Construction Industry Action On Racism - Building Safe And Inclusive Workplaces For All Tradespeople
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2021 /CNW/ - Today developers, contractors, unions, associations, and workers are uniting in a growing coalition supporting the Toronto Declaration of Inclusive Workplaces & Communities. Systemic racism and discrimination harm our construction industry. Bigotry has no place in our communities, and we commit to standing up for the rights and dignity of all to promote inclusive, equitable, safe, and respectful workplaces. The Toronto Declaration of Inclusive Workplaces & Communities affirms the health and safety of every person and supports the construction industry's zero tolerance policy for discrimination or acts of hate of any kind.
City Support
The affirmations in this Declaration further the principles of inclusion supported by both the City of Toronto and the unions and employers in the construction industry. To demonstrate its support for this declaration and to uphold diversity, the City of Toronto affirms this Declaration, and encourages those in the construction industry across the province to continue denouncing discrimination and hate in all its forms.
"As Mayor, I have made it clear that racism and discrimination have no place in Toronto. We have met with workers, developers, contractors, unions, and associations to create this Declaration and take a stand together against any form of hatred in our city. This past year, when nooses were found on construction sites in Toronto, we recognized the tragic reality that anti-Black racism continues to exist in our society and that we need to keep doing all we can to bring an end to it," said Toronto Mayor John Tory. "We worked together with the industry to find ways to bring an end to racism within the sector. This Declaration was a result of those meetings and an important step in the industry's plan to move forward, support their employees, and to build a more inclusive workplace for everyone."
Employer Commitments
Many employers in the construction industry have not just signed on to this declaration but are taking further action to educate their members about the importance of eliminating racism and discrimination in the industry. EllisDon has hosted diversity and inclusion town halls to discuss these crucial issues with employees, and Daniels has organized site meetings with construction teams to impress the importance of creating inclusive workplaces and to reiterate that there is zero tolerance for discrimination on job sites.
"EllisDon has zero tolerance for racism, and as an employer, we have a pivotal role to play in this movement. We will continue to work closely with our union partners to promote education and action across all areas of our industry," said Geoff Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, EllisDon.
"Actioning change requires commitment and collaboration in our industry. Daniels has initiated important dialogues with construction unions, associations and industry partners to take a unified stance and engage in conversations at every level to set out clear expectations that racism, prejudice and hate will simply not be tolerated and have no place in our industry," said Mitchell Cohen, President and CEO, The Daniels Corporation.
Union and Worker Support
The Carpenters' District Council (CDCO) is thrilled to see that the Declaration is widely valued and are proud to be a part of this broader industry coalition. "We're working with a third-party company to deliver anti-racism training for staff, shop stewards, and eventually all of our members," says Chris Campbell, Equity and Diversity Representative for the CDCO. "Our partners across the labour movement have also begun rolling out this training to their members and we encourage everyone to join us and do the same." It is the collective responsibility of the industry to demonstrate that construction is a welcoming path for the next generation of tradespeople ? regardless of their background.
"I love being a carpenter, and I am proud to be part of an industry that understands the importance of inclusivity and takes the necessary steps to ensure diversity is celebrated every day." says Rokhaya Gueye, CDCO member.
A Broader Industry Effort
In the last year, the construction industry ? employers and union partners ? have been actively speaking out against racism and hate in all its forms and promoting inclusion and diversity on worksites.
In the last year:
- Carpenters Local 27 brought forward and signed the Charter of Inclusive Workplaces & Communities in the summer of 2020 as part of a multi-union effort to create safe and respectful workplaces.
- The CDCO appointed Chris Campbell as Equity and Diversity Representative. He works to propel our organization forward and continue to advocate for ending workplace discrimination in the construction industry.
- The CDCO shared member-focused video content celebrating Black History Month, with BIPOC members of our industry expressing what this month means to them.
- EllisDon has appointed Jennifer Khan as the Head of Inclusive Diversity, as well as established the Alliance of Black Employee Experience and Leadership (ABEEL) led by engineer Samuel Ajobo.
- Daniels cohosted a virtual town hall in Regent Park to share updates and actions in response to the hate crime on a Daniels construction site. RESCON, Carpenters' Local 27 and LiUNA Local 183 participated in the town hall to engage directly with community stakeholders on broader industry actions against racism and discrimination.
About the Carpenters' District Council of Ontario (CDCO)
The Carpenters' District Council of Ontario ("CDCO") is composed of 16 affiliated Local Unions, including 3000 members of HOPE Local 2220 and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners across the province. In total, we represent over 30,000 women and men working in a wide range of skilled trades, including carpentry, drywall, resilient flooring, concrete formwork, underwater construction, welding, scaffolding, and a long list of other construction-related work.
Media inquiries and further details:
Mike Yorke (President, Carpenters District Council of Ontario), [email protected], 905-652-4140
Media Relations Desk, City of Toronto, [email protected]
Dustin Luchka (Corporate Director of Marketing and Communications, EllisDon), [email protected], 289-776-7740
Emma Conway (Manager, Communications), [email protected], 416-598-4218
Jim Vlahos (Executive Director of The General Contractors' Association of Toronto), [email protected], 416-877-5754
"Implementing training and education programs are a great first step, but we will need to continue to work hard and to do everything we can to create a just and inclusive industry for all tradespeople and citizens of our great City."
Richard Lyall (President, RESCON) [email protected], 416-509-8082
"RESCON is proud to be part of the growing coalition taking a stand against anti-Black racism in Toronto ? a necessary show of support and solidarity with BIPOC in our workforce. This declaration will also help ensure that inclusion remains a top priority as we recruit our next generation of skilled trades workers."
John Cartwright (President, Toronto York Region Labour Council) [email protected], 416- 441-3663
SOURCE Carpenters' District Council of Ontario
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