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REPORT TO THE 2015 ANNUAL MEETING ON 

ETFO’S EQUITY AND WOMEN’S PROGRAMS

A group of members is engaged in creating accessible print and online resources that: 

• connect members to ETFO’s successes and impact on the working lives of teachers;
• demonstrate how ETFO’s work in public education and social justice and its contributions 

within the broader labour movement have helped build a better society; and

• link members to ETFO’s existing resources. 

Mentoring and Coaching Institute WP

Unions have a longstanding tradition of informal mentoring: tapping someone on the shoulder or 
encouraging others to become more involved in the Union. Such informal mentoring is essential, but 
it also tends to reinforce existing dynamics of gender and race. Because mentors generally reach out 
to others of the same gender and racial background, relying on informal mentoring may leave women 
and racialized members with limited access to mentoring.

Intentional mentoring can help unions thrive, strengthen and transform over time, supporting 
experienced leaders to offer their knowledge and experience to a broader range of union members. 
Formal mentoring is more institutionalized than informal mentoring, with the Union assisting in the 
training of mentors, setting up the mentoring relationship, developing an ongoing mechanism for 
supporting the relationship and providing opportunities for face-to-face learning.

Over the next three years, ETFO will develop a formal, well-researched, intensive mentoring program. 
In 2015-2016, mentors will be identified and trained. In the second year, mentees will be matched with 
mentors. In the third year, mentees would choose a specific area of ETFO’s work to focus on.

Online Networking Site for Racialized and FNMI Women Members 

Racism continues to be an everyday reality confronting members in the workplace. 

Leaders of the labour movement at …and still we rise