, (905)723-1187
ext. 226 or e-mail: lgbtoshawa@hotmail.com.
Western Region Pride Caucus
Our Caucus meets monthly. Contact us by leaving a message at the
CAW Regional Office in Vancouver at 1-800-665-3553 or by e-mail:
cawpridebc@hotmail.com.
Windsor & Area LGBT Caucus
The CAW Windsor Area LGBT Caucus meetings are held every 3rd
Wednesday of the month at 8:00pm at the CAW Regional Office, 2345
Central Ave. Contact us at 519-944-5866 or e-mail:
lgbtcawwindsor@yahoo.ca Web site:
www.geocities.com/caw_lgbt_caucus/.
Golden Horseshoe Regional LGBT Caucus
Greetings! Contact us at stickman@iaw.on.ca or by calling (905)
714-7333.
London and Area Working With Pride Caucus
Our meetings are held on the second Sunday of each month. For more
information call: Stephanie Johnstone (519) 536-9023 / Laura
Panther (519) 785-3108 / Deb Cadman CAW London Regional Office
(519) 433-7211 ext. 227 / e-mail: cawpride@yahoo.ca / website:
www.geocities.com/cawlgbtcaucus/
ANYTHING TO CONTRIBUTE?
If you would like to contribute to Pride in Print, contact us by email at cawpride@caw.ca, or by phone, 1-800-268-5763, Human Rights Department.
To receive your copy of Pride in Print by mail, call or e-mail the Human Rights Department at 1-800-268-5763 / cawpride@caw.ca and have your name added to our confidential mailing list.
Occasionally we send out information to our Pride Activists by e-mail. If you are not receiving information in this format and would like to, please send your email address to cawpride@caw.ca.
Last but not least:
Congratulations to Sue Carter and her partner Anne on
the birth of their daughter Ruby. We look forward to Sue's return
from maternity leave in June 2004!
New CAW Pride Materials
These new Pride materials are available at CAW Area Offices and from Pride Caucuses and Standing Committees across the country. Take some to your next demo. You can see these materials in colour soon at caw.ca/pride.
Leaflet
Poster
Postcard
Sticker
Picket Sign
