Hosted by the Equity Chairs, the 14th Annual Joint Leadership Day brought together leaders from all walks of the working lives that OPSEU represents. The day was designed to help integrate equity issues into all aspects of OPSEU's work.
This year, the theme was "measuring equity – are we there yet?" and evaluated the effectiveness of tools like the Social Mapping Project, which was a census of our members, to harness the strength of our diversity. The participants examined through presentations, poetry and game playing how unspoken rules and the way we do things can create unintentional disparity. OPSEU has more than 130,000 members, and that number is growing. Our strength is not only in numbers, but also in the wide diversity within the membership. Union solidarity is more important than ever. We must stand strong in all of our diversity. That means that each and every OPSEU member must be a champion for equity.
We have come a long way but continue to recognize that some equity groups remain underrepresented. The participants re-committed themselves to the guiding principles and the goals of the Social Mapping Project so that our Union will best represent and celebrate the diversity that is at the core of our strength.
Deb Tungatt, OPSEU Regional Vice President, Region 2 and Highest Ranking Female Officer
Co-facilitators Carl James and Tana Turner
Slam Poet Truth is…
Presenter Peggy Sattler, MPP for London West and Ontario NDP Critic on Women’s Issues
Elizabeth Ha, Vice-Chair of Workers of Colour Caucus
Leadership Day participants
Participants playing the Barnga game on power and privilege
