On behalf of our more than 100,000 members in British Columbia, and our entire provincial Executive Board, CUPE BC stands in support of this strong statement from our national union. Hatred and intolerance should never be acceptable and we must all do our part to fight for a world in which all people are free and equal. That means calling out and confronting racism, discrimination and hatred wherever we encounter it.
Canadians too often see images of overt racism and police brutality in the United States or elsewhere and somehow think we’re immune. But we’ve seen racist attacks and assaults against Indigenous people and people of Asian and Middle Eastern descent right here at home. While we can take some measure of comfort in the fact that Canadians have so far rejected extreme right-wing political movements, we must do more to stamp out hatred and racism. If we as individuals who perhaps don’t face this directly don’t stand in solidarity with our friends who are targeted by hatred, racism and white supremacy, we don’t stand for anything. Workers formed unions in the first place based on the principle that “an injury to one is an injury to all.” Never has that been more true, or more important, than now.
CUPE BC stands with all those who face discrimination, racism, intolerance or hatred. We see you, we hear you—and we are with you.
Paul Faoro, President
Trevor Davies, Secretary Treasurer
