GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
We will be having an in-person General Membership Meeting on January 31st and if there is bad weather the alternative date will be Feb 1st, 2023 at the same time and location. We are asking the membership to support.
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 31ST, 2023
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
1263 Wilson Avenue, North York, Ontario, Suite #200
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Agenda
1. Introductions
2. CBTU Canada President’s message
3. Guest Speaker
4. Update on Environmental Racism Workshops
5. Upcoming Campaigns
6. CBTU Committees
7. Other Business
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Request for Support
CBTU Canada has partnered with the organization, known as Shared Closet GTA to provide support for the African refugees. These refugees were most recently sleeping on the streets of Toronto and the surrounding area. At least one of those refugees passed away while sleeping on the streets of Mississauga Ontario. While many of the refugees are now in hotels and shelters there remains a significant need for clothing and financial support. We are asking that you bring the following new or gently used items to the upcoming CBTU general membership meeting:
- Winter clothing and winter accessories
- Winter boots
- Soap
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush/Toothpaste
- Feminine hygiene products
Please bring any donations on January 31, 2024, to the LIUNA LOCAL 183 Union Hall located at 1263 Wilson Ave #200, North York.
The donated items will then be provided to the African refugees via an upcoming Shared Closet GTA event.
For general inquiries, to schedule a pickup, or to e-transfer monetary donations please email [email protected].
Cheques can be made out to:
Accessing Necessary Knowledge On Becoming Elevated Africans (ANKOBEA)
On behalf of Shared Closet GTA
4544 Sheppard Ave E, Unit 305 Scarborough, ON M1S 1V2
CBTU CANADA STANDING COMMITTEES
CBTU Canada Chapter is seeking members for the following standing committees. We do understand that our lives are filled with many responsibilities, and we do not want to make additions. We are asking that members who would like to participate on a committee Please sign up and use the poll to indicate any interests.
https://form.jotform.com/233533820137148.
Those interested can reach out via email or fill in the online form. There is no requirement to be on a committee. But any help will be appreciated regardless if you are on the committee or not.
Please receive the committees below:
Retiree Committee:
Contact: TBD
Resolutions/Constitution/Bylaws Committee
Contact: Isabelle Miller
[email protected]
Scholarship Committee
Contact: Andrea McCormack
[email protected]
Political Action Committee
Contact: Holmann Richard
[email protected]
CBTU Canada Men’s Committee
Contact : Christopher Wilson
[email protected]
CBTU Canada Women’s Committee
Contact: Christine Maclin
[email protected]
CBTU Fundraising and Social Committee.
(Example: dinner dance planning, boat cruise planning and more.)
Contact: Andrea McCormack or Dennis Williams
[email protected]
CBTU Young Workers Under 40 Committee
Contact: Juanita Forde
[email protected]
The African Refugee Support Committee.
Contact: Mark Brown
[email protected]
The CBTU Making Canadian Black History a significant part of Education Curriculum Committee.
Contact: Juanita Forde
[email protected]
CBTU Support for Federal Workers Class Action Lawsuit Committee.
Contact: Chris Wilson
[email protected]
EMPLOYMENT EQUITY UPDATE
The CBTU Canada Chapter would like to thank Marie Clarke Walker who has been advocating and fighting for racial justice and equity for years. Again she has represented us all in labour with integrity and truth. Marie participated as a member of the Employment Equity Task Force which recently released an historic report calling for the creation of two new designated groups under the Employment Equity Act: Black people and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Marie motivated many of the labour leaders to participate in the consultations that ensured a strong labour perspective with an accompaniment of lived experiences.
Please check out the attached link:
https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/esdc-edsc/documents/corporate/portfolio/labour/programs/employment-equity/reports/act-review-task-force/EEA-Review-Task-Force-Report-2023.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2ydHaV7qmV47xFdjQ6iQT4AfNBQOmB_6mvcXHnXLjOIaZemhzEE1KHHH0
The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists was invited to make a presentation during the consultation process and stood in full support of designating Black as a new group under the Act to ensure that employment equity data is de-segregated based upon race.
GREEN IS NOT WHITE
The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists partnered with the Environmental Noxiousness, Racial Inequities, and Community Health (ENRICH) Project – a project on MakeWay’s Shared Platform, and the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) to deliver twelve workshops under the theme “Climate Change Preparedness in Black Communities in the Greater Toronto, Hamilton Area (GTHA) and the GTA: A Capacity-Building Project” We’re diving deep into climate change preparedness through hands-on workshops and consultations within Black communities in Scarborough, Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga and Hamilton.
We had full participation at the 5 workshops hosted across the GTA. Thank you to all who took part. Participants were able to learn more about climate change and its impacts, identify specific resources and activities required to adapt to climate change-related events in our communities and develop a plan for climate change preparedness and resiliency. The valuable Participant feedback supports an action-research project to build community resilience in the face of climate change.
There is one more workshop to be scheduled in the new year. Lookout on our chats for the date.
A Huge Thank you to Janice Gairey and Christopher Wilson for all their work to make this happen. Let's continue to support this very important life-impacting change.
The fact that CBTU was invited to join this research project that is being co-funded by the McConnell research grant and SSHRC is a credit to the reputation that CBTU has built through your activism in the struggle to confront environmental racism and mitigate the impacts of climate change upon our community.
2024 CBTU MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
THE MEMBERSHIP CYCLE IS FROM JANUARY 1 – DECEMBER 31 OF EACH YEAR
Please feel free to pay your dues now for the 2024 year. Your Membership dues must be up to date by no later than March 1st, 2024 in order to be a member in good standing for the International CBTU Convention in May and other events being planned for the 2024 year.
Membership applications are available Online (Automatically saved to our files) and a printable version for mail in.
Become a Member - Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (cbtu.ca)
TENTATIVE 2024 EVENTS
January - Black History Month Mental Health & Wellness Hybrid Event
January 31st - General Membership Meeting
May - International CBTU Convention Houston, Texas May 23rd - 26th 2024,
June- Black Leadership Summit- This will be an invite-only and CBTU members will have priority to attend. We are currently inquiring about a venue and a confirmed date.
July - Youth Camp
August - Annual CBTU Golf Tournament TBA
September - CBTU Appreciation BBQ
November - Build a school in Jamaica. Give Back
Also continue to check out the CBTU.ca page for info, job opportunities and campaigns. We encourage you to attend our meetings and events, join one of our committees, and participate in the change. We look forward to communicating with you, and please do not hesitate to pass on ideas, suggestions, and comments.
Peace and Solidarity,
CBTU Canada Chapter Executive President: Yolanda McClean, 1st Vice President Chris Wilson, 2nd Vice President Holmann Richard, Treasurer Christine Maclin, Recording Secretary Andrea McCormack, Communications Secretary Isabelle Miller, Communications & Social Media Officer Mark Brown, Membership Secretary Chris Campbell, Member At Large Dennis Williams, Under 40 Representative Juanita Forde, Retiree Member At Large - TBD
