| Dear Colleagues, Last week, Algonquin College invited OPSEU/SEFPO members to complete an employment equity survey. As your College Union leaders, we encourage your participation in this exercise. Why? Data gathering for the purpose of achieving employment equity is long overdue at our college. Many communities have and continue to be marginalized, underrepresented or excluded from full participation in the workplace — our college is no exception. We need our workplace to become more inclusive and reflective of society. Knowing where we are, from a data perspective, is a first step in correcting these historical wrongs. Our collective agreements include employment equity responsibilities. All three collective agreements recognize a commitment to achieving employment equity within the college system. Among these responsibilities is the generating and monitoring of data as to current representation, as well as attaining appropriate representation of targeted groups identified by the Province of Ontario. Employment equity data will help your Union push the College to do better. Your Union continues to be a steadfast guardian of our collective agreement rights. Having accurate data about our workplace demographics will be another tool in our box to hold our College to account and ensure that it lives up to its obligations. The survey is not without its faults, for example it uses outdated terminology that is no longer used or accepted by the communities it seeks to identify. We have stated our objection to the College on this point. All information submitted remains protected under privacy legislation and can be used only for its intended purpose. Again, we encourage you to participate during your working hours. If you have any questions, please reach out to us. In solidarity, Annette Bouzi Christine Kelsey President, OPSEU Local 415 President, OPSEU Local 416 (Academic Union) (Support Staff Union) comms@locallines.org president@opseu416.ca |
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