Canada’s Unions Rise Up Against Gender-Based Violence

As we mark the beginning of the 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence, Canada’s unions are demanding an end to gender-based violence and harassment in every workplace, home, and community across the country.

Gender-based violence and harassment continue to threaten the safety, dignity, and equality of women and gender-diverse workers. The CLC’s own research revealed that gender diverse workers (82%) and women (76%) experience higher rates of harassment and violence at work compared to their colleagues. In addition, a recent report on harassment and violence in Canadian workplaces revealed 843 reported occurrences of third-party (meaning clients, patients, customers, etc.) violence and harassment in 2022, reflecting a whopping 41% increase from 2021.

“These are not just numbers,” said Siobhán Vipond, Executive Vice President of the CLC. “They reflect the alarming, daily reality of workers whose safety and dignity are still at risk. They tell the story of a crisis that demands action, now.”

There are several factors contributing to this increase in third-party violence and harassment. People are facing mounting pressures from a worsening affordability crisis, with scarce resources to address their needs. Staffing shortages and systems stretched too thin may also impact the way people interact with front-line workers, leading to dangerous situations for these workers.

Moreover, in recent years, we have seen some conservative political leaders stoke fear, anger and hate to distract from their lack of solutions. This emboldens third parties to harass workers in public-facing jobs, disproportionately targeting 2SLGBTQI+ workers, Black, racialized, Indigenous workers, and those with disabilities at an alarming rate.

Despite unions sounding the alarm, the federal government has yet to work with provinces, territories, unions and employers to meaningfully implement ILO C-190, the world’s first global treaty to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work.

“While governments delay, the labour movement is taking action. Across the country, Canada’s unions are leading the fight to end gender-based violence through collective bargaining, education, and political action,” adds Vipond.

While we are proud of the workers and activists who are fighting every day to make workplaces and communities safer, fairer, and more inclusive, unions cannot do it alone.

We are calling on all levels of government to make work safer for everyone by:

• Coordinating a tripartite national strategy to implement ILO C-190 that includes measures to address the specific challenge of growing violence and harassment from third parties; and

• Conducting a national public awareness campaign about third-party violence and harassment as part of Canada’s National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence and the implementation strategy for ILO C190.

“Canada’s unions will continue to rise up, to demand accountability from those in power, and to fight for a future where every worker is safe, respected, and free from violence and harassment,” said Vipond.

Check out the CLC’s research on violence and harassment at work here.