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On February 20 we mark the World Day of Social Justice with this year’s particularly relevant theme of “Workers on the Move: the Quest for Social Justice.”
The United Nations chose the theme to recognize that most migrants are seeking employment to feed and support themselves and their families and to draw attention to the desperate conditions that this search can often lead them to.
As a union, Unifor is committed to alleviating the dire conditions of migrants through its Social Justice Fund.
“The Social Justice Fund works to provide aid and promote the rights of those who are marginalized,” said Mohamad Alsadi, Director, Human Rights and International Department.
In 2017, the fund donated more than one million dollars for disaster relief to aid Rohingya refugees, famine victims in the Sudan, hurricane survivors in the Caribbean, and closer to home to aid the recovery following ice storms in New Brunswick and Quebec and raging forest fires in British Columbia.
The Social Justice Fund is a registered charity, solely maintained by contributions from Unifor employers negotiated during collective bargaining. The Fund supports work to strengthen democracy, promote equitable development, provide disaster relief, and contribute to poverty reduction, social justice, and education reform.
“The projects that receive support are fighting to advocate for people who face discrimination because of gender, race, sexuality, religion, culture or disability,” said Alsadi.
The Social Justice Fund supports more than 100 projects, with the goal to improve the lives of workers, their families, and their communities both internationally and in Canada.
Across the country donations have been made to support Aboriginal educational initiatives, mental health services, fund women’s shelters, and provide donations to food banks.
For more information visit unifor.org/sjf
