Dear OPSEU/SEFPO Black and Racialized Members:
OPSEU/SEFPO’s Coalition of Racialized Workers (CoRW) will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., themed: “CoRW Committee for Change – from Summit 2024 to Convention 2025.”
See what the committee has been working on and learn how you can participate with future events and initiatives.
Q&A session will follow!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and for the webinar information.
AGENDA
1.Registration
2.Land Acknowledgment
3.Statement of Respect
4.Address by CoRW Chair, Carol Mundley
5.Regional reports and looking forward including 2026 CORW Election Summit (see your regional representatives for materials)
6.Board Equity Committee and looking forward to 2026 Equity EBM Election (written report to be submitted prior)
7.Junior Carnival (insert dates and deadlines)
8.Toronto Carnival (insert date)
9.Report on Convention 2025 – next page
10.Question and Answer
Feel free to share this invitation widely:
2025 May 13 CoRW Meeting Invite D2
Date: May 13, 2025
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Audience: Black and Racialized OPSEU/SEFPO members
Location: Virtual
In Solidarity,
OPSEU/SEFPO’s Coalition of Racialized Workers (CoRW)
January 2024 callout to our Election Summit message in paragraph 4:
The purpose of that Election Summit is to mobilize Black and Racialized members and to elect representatives from all 7 regions to the Coalition of Racialized Workers (CoRW) Committee. The Summit explored and discussed critical strategies to advance OPSEU/SEFPO’s priorities on dismantling anti-Black, and all forms of racism through sustainable and meaningful change.
On March 23, 2024, you elected 14 delegates to represent and carry out that purpose on your behalf. All 14 representatives listed herein have been working tirelessly to accomplish that mandate on your behalf. These were the priorities:
- Mobilizating and examining the critical issues facing Black and Racialized members in elected positions within the Locals and the Union at large.
- Confronting anti-Black, and all other forms of racism, dismantling systemic racism, active participation in educational planning to aid in decolonizing our union and oppressive systems, co-facilitating the Dismantling Racism sessions and mobilizing Black and Racialized members to seek elected positions; and
- Strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion approaches and anti-Black and anti-Palestinian racism efforts in the workplace, locals, and the union movement.
2025 to 2026
As we commence our second term as delegates, we encourage every Black and Racialized member of OPSEU/SEFPO and allies to seek us out on the Union’s website.
We respectfully ask you to support our work within this union and the community by attending CoRW sponsored events, becoming engaged with this activism work; seek out your fellow Black and Racialized members and inquire if they are interested in volunteering with CoRW. Start a committee within your local; Contact us with your initiatives, request for support and suggestions to improve this work and to build our presence within OPSEU/SEFPO. Representation matters in this work and your involvement is essential now more than ever. Reach out to your local executive committee and ensure you are on their mailing list for events and elections. Far too long Black and Racialized voices have been silenced, their votes captured and held hostage, we say enough is enough!
Agenda Item 9.
Report on 2025 Convention
The CoRW committee submitted 2 Constitutional amendments.
See: Constitutional Amendments H06
H06
Article 19 PROVINCIAL COMMITTEES
(Submitted by Sudbury Area Council and Coalition of Black and Racialized Workers)
WHEREAS Black people have been in Canada since the early 17th century and since that time, they have faced racism, discrimination and hostility based on the colour of their skin; and
WHEREAS anti-Black racism has manifested itself throughout history in the form of slavery (the transatlantic slave trade) and segregation; and
WHEREAS anti-Black racism continues to manifest itself in current systems and structures in the form of policy brutality, harassment and discrimination in employment, and in the resistance to activism for change; and
WHEREAS it is important to specifically name and work to dismantle anti-Black racism; and
WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO is actively committed to dismantling anti-Black racism and has implemented systemic changes such as the Dismantling Systemic Racism Program (DSRP) to ensure that Black members feel included and part of their union; and
WHEREAS the OPSEU/SEFPO Coalition of Racialized Workers (CoRW) has been instrumental in leading the fight to break down systemic barriers that keep Black voices out of decision-making tables; and
WHEREAS in 2022 CoRW (formerly the Workers of Colour Caucus) officially became a provincial equity committee, and its standing recognized in Article 19.7 of the Constitution.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the name of the Coalition of Racialized Workers Committee (CoRW) be changed to the Coalition of Black and Racialized Workers Committee (CoBRW); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Article 19.7 of the Constitution be updated accordingly along with all other OPSEU/SEFPO materials, policy communications, etc. that include CoRW.
Article 19.7 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution (changes in bold)
19.7 There shall be a Coalition of Black and Racialized Workers Committee composed of two (2) members from each Region. The Members of the Coalition of Black and Racialized Workers Committee shall be selected triennially by the Coalition of Black and Racialized Workers Committee from interested members who apply to fill vacancies within their Region. The function of the Coalition of Black and Racialized Workers Committee shall be to assist in creating networks within the Regions, to develop and promote programs to encourage Black and racialized members to participate in Union activities, and to increase the awareness and understanding of issues that impact Black and racialized members throughout the membership.
And
H08
Article 13 CONVENTION
(Submitted by Local 154, Nipissing Area Council, and the Coalition of Racialized Workers)
Amend Article 13.4e
- e) One member per Region of each All members of the Article 19 Provincial Committees shall be entitled to be delegates.
WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO at 2022 Convention passed important changes to the OPSEU/SEFPO constitution. These changes recognize the presence and prevalence of systemic racism affecting Black, Racialized and Indigenous members within the Union.
AND WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution Article 13.4 reads, “Delegate entitlement to Conventions shall be as follows: …e. One member per Region of each of the Article 19 Provincial Committees shall be entitled to be delegates.”
AND WHEREAS Article 13.4(e), as it currently reads is not congruent with the Article 19 entitlements for the Coalition of Racialized Workers; Indigenous Circle and Rainbow Alliance arc-en-ciel which set the number of members of each committee at fourteen members. Yet only seven are allowed to attend the convention as delegates. These committees represent the underrepresented marginalized and disadvantaged, and historically excluded members of the union and therefore all representatives of these committees should have a voting voice at convention.
AND WHEREAS all members of the Coalition of Racialized Workers Committee along with the other Article 19 Provincial Committees are faced with exclusionary policies within Article 13.4(e) from attending Conventions to represent their members’ voices and perform the work they were elected to do on behalf of Black and Racialized Workers, and the other marginalized and underrepresented members contrary to OPSEU/SEFPO’s pledge to be a more inclusive, diverse and equitable union.
AND WHEREAS, Article 13.3.1 states that “Calculation of delegate entitlement shall be based on membership records at Union Headquarters as of the date of certification,” for locals.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that effective immediately that OPSEU/SEFPO Article 13.4(e) shall be amended to read “All elected delegates per Region of each of the Article
19 Provincial Committees shall be entitled to be automatic delegates to OPSEU/SEFPO Convention.”
One of the 4 Resolutions submitted by CoRW passed at Convention 2025. See:
E3 Pt. 1 – Education
Submitted by the Coalition of Racialized Workers
also submitted by Sault Ste Marie & District Area Council, the Provincial Young Workers Committee and Nipissing Area Council
Therefore be it resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO shall support the Equity Unit and the Dismantling Systemic Racism Project (DSRP) Advisory Unit in furtherance of the timely completion of the DSRP training and place more accountability work with upon the LECs who are not proactive in facilitating their groups in taking the training; and
Be it further resolved that the DSRP submits a DSRP progress training report at every six-month interval to the next scheduled sixth-month meeting of the Board and that all Equity Executive Board Members (EEBMs) shall share such report to their respective Equity Committees following that Board meeting. This reporting shall commence within 90 days of this resolution being passed.
The committee recommends that the delegates vote FOR
Passed
SUMMARY:
Having this resolution passed is very important in our work to holding local executive committees and other Opseu/Sefpo elected executives accountable to take the education on anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism and all forms of racism. No longer will they claim they are unaware of the harm that racism has inflicted unto Black and Racialized members of this union. No longer will they claim that they “do not see colour” as this phrase is an attempt to remain wilfully blind to the harm this causes to Black and Racialized people, and render them invisible.
All resolutions and constitutional amendments submitted by CoRW were supported and/or recommended by the Resolutions and Constitutional Committees.
As many of you who attended at Convention 2025 heard and experienced, (in many instances re-traumatized), there was an outpouring of support for our submissions; however, the negative and blatant racism that was directed at us as lawful members of Opseu/Sefpo should cast a dark shadow on our efforts to be seen and should not be forgotten.
We will not blame nor attack each other for having to experience these unlawful and inhumane attacks on us. Reminder, history always repeat itself. We cannot blame each other for Canada and the Union’s abject failures pursuant to the recommendations of UN General Assembly adopted resolution 68/237.
While our submissions were dismissed as being unreasonable to fund, many other items hit the convention floor that the Resolution and Constitutional committee did not recommend, yet the discussions and debates were less inclined to delve into racist and dehumanizing remarks about these submissions undoubtedly because of the names of the submitting bodies did not include “Coalition of Racialized Workers.” Many delegates used “privilege” to enforce the statement of respect while spewing insults about and directed at Black and Racialized initiatives. The weaponizing of Roberts Rule is a tool of colonialism and CoRW is resolute in holding the President to their statement at Convention that they are looking to overhaul the process. At Convention 2025, Black and Racialized members were re-traumatized by our own members who weaponized systemic racism structurally in policies, and practices within the institutions to perpetuate racial inequality of a colonial system to oppress Black and Racialized Workers.
We have Allies:
Since Convention, a non-Racialized member/delegate reached out to us and gathered signatures to send a letter to President, JP Hornick and the Opseu/Sefpo Board to call for them to address the racism and disrespect shown to Black and Racialized members at Convention 2025. This letter, subject “Convention Dissatisfaction & Next Steps,” garnered over 80 signatories of convention delegates/attendees and has been submitted to the President as of May 1, 2025.
OUR Resolve
As you can imagine, while as activists, CoRW elected delegates pledged to you, each other, our families and community to do this work to uplift each other, our workspaces, and to leave a profoundly improved legacy for future generations, we too were deeply disappointed, hurt, dejected, traumatized, and harmed by the events at convention 2025. We understand that you all were looking forward to meeting with us, and many of you voiced this to us in person. We hear you; we apologize for the delay.
Please, understand that we all must practice care in order to serve. While deeply committed to serve in our roles, we have to remember to take care of each other first and foremost in order that we can meet challenges outside this space.
CoRW Committee is committed now more that ever to carry on this fight for justice. We will not be deterred. We stand by our words when we were elected in 2024 and we are here and available to listen and engage with you respectfully and in solidarity.
Spotlight on CoRW at Convention
Ala, Region 4 delegate was awarded the Opseu/Sefpo Human Rights award.
Congratulations to Ala who has been working passionately and with great dignity for peace and safety of vulnerable victims of war and genocide not only in his ancestral home, but everywhere.
Andy-Loan, R6 (flanked by Stacey, R4 and Kingsley, R5) gave a passionate and heartfelt presentation at convention to motivate constitutional amendment H06.
Maxwell, R2, delivered an impactful call to action on constitutional amendment H06 by encouraging the convention audience to reflect on the message of this amendment and its meaning to Black Opseu/Sefpo members to have the support of the highest voting body of our union.
Elizabeth, R1, got convention attendees’ attention with a rousing speech on activism and the urgency of union work.
Marketplace
CoRW’s presence at convention marketplace was vibrant and, dare we say, the most visited booth. We were lucky to have two CoRW retirees who volunteered their personal time to travel to convention to ensure that delegates were able to remain on the convention floor to vote.
Region 1 delegates donated cotton candy to be given to attendees who graciously made donations to support Migrant Farm Workers and other community initiatives.
The vendor, Nsoromma Design and Culture Group, for the Kiddies Carnival attended and showcased videos of previous festivals, responded to inquiries about the upcoming event and invited parties interested in receiving information on how to participate and/or enter their children in the parade to contact them and/or provide their contact information.
The Toronto Carnival Festival vendor, Saldanah, provided us tickets to the band launch which attendees at the marketplace booth entered their names to win tickets to attend on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
CoRW also had magnets and badges with its logo. There was also a booklet of CoRW delegates with their photographs and contact information. This booklet will be made available on the OPSEU/SEFPO website to download.
Region 2 had T-shirts and baseball caps for members and allies.
CoRW’s booth also had a booklet on Canada’s Black History for distribution to educate convention attendees of Canada’s dark history of racism against Black people.
This book also highlights many black activists on whose shoulders we stand today to do this work of fighting to erase anti-Black racism and all forms of racism from our workplaces, union and society.
CoRW delegates of all 7 regions are eager to share more about Convention 2025 and the work in your specific region.
Volunteering is a major part of what we do as activists. CoRW looks forward to your support, please, bring your expertise and community service enthusiasm to CoRW. Speak to your CoRW Regional Representatives about getting involved and volunteer opportunities with CoRW!