Over the years, I have witnessed a movement of evolving labour organizers who understand that taking an intersectional and holistic approach is the only way workers and the labour movement will thrive.

This new era of labour activism stands up for workers, defends human rights, promotes better working conditions, bargains unapologetically, prioritizes mental health, centres grassroots creativity, and demands inclusivity all in one breath! I aspire to be such a leader for CEIU.

As the NEVP of CEIU, I will build upon my human rights background to ensure an equity-lens is applied to all areas of our union work. Understanding the lived experiences of our members/staff and the ways these experiences impact our work is critical to shift spaces and environments for the better; we must decolonize!

What is an equity lens?

So, what is an equity lens, and how do we use it? An equity-lens is a way of decoding situations and information by recognizing that our decision-making can either break down barriers, create barriers or maintain barriers. To incorporate an equity lens it must be a core-intentional practice, engrained in our daily thinking to ensure it is not a checkbox exercise or an afterthought.

With every initiative and effort, we must ask, "How does this impact our equity-deserving members?" And if we don’t know, we must ask those impacted! This approach ensures we challenge the status quos no longer serving us and dismantle systemic and institutional oppression, which will bring us into the new era of activist strength.

Ultimately, my vision as NEVP is to provide national support through collaborative conversations with regions and locals to do just this. In addition to ensuring our staff are equipped to prioritize the unique needs of each member, we will be empowering activists with the resources they need. This will be accomplished by providing ethical, high-level and meaningful change-initiatives across CEIU.

Together, we will build a stronger, united, and more inclusive collective for our members, both the ones who engage with us actively and those we have yet to meet!

I am honoured to share in this journey with all of you!

Miigwech/Merci/Thank You,

Your CEIU NEVP,
Rubina Boucher (She/Her/Elle)