OPSEU Workers of Colour Caucus forum to tackle health inequity

TORONTO, Feb. 23, 2018 /CNW/ - A forum discussion organized by OPSEU's Workers of Colour Caucus will tackle one of the most pressing issues facing the country today: health inequity.

"Black and racialized Canadians are much more likely to suffer debilitating and deadly diseases than white Canadians," says Peter Thompson, the chair of OPSEU's Workers of Colour Caucus. "This is a profound injustice. Until we confront this injustice, we can never have full equality."

Coinciding with Black History Month and the UN's International Decade for People of African Descent, the "Promoting Health Equity in Racialized Communities" forum is taking place on Friday, Feb. 23, from 6 pm to 9 pm at 31 Wellesley St. East in Toronto. It will feature three expert speakers:

• Donna Alexander, a Social Worker at the Substance Abuse Program for African and Caribbean Youth, at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
  
  
• Butterfly Sabrina Gopaul, a Community Health Worker at the Black Creek Community Health Centre
  
  
• Akilah Haneef-Jabari, Senior Public Engagement and Education Advisor for the provincial government's Anti-Racism Directorate

The speakers will detail the ways in which health inequity hurts racialized communities, and consequently all Canadians. The speakers will also lead a discussion exploring possible solutions, which include reducing precarious work and increasing wage equity.

"We have a responsibility to ensure that every person in this province has what they need to live healthy and contented lives," says OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "That includes having a good, stable job with reasonable pay and benefits.

"I'm incredibly grateful that OPSEU's Workers of Colour Caucus is helping lead the fight for health equity in racialized communities. It's a fight that, together, we're going to win."

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)