CUPE welcomes the release of the report of the Government of Canada’s Employment Equity Act Review Task Force. CUPE participated in the Task Force consultations in 2022 and made wide-ranging recommendations. Among our recommendations is the inclusion of 2SLGBTQI+ communities to be designated under the act, a shift to a social definition of disability, a focus on intersectionality, and strengthened accountability for the implementation of employment equity.
We are pleased that our recommendations have been incorporated into the report in whole or part. CUPE members have long advocated for employment equity as a crucial tool for ensuring that our workplaces are representative of the communities they serve.
We echo the Canadian Labour Congress in congratulating the Task Force for this important work to address inequity in employment.
We look forward to fully reviewing all the recommendations made in the report and remain ready to engage with the Government of Canada to move this important file forward.
Our members – the majority of whom are women – know the impact of employment inequity. We are committed to doing the work to make true inclusion a reality in Canadian workplaces through bargaining strong employment equity plans across sectors.
Workers must have a seat at the table in determining the future of our workplaces and stand ready to bring the voice of workers to discussions with the Government of Canada on the implementation of the Task Force recommendations.