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The Steelworkers National Human Rights Committee was established at the Canadian Policy Conference in 1997. The Committee includes representatives from each of the union’s three districts in Canada and is reflective of the union's diversity.
The committee held its first national conference in Toronto in 1999. Delegates reviewed workplace and local union human rights initiatives and helped set priorities for the union’s human rights education and advocacy work.
Since the first conference, the committee has been active in planning and facilitating union conferences and workshops to ensure human rights issues are raised.
Delegates at the April 2007 National Policy Conference endorsed “A Commitment to Equality Locally and Globally.” Working with the National Women’s Committee, the National Human Rights Committee co-chaired a session on equality issues and involved delegates in an interactive floor discussion. Of 28 resolutions debated and passed throughout the Conference, ten of them advanced the rights of equality-seeking groups.
At the 2007 National Policy Conference, both committees co-hosted a Solidarity Evening that included Cree music and drumming by the Nemisak Singers
and karaoke union songs with People’s Progressive Karaoke
.
Members of the Rights Committee are also active on the Canadian Labour Congress Human Rights Committee, including sub-committees on gay and lesbian issues, anti-racism education and a working group for workers of colour.
The Committee also maintains global solidarity and social activism through its links to international organizations like the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
, the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance
, and the Steelworkers Humanity Fund
.
The National Human Rights Committee encourages and supports the establishment of human rights committees at the local union level.
A useful guide in using human rights to build solidarity is Our Rights at Work: Steelworker Human Rights Committee Guide
.
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HUMAN RIGHTS
