As a union, CAPE can and must be a vehicle for members of equity-deserving groups to fight for a workplace free of discrimination and barriers.
With the mass protests of the George Floyd uprising, employers like the Government of Canada came under intense pressure from their workers to take meaningful, systematic action to reform structures and uproot systemic oppression. New equity spaces have been opened up and new equity commitments have been put to paper – because of self-organizing workers who formed workplace networks and committees, advocated for themselves and each other, and insisted on their rights.
But, to win or protect lasting gains for years to come, we will need equity-deserving union members working together to define and defend their rights, in the driver’s seat of a strong union that understands power, pressure points, and strategy. That’s why we’re calling for proposals for CAPE’s first-ever equity caucuses.
What is an equity caucus?
Equity caucuses exist in many unions to equip and empower members with lived experience to set their union’s priorities and to run successful campaigns on equity issues.
Common examples in other unions include Black caucuses, Pride or LGBTQ caucuses, and Indigenous circles.
Above all, an equity caucus is defined and run by you as members, not by CAPE. It is not a volunteer advisory group or consultative body. It is a vehicle for getting the union’s resources, tools, and power working to advance your interests – whether that is by getting strong and specific equity language into the contract, or by making sure that language is enforced.
What should members do?
- Review the new Terms of Reference of CAPE’s equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) subcommittee, which has been overhauled to reflect its new role as first-line facilitator for equity caucuses.
- Bring together a group of at least 10 CAPE members who want to organize together on a shared issue through an equity caucus model.
- Submit a proposal together via this form.
CAPE support
CAPE will:
- Facilitate connections and coordination between groups of members who submit similar equity caucus proposals.
- Review equity caucus proposals at the monthly meeting of CAPE’s National Executive Committee to ensure alignment with CAPE’s values and positions and the EDI subcommittee’s Terms of Reference.
- Vote on approving equity caucuses as standing bodies at CAPE, which present their strategic priorities to the National Executive Committee and actively define the union’s national work on equity.
- Provide support and resources for working in the union context, including organizer training, strategy development and development of workplans and campaigns, infrastructure, and communications and promotion.
