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Document Resource Summary: Sudbury and Windsor have proud labour histories and a strong sense of community tied to mining and manufacturing employment. These stories, however, often leave out the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ workers. To gain insight into the work experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ people in Sudbury and Windsor, the research team collected 673 survey responses and conducted 50 in-depth interviews over the past 3 years.
The research shows that despite the many advances that have been made in terms of sexual and gender minority rights, most 2SLGBTQ+ workers don’t feel comfortable at work. Just over half (50.6%) of the 2SLGBTQ+ people surveyed were not fully out at work and two out of three people experienced some type of harassment or discrimination in their current job. Those surveyed were also less likely to be working in well-paid jobs in mining and/or manufacturing, and more likely to be working in the low-wage service and/or the public sector. 2SLGBTQ+ people’s decisions about what job to take or where to work were also shaped by fears about whether workplaces or industries would be accepting. A substantial number of 2SLGBTQ+ workers also left workplaces that were not supportive. Reports of unsupportive workplaces were common in all sectors, with people working in male-dominated sectors or occupations least likely to feel supported at work. When workers did not feel comfortable and supported at work, they were also more likely to have poor mental health. Transgender and racialized workers in our sample faced even greater constraints and challenges in the labour market and workplace and transgender and bisexual participants had poorer mental health than lesbian and gay participants.
The hope is that this report will encourage employers and unions to engage in open, honest assessments of their workplace practices and cultures, undergo training and education about sexual and gender diversity, and put in place more diverse and inclusive workplace practices.
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Document Resource Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated Canada’s air transportation industry. In a normal year, the industry contributes roughly $10 billion to Canada’s GDP, but in April, GDP on an annualized basis fell to just $300 million. The industry cut capacity by 90% and thousands of people were laid off. Air transport workers and their employers, including airlines, airports, Nav Canada, and ground control handlers, among others, have done their part to control the pandemic by limiting capacity or even shuttering completely. The lock-down has gone on longer than anyone expected and at this point there is no end in sight. The government must do a combination of the following in order to move forward and ensure a recovery of the industry: preserve and support the industry where travel restrictions remain in place, and lift travel restrictions where it is safe to do so.
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Document Resource Summary: As many of us transition back to our workplaces during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will certainly experience changes in our daily work environments...
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Document Resource Summary: 6 Steps to Support Racial Justice
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Document Resource Summary: Union Activist’s Guide to Online Meetings
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Document Resource Summary: Letter to Premier Ford: Addressing and Dismantling Systemic Racism in Ontario
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Document Resource Summary: Every day, millions of workers are exposed to high levels of heat in their workplaces and this exposure can be
a matter of life and death. Even though illness from exposure to heat is preventable, every year, thousands
become sick from occupational heat stress, and in some cases, die from this exposure.
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Document Resource Summary: Restarting the Economy: What gaming workers need to know
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Document Resource Summary: Restarting the Economy: What hospitality workers need to know
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Document Resource Summary: Warehousing and logistics play a critical role in the supply chain, ensuring essential goods and supplies make it to businesses, front-line organizations and into people’s homes. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant challenges in ensuring there are little to no disruptions; however, as we have seen, this is not always the case. Even the smallest of interruptions can cause bottlenecks to form throughout the chain. Warehouses have seen outbreaks of the virus amongst workers who often work very closely together. These workers, along with truck drivers and couriers, have also seen an intensification of their workloads as employers place increased pressure to make sure shipments and deliveries are being expedited.