Summit To Address Gun Violence

CBTU Ontario, Canada Chapter members joined together on March 21st with African Canadian community leaders, key government officials, representatives of major public institutions and other stakeholders in a Summit convened on the International Day for the Elimination of Racism to address the issues of marginalization and social exclusion that have contributed to the current crisis among African Canadian youth, and in particular, the disproportionate level of gun violence.
The racialization of poverty, high dropout rates, over-representation in the child welfare system and over-representation at all levels of the criminal justice system are urgent issues affecting the African-Canadian Community that necessitate an effective community-based action plan for addressing gun violence. CBTU was invited to join the Summit to reinforce Labour's perspective on the connection between employment, economics and good jobs upon health communities. African Canadians earn on average 75 cents for every dollar a non-racialized Canadian earns. This racialized pay differential along with disproportionally high rates of unemployment and underemployment contributes significantly to the increased risk factor in a young person's life.
A theme heard throughout the Summit was: the time for Action is Now! The Stephen Lewis Report identified the need to action over two decades ago yet the crisis continues. The Roots of Youth Violence Report and Ontario's Youth Action plan provide a framework for targeted solutions such as community empowerment, long-term sustained funding, a focus on meaningful skills development, capacity building, prevent and intervention strategies and strict gun control.
The African-Canadian Legal Clinic took the lead in organizing the Summit and will remain an important community partner to CBTU - Ontario. African-Canadian trade unionists and community activists will continue to work together to promote the positive and healthy development of our children.

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Celebrating the Passage of Bill C-226 into Law

 

Save the date to join the Canadian Coalition for Environmental and Climate Justice (CCECJ) and the ENRICH Project in celebrating the National Strategy on Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act (formerly Bill C-226) becoming law.

Date: Thursday, August 22, 2024
Time: 6pm - 9pm ET
Location: Hybrid Event – CSI Spadina (192 Spadina Ave., Toronto) & Zoom

Cost: Free 

This event will be held both in-person in Toronto and virtually via Zoom – everyone is welcome to join! It will include music, refreshments, and meaningful discussions on next steps to sustain momentum for the Environmental Justice Strategy Act. 
More details to follow soon, including RSVP for both in-person and virtual participation and promotional materials.

Special thanks to the Sustainability Network for providing additional funding for this event. We look forward to celebrating this environmental justice milestone with our community!

In solidarity

The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) - Canada

COALITION OF BLACK TRADE UNIONISTS TRI -STATE REGION 1 Conference

**REVISED CONVENTION CALL**

 

Dear CBTU Brother and Sisters:

 

I am excited to announce that the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Annual Region 1 Conference will be held July 19-21, 2024, at The Doubletree Hotel, 6301 State Route 298, East Syracuse, NY. 

Continuing the celebration of the International CBTU 53rd Anniversary, our theme is also “Never Back, Always Forward: Hate Cannot Erase Us.”  The agenda will consist of education and information that will give us an opportunity to reflect on our power and influence in the labor movement and our communities in the fight for social and economic justice.

 

In solidarity

Sharon Lovelady-Hall, CBTU Region 1 Director

Andrea McCormack, Secretary 

Nina Manning, Treasurer

Ursula Howard, Women’s Committee Chair        

Eugene Williams, Men’s Committee Chair 

LaNette Murphy,Youth Committee Chair  

Juanita Forde, Younger Workers Committee Chair

                       

[email protected]

 

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