March 21st is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. We want to believe we
live in a country free from racism but that is not the experience of many people. We live in a society where
inequality is colour coded.
Aboriginal Workers
- The number of Aboriginal workers at Canada Post is low when compared to the number of Aboriginal people
who want and need jobs. CUPW has been pressuring Canada Post to increase the hiring of Aboriginal workers.
Canada Post has not done this.
- Basic postal service in many Aboriginal communities has been reduced or eliminated.
New Immigrants
- Most newcomers are people of colour. 70% of new immigrants say they have encountered problems or barriers
in the job-finding process.
- Recent immigrants experience 45% lower earnings than their non immigrant counterparts.
- The education level of new immigrants has no effect on their employment: Recent immigrants with
university education have roughly the same rate of unemployment as those who did not complete high
school.
- The situation for temporary foreign workers is worse. Their legal status is controlled entirely by their
employers. Employers can disregard labour standards and other responsibilities by using the threat of
deportation.
- Tim Horton’s uses a significant number of temporary foreign workers to staff their coffee shops. Canada
Post President, Moya Green is on the Tim Horton’s Board of Directors.
Take Action
Inequality is growing! This colour coded inequality impacts education, health, and work. If children of
colour have a substandard education, it not only hurts them but affects everyone.
On March 21, 2009 tell your supervisor that you want Canada Post to in increase their hiring of Aboriginal
people.
On March 21 stand up against racism.
Together we can make a difference.
