International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, commemorated by the United Nations (UN) since 1992. On this day we affirm our commitment to continue fighting for disability inclusion at work and in society at large. This year’s theme is leadership and participation of persons with disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-pandemic world. To achieve this, the UN calls for an integrated approach.

Canadians living with a disability remain financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which served to exacerbate existing inequities, including employment gaps across for the country for persons with disabilities. Workers with compensable work-related injuries have seen a reduction in benefits while insurance companies continue to prioritize employer rebates ahead worker health and well-being. Workers with disabilities have also been more likely to fall through the cracks in eligibility provisions for government benefits including CERB, established at the beginning of the pandemic.

UFCW Canada works with national disability organizations to lobby all levels of governments and pushes for a strengthened disability inclusion lens in worker supports.

Nothing about this level of disability injustice is an accident or an oversight. The disproportionate negative impacts faced by workers with disabilities throughout this pandemic remain preventable. A strengthened Employment Insurance system is critical to creating a sustainable post-pandemic recovery which provides all workers, including workers with disabilities the necessary supports when they are sick and unable to work.

UFCW Canada is once again taking an active role in the Disability and Work Canada National Conference, led by our partner organization, the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work. UFCW Canada will also be releasing a survey which asks UFCW members across Canada about their disability priorities and needs. We believe that workplace inclusion must begin with accessibility and to achieve this it must remain worker-centered.

On this international day of observance we reaffirm our commitment to eliminating workplace barriers, strengthening collective bargaining protections for workers with disabilities and advocating for a strengthened disability inclusive lens which leaves no one behind.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly adopted October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Despite the continued growth in global economic development, millions of people around the world continue to live in extreme poverty.

Today, there are 1.3 billion people living in persistent poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic has only made matters worse. The link between poor access to social determinants of health and poverty continue to rise. According to the World Bank, between 88 and 115 million people around the world continue to be pushed into poverty during this most recent health and economic crisis.

The United Nations theme for International Day for the Eradication of Poverty surrounds respect for people and planet. To do that, we look to address the systemic issues that cause poverty. In Canada the focus is building back better for a post-pandemic recovery that leaves no one behind. Gig-workers are often cited as an example of people confined to employment on the margins of precariousness and vulnerability as they experience a lack of basic workplace protections.

As we reflect on the actions needed to eradicate poverty there is no better time than now to continue advocating for a post-pandemic recovery that puts workers first. Across Canada, injured workers are continuously deprived dignity, especially when attempting to access compensation after a workplace injury.

It is not okay to sustain an economy on precarious labour as experienced by migrant workers who have no opportunity for citizenship yet are critical to Canada’s economic growth.

Poverty eradication strategies need to address the many ways people experience economic insecurity. To do that, workers must be front and centre in the dialogue. 

World Mental Health Day

Every October 10, people around the world observe World Mental Health Day to raise awareness of the stigmas surrounding mental illness and the importance of promoting mental health. With new challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and an increased need for mental health services as people grapple with the coronavirus crisis, this year’s World Mental Health Day seeks to promote greater awareness of and investment in mental health.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is one of the most neglected areas of public health. Globally, close to 1 billion people are living with a mental illness. And now, billions of people around the world have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is having a further impact on people’s mental wellbeing.

Clearly, then, a focus on mental health is needed now more than ever, and it is also important for us to recognize that workplace health and safety includes mental health. Given that, on any given week, 500,000 Canadians are unable to work due to mental illnesses, it is vital for employers to provide support to workers who are experiencing a mental illness, and to work with employees and their union to develop an effective workplace mental health strategy.

Indeed, our union believes that mental health promotion belongs to all of us, because no one is immune to mental illness, regardless of your occupation, gender, ethnicity, or any other marker of your identity. That is why, in support of World Mental Health Day 2021, UFCW Canada has launched a new Mental Health Resources webpage featuring tools that can help with addressing mental health issues at work.   

UFCW is also encouraging activists and allies to help raise awareness of the need for mental health supports and investment and robust workplace mental health strategies by talking to your friends, family, colleagues, and social networks about these critical issues.

Your mental health starts with you, and it is just as important as any other health-related matter in life. Take care of your own health to support those around you. And remember that workplace health and safety always includes mental health.

Refugee Rights Day – April 4

Each year in Canada, Refugee Rights Day is commemorated on April 4. The day is a moment to celebrate the advances that have been made in the protection of refugee rights in Canada, most notably as a result of the Singh Decision in 1985. It is also an opportunity for us to strengthen our advocacy for refugees, refugee claimants, displaced persons, undocumented persons, and immigrants in our labour activism.

On April 4, 1985, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the fundamental rights of refugees. The Court decided that Section 7 of the Charter applies to everyone in Canada. The judgment states that everyone is entitled to “life, liberty, and security of the person,” regardless of their status as citizens, refugee applicants, or as undocumented persons.

This year’s Refugee Rights Day is especially relevant, as we are seeing the Singh decision in action with Canada’s acceptance of Ukrainian families escaping the Russian military’s senseless and horrifying war on Ukraine. Under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel visa program, available for all individuals fleeing Ukraine, there is no limit to the number of people who can apply, and eligible individuals can stay, work, and go to school in Canada for up to three years.

The authorization is the right thing to do in Ukrainians’ time of need, and programs like this should be extended to all people escaping war and violence abroad. Indeed, Canada should accept refugees fleeing their countries for various reasons, whether it be violence, human rights violations, or any other protected ground.

As we remember the landmark Singh decision, and welcome a new wave of families affected by war, it is important for us to maintain our commitment to protect the rights of refugees and undocumented people. This should be reflected in the way we advocate for improved workers’ rights, and for the acceptance of all refugees, no matter their country of origin.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

A 2021 Statistics Canada analysis found that while police reported crimes across the country were on a decline after five years of increases, in 2020, hate crimes increased by 37 percent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia

January 29 marks the second National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia. On this date in 2017, six worshippers lost their lives at a Québec City mosque.

Ibrahima Barry, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzedine Soufiane, and Aboubaker Thabti were fathers, sons, husbands, brothers, and community members. Today we remember this senseless act of violence and reflect on the ongoing presence of Islamophobia, xenophobia and racism in Canadian society. We also renew our call to action as a strong and united national labour movement working to challenge Islamophobia.

Islamophobia, a form of systemic racism and religious discrimination, is generally defined as the irrational fear and hatred of the religion of Islam or Muslims. Canadian Muslims account for 3.2% of the Canadian population yet, in the last five years, have been killed in targeted hate attacks in Canada more than in any other G7 country. For Ontarians, this hit close to home in June 2021 when three generations of the Afzaal family were killed while out for a walk in the City of London due to one individual’s hate. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Examples of Islamophobic attacks are noted on the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) Hate Crimes Map and website.

UFCW Canada recognizes that Islamophobia is deeply rooted and systemic in our society. Last June UFCW Canada joined the NCCM and leading organizations across the country in calling for a National Action Summit on Islamophobia. We also continue to support NCCM’s #Green Square Campaign.

In representing a quarter of a million workers nationally, UFCW Canada understands that eliminating Islamophobia requires a multi-level approach as it impacts every aspect of Canadian society including healthcare, education, employment, and personal safety. Islamophobia has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the increased presence of stigma and stereotypes against Muslims, particularly online.

As we talk about what an anti-racist post pandemic recovery looks like, we highlight the national #Stop the Hate campaign. One of the actions in this campaign calls on the federal government to use an inter-ministerial and inter-jurisdictional approach to support the work of the Anti-Racism Secretariat in combatting Islamophobia and intersecting oppression. Sign the petition now at www.ufcw.ca/stopthehate.

In the workplace, this day of remembrance is also an opportunity to familiarize ourselves with UFCW Canada Anti-Islamophobia resources, created in partnership with the NCCM:

My Rights To Religious Accommodation at Work - Action Card #1

Tips on Requesting Religious Accommodations - Action Card #2

Tips on Handling Discrimination / Harassment at Work - Action Card #3

Challenging Islamophobia Through Bystander Intervention - Action Card #4

Challenge Islamophobia – Observing Ramadan - Action Card #5

Challenge Islamophobia – The Importance of Praying at Work and Ablution - Action Card #6

Challenge Islamophobia – Greetings and the Muslim Faith - Action Card #7

Challenging Islamophobia – Why Time Off For Eid is Important - Action Card #8

On this date, and everyday let us continue to support organizations leading this fight and continue to affirm our solidarity with Muslim communities across Canada.

To find out more about UFCW Canada’s Social Justice work, click here.