Human rights
PSAC Statement on International Human Rights Day
December 10, 2006
December 10 is a day to reflect on the status of human rights in Canada, our world and within our Union.
PSAC champions human rights and has taken actions to make our workplaces, our communities and our Union more inclusive. Unfortunately, racism and other forms of oppression still exist within our society and our Union. Earlier this year, racist incidents occurred on a PSAC picket line that were not appropriately challenged and addressed. These actions were offensive, and contradicted the principles and policies of our Union and the broader social justice movement.
The PSAC leadership takes full responsibility for the Union not having taken adequate measures to address the initial racist incidents when they occurred, and the subsequent defense of these incidents. PSAC apologizes for the negative impact this has had throughout our Union, in particular on Black people.
While this has been a difficult time for our Union, we must take this as an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and renew our commitment to confronting and challenging racism, and all forms of intolerance. PSAC is strongly committed to this challenge.
PSAC dedication to combating all forms of oppression including racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ablism, and all other forms of discrimination remains steadfast. PSAC has policies on human rights and anti-racism; the latter policy stating that the Union will not entertain, tolerate, condone or cover-up any act of overt or systemic racism within our Union.
This commitment includes integrating an anti-oppression analysis at all levels of PSAC and our activities. PSAC is also dedicated to ensuring that all of our equity-seeking members are able to participate at all levels of the Union. Promoting and enhancing the human rights and equity of everyone is a shared responsibility, and a priority that PSAC takes very seriously.
PSAC and the labour movement must be diligent in monitoring government actions, especially now when human rights and equality rights are under attack by the provincial and federal governments. The federal Conservative government has been relentless with its attacks on human rights and equality rights. It has recently eliminated the Court Challenges Program, has made significant cuts to the Status of Women Canada, has reduced social development programs under the Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), had tried to re-open debate on equal marriage rights, has refused to recognize Aboriginal rights in Canada and in the international forum, has further entrenched the role of Canadian Armed Forces from international peacekeepers to military interveners and continues to detain racialized people under security certificates.
There is also a trend by federal and provincial governments to either eliminate or greatly reduce the ability for equality-seeking groups to access fully publicly funded human rights commissions to address the discrimination and harassment they face.
To celebrate International Human Rights Day, the PSAC's National Equal Opportunities Committee has developed a poster with the theme “Human Rights are Workers' Rights”. This theme clearly conveys the message that advancements in human rights are gains for all workers, not just for members of equity-seeking groups. This poster celebrates International Human Rights Day, and promotes the human rights of workers in their workplaces and communities. PSAC encourages membership solidarity and participation in this important goal.
Access the poster, (PDF, 1683kb).
Date Modified : 2010/07/28
