February 2010
African Heritage/Black History Month
Black History Month is celebrated in Canada to recognize the contributions of Black people and people of African heritage to the growth and development of this country and their importance to its history.
The contributions of Black people and people of African heritage are still far from being integrated into the mainstream of Canadian history. In particular, the contributions of Black activists to the labour movement are not widely known. This aspect of our history is important to recognize because the labour movement was and continues to be instrumental in fighting for human rights and equality for workers and all Canadians. The simple truth is that our struggles for human rights and equity would not have been completely effective without the hard and persistent struggles of Black workers.
All accounts of Canadian labour history must include the collective and individual contributions of Black workers and labour activists. Examples of these include the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, a Black-led trade union in Canada that fought to end discrimination in railway employment, and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. There are also some pioneering Black labour activists such as Stanley G. Grizzle who was a leader in the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and who, in 1961, became the first Black labour relations officer in a provincial labour relations board. There is Fred Upshaw, who in 1990, became the first Black person to head a major Canadian union, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
There is also James (Calbert) Best, one of the first racialized leaders of a federal public sector staff organization.His career in the federal public sector began in the Department of Labour in 1949, where he co-founded the Civil Service Association of Canada, one of the organizations that merged in 1966 to form the PSAC. In 1999 he served as a member of the Treasury Board President's Task Force on the Participation of Visible Minorities in the Federal Public Service.
The PSAC would like to take this opportunity to recognize the important sacrifices and contributions of the people of African decent to the nation-building and the defense of Canada since the early 1600's. The PSAC would like to reaffirm its commitment to combating racism in the workplace and our communities.
The PSAC is encouraging its members to commemorate African Heritage/Black History Month by organizing or participating in an event that raises awareness about this month, particularly the contributions of Black workers in the Canadian labour movement. Notify the PSAC's Programs Section of any activities you hold by calling (613) 560-4387 or by e-mail at lambas@psac-afpc.com.
We will post scheduled activities around Black History Month in the regions throughout the month of February.
We will also be publishing an article in the February issue of the Union Update on retired PSAC member, Aileen Duncan, who recently received an award from the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists for her activism in the community.
Scheduled PSAC regional events so far:
- January 30, Atlantic Region: The Sydney Human Rights Committee will be participating at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre Gala/Dinner and Dance
- February 23, Atlantic Region: Halifax Human Rights Committee celebration
- February 25, Ontario Region: A special dinner, video presentation and solidarity greetings for PSAC members in the Greater Toronto Area.
Date Modified : 2010/02/01
