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REPORT TO THE 2015 ANNUAL MEETING ON 

ETFO’S EQUITY AND WOMEN’S PROGRAMS

The Goals of ETFO’s Women’s Programs

1. To promote women’s leadership within ETFO;

2. To outreach specifically to women from designated groups and eliminate barriers to leadership in ETFO;

3. To provide programs that support ETFO women members in both their professional and personal 

lives;

4. To mobilize women members in becoming social justice and equity activists through professional 

learning and union leadership development, within the broader community and labour 
movement; and

5. To support women members in identifying with, and being invested in, their profession and union.

The process of reviewing ETFO’s women’s programs has been one of growth, movement and 
understanding, and the development will continue with regular program reviews. The changes that 
were identified and implemented through this review process will open up more exciting opportunities 
for women to become more involved in ETFO.

LOOKING AHEAD

CB Mentoring Program WP

This new program is meant to address the underrepresentation of women in the position of chief 
negotiator by building capacity among ETFO’s women members. 

FNMI Perspectives in Literature Online Book Club

The First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) Perspectives in Literature Online Book Club will engage ETFO 
members with children’s and adult literature and online resources that are inclusive of Aboriginal 
presence and perspectives. Participants will explore and examine a variety of issues and topics that 
include; an introduction to cultural perspectives, children’s perspective on residential schools, the 
importance of family and community, relationship with nature, food, games and reconciliation. This 
online learning will provide participants an opportunity to develop strategies that incorporate what 
they’ve learned into their teaching.

From Charity to Justice WP

ETFO’s work with women in our communities is impressive. Members work with sexual assault centres, 
women’s shelters and women’s organizations. They fill backpacks for children, donate funds, collect 
donations for shelters and food banks. 

Charity work is one pillar of community work. The other pillar is justice/activism. This new conference 
will involve women members who are already active in their communities, particularly women’s 
communities, and want to take the step from charity to justice. It will focus on the connections 
between the union movement and the social justice movement, including historical victories, and the 
differences between charity and justice. Speakers will visit from the labour and women’s movements. 

ETFO and Labour History

Member awareness, solidarity and participation in ETFO unionism and the broader labour movement is 
extremely important for achieving collective bargaining and other Federation goals. This is particularly 
so for newer members who may not have had exposure, time or opportunity to familiarize themselves 
with their union, its role and achievements.