On December 6, 2015, Canada marked the 26th
anniversary of the most egregious case of gun mass murder Canada has ever seen
– the 1989 massacre at École Polytechnique in Montreal (the Poleytechnique
Massacre).
anniversary of the most egregious case of gun mass murder Canada has ever seen
– the 1989 massacre at École Polytechnique in Montreal (the Poleytechnique
Massacre).
On that day, a gunman entered the École Polytechnique
with the intent to do harm to women simply because they were women. The gunman
separated the men from the women and killed 14 women. Fourteen others were
injured before the gunman committed suicide. The motivation behind the heinous
murders was the gunman’s stated hatred of feminists. Indeed, he is reported to
have declared before he opened fire: “I hate feminists.”[1]
with the intent to do harm to women simply because they were women. The gunman
separated the men from the women and killed 14 women. Fourteen others were
injured before the gunman committed suicide. The motivation behind the heinous
murders was the gunman’s stated hatred of feminists. Indeed, he is reported to
have declared before he opened fire: “I hate feminists.”[1]
The murdered women were either engineering students or
workers at the École Poleytechnique. They had bright futures that were put to
an end by the hatred of the gunman. His was a crime not only against the women
he murdered, it was a crime against equality and all Canadians. As stated by
the President of the Quebec Women’s Federation, it was “a political crime, a
crime against the advancement of women.”[2] This is clear in the fact
that the gunman left behind a list of prominent feminists he intended to kill,
among them was Monique Simard, a union leader.
workers at the École Poleytechnique. They had bright futures that were put to
an end by the hatred of the gunman. His was a crime not only against the women
he murdered, it was a crime against equality and all Canadians. As stated by
the President of the Quebec Women’s Federation, it was “a political crime, a
crime against the advancement of women.”[2] This is clear in the fact
that the gunman left behind a list of prominent feminists he intended to kill,
among them was Monique Simard, a union leader.
How
unions can and are helping prevent violence against women
unions can and are helping prevent violence against women
While there have been advances in preventing violence
against women since 1989, there is still a long way to go before Canada, as a
nation, can claim to have achieved true gender equality, where no one has to
live in fear simply on the basis of their sex.
against women since 1989, there is still a long way to go before Canada, as a
nation, can claim to have achieved true gender equality, where no one has to
live in fear simply on the basis of their sex.
In September, 2015,
for instance, an internal government report by the Status of Women in Canada
noted that Canada has not properly addressed the problem of gender-based
violence, stating: “Canada has no comprehensive national strategy to
address violence against women, lagging behind several comparable countries,
including the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.”[3]
for instance, an internal government report by the Status of Women in Canada
noted that Canada has not properly addressed the problem of gender-based
violence, stating: “Canada has no comprehensive national strategy to
address violence against women, lagging behind several comparable countries,
including the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.”[3]
As disappointing as Canada’s lack of effective
strategic planning to prevent violence against women is, there is hope of
improvement on the horizon. Unions around the world, which have long been at
the forefront of campaigns for pay equity and the prevention of workplace violence
and harassment, are actively working to prevent violence against women.
strategic planning to prevent violence against women is, there is hope of
improvement on the horizon. Unions around the world, which have long been at
the forefront of campaigns for pay equity and the prevention of workplace violence
and harassment, are actively working to prevent violence against women.
Australia is a case in point. Organized labour in
Australia, in conjunction with the University of New South Wales, previously conducted
a survey on workplace and domestic violence. The result of the Australian
survey led to vast improvements for women, “producing laws giving over one
million Australian workers domestic and family violence workplace benefits,
including dedicated paid leave, protection from adverse action and flexible
work arrangements.” Likewise, the Canada Labour Congress (CLC), along with the
University of Western Ontario, conducted a similar survey. The survey found
that 1 in 3 workers has experienced domestic violence, with 80% of these
victims reporting that it negatively affected their work performance. And this
violence didn’t just happen at home, 50% of the victims reported that it
occurred at or near the workplace.[4]
Australia, in conjunction with the University of New South Wales, previously conducted
a survey on workplace and domestic violence. The result of the Australian
survey led to vast improvements for women, “producing laws giving over one
million Australian workers domestic and family violence workplace benefits,
including dedicated paid leave, protection from adverse action and flexible
work arrangements.” Likewise, the Canada Labour Congress (CLC), along with the
University of Western Ontario, conducted a similar survey. The survey found
that 1 in 3 workers has experienced domestic violence, with 80% of these
victims reporting that it negatively affected their work performance. And this
violence didn’t just happen at home, 50% of the victims reported that it
occurred at or near the workplace.[4]
As a result, organized labour in Canada is uniquely
positioned to effect meaningful change, and the CLC and the labour movement
generally is primed to lobby the government for changes and legislation that
will improve the lives of women workers and all workers.
positioned to effect meaningful change, and the CLC and the labour movement
generally is primed to lobby the government for changes and legislation that
will improve the lives of women workers and all workers.
Individual unions can also create improvements by: “negotiating workplace solutions like paid leaves, safety
planning and women’s advocate programs, by lobbying for improved health and
safety legislation, and providing training for stewards and other union
representatives.”[5]
planning and women’s advocate programs, by lobbying for improved health and
safety legislation, and providing training for stewards and other union
representatives.”[5]
In the end, the good news is that not only have matters
improved since 1989, matters are primed to improve exponentially in the future.
improved since 1989, matters are primed to improve exponentially in the future.
[1] Huffington
Post. Online: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/12/05/montreal-massacre_n_8724118.html
Post. Online: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/12/05/montreal-massacre_n_8724118.html
[3] Canada
Broadcasting Corporation. Online: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/status-of-women-internal-report-1.3214751
Broadcasting Corporation. Online: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/status-of-women-internal-report-1.3214751
[4]
Canada Labour Congress. Online: http://canadianlabour.ca/news/news-archive/dec-6-clc-focuses-domestic-violence-workplace
Canada Labour Congress. Online: http://canadianlabour.ca/news/news-archive/dec-6-clc-focuses-domestic-violence-workplace