CUPE member Susan Shiner was one of five women honoured this year by the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case.
The prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions toward the goal of equality for women and girls in Canada.
Shiner’s feminism comes through in her many different roles as a mother, partner, teacher, social worker, trade unionist, political activist, community volunteer, folklorist, and peace activist. From a young age, Shiner asserted her belief in equality for girls and women.
Speaking at the October 29 award ceremony at Rideau Hall, Shiner acknowledged “The St. John’s Status of Women Council nominated me for this award because I refuse to accept inequality.”
Recognizing CUPE, Shiner said “My union is a social movement committed to the equality of women, fighting for and achieving contracts that prohibit discrimination, raise wages, improve benefits and provide safer working conditions, giving women more choice and more control in our lives.”
CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Charles Fleury attended the ceremony honouring Shiner, and said he was proud to congratulate her on behalf of CUPE members.
“We thank Sister Shiner for her leadership on women’s rights in the union, the NDP and her community – and for choosing CUPE 19 years ago. It’s wonderful to see her feminist activism recognized,” said Fleury.
In 1994, Shiner helped to organize CUPE 3762 at Iris Kirby House, a women’s shelter. She’s been an active member of CUPE 3017 at Daybreak Parent Child Centre since 2000. She has served as a local union trustee and bargaining committee spokesperson, currently sits on the CUPE National Women’s Committee, and chairs the CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador Division Equality Committee. Before joining CUPE, Shiner was active in her teacher’s union.
As a political activist, Shiner has campaigned for NDP candidates in provincial and federal elections since 1972 and has been active with the provincial and federal party, filling a number of important roles. To the audience assembled at the ceremony, which included the Minister of Labour and Minister for the Status of Women Kellie Leitch, Shiner vowed to “passionately oppose any anti-feminist, anti-choice or anti-union legislation.”
The Persons Case Award celebrates the anniversary of a landmark 1929 decision, when five women – Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Emily Murphy and Irene Parlby– won the legal battle for women, in Canada, to be recognized as persons, making them eligible for appointment to the Senate.
While the franchise was extended, between 1916 and 1940, to some women, most racialized women were not allowed to vote at the provincial and federal level until the late 1940s. Aboriginal women were barred from voting in federal elections until 1960.