February 1, 2020
Every February, Unifor celebrates Black History Month to honour the contributions Black Canadians have made and continue to make in our workplaces and communities.
Black History Month has been officially marked in Canada since 1995 following a motion introduced in the House of Commons by the first Black Canadian woman elected to parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine. This month continues to provide an opportunity to reflect on the unique challenges facing Black communities and individuals.
Guided by this year’s theme Celebrating Our History and Making Our Own, Unifor highlights the tireless work of Black people in the continuing fight for workers’ rights, human rights, and in seeking equality for all.
This year also marks the sixth year of the United Nation’s International Decade for People of African Descent dedicated to recognition, justice and development. These concepts are integral to the union’s work as we continue to oppose ingrained and persistent inequalities. Recognition of historical struggles and accomplishments broadens our understanding of the challenges that persist, and inspires our activism to promote respect and engage in meaningful change.
Unifor actively seeks justice for marginalized communities, both through workplace supports and through solidarity with the tremendous Black leaders from coast to coast developing and strengthening their workplaces and communities.
Resolutions against racial profiling were adopted across the country at each of Unifor’s Regional Councils and the union is coordinating broad discussions with police forces across the country to ensure discriminatory practices are eliminated on paper and in practice.
All month long, Unifor will be collecting stories featuring the work of Black members from across the country. To be featured in our Black History Month review, have your Unifor Local submit a photo and a short description of your work and accomplishments to humanrights@unifor.org.
Download the Unifor app, check unifor.org for upcoming events, and participate in Unifor Local events in your area to celebrate the ongoing work by Black Canadians.