December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada, marking the anniversary of the 1989 murders of 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal.
On this day we remember these young women murdered because they were women, just as they were getting the education they needed to take on challenging careers in a field where women are under-represented. December 6 is also a day to reflect on the prevalence of violence against women in our society, and to commit to take concrete action in order to end violence against women and girls.
This year in honour of Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) in partnership with the University of Western Ontario’s Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (CREVAWC) is launching a nation-wide survey on the impact of domestic violence on workers and workplaces. This survey is the first of its kind in Canada.
This national survey will gather data about the prevalence and the impact of domestic violence in the workplace. It will provide made-in-Canada research that will help unions, employers, advocates and governments develop good public policy and provide data for unions to use at the bargaining table.
A similar survey conducted in Australia through a partnership between the University of New South Wales and organized labour, produced 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.
When workers experience domestic violence at home, the impacts are felt in the workplace. A recent study by Justice Canada highlights this fact by estimating that employers lose $77.9 million annually as a result of domestic violence. But the costs, both financial and personal go far beyond that.
Unions have worked hard to pressure governments to pass workplace violence legislation that offers some protection for
workers experiencing violence in the home. Indeed, Ontario’s Bill 168 was implemented after considerable pressure following tragic workplace deaths, including those of Theresa Vince and Lori Dupont. But there is much more we can do.
We are encouraging all workers to complete the survey and to encourage others to participate. The survey is online and available in English and French until June 6, 2014. http://fluidsurveys.com/s/DVatWork/ (The survey is online and available in English and French until June 6, 2014.)
Any worker over the age of 15 is encouraged to complete the survey, whether or not they have personally experienced or witnessed domestic violence. It is completely anonymous and takes between 10 and 30 minutes to complete.
The Canadian Labour Congress believes that this research will not only help unions negotiate better workplace support for any worker experiencing violence, but will also also result in better legislation and policies for all workers.
One day of action is not enough to end violence against women and girls. We also acknowledge that gender based violence affects women in Canada in very different ways and that young women, women with disabilities, racialized women and and Aboriginal women are more likely to experience violence. For this reason, the Canadian Labour Congress and its affiliates, provincial and territorial federations of labour and labour councils continue to call for a National Action Plan on Violence Against Women – a proactive, comprehensive approach to a systemic problem. We also join our allies in demanding a national public
inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Unions are uniquely placed to make a real difference to the lives of workers who may be experiencing violence in the home. And that makes work safer, for everyone.
