BARRY STEVENS

In what creative – even risky – ways are unions in Canada supporting immigrant workers of colour in overcoming barriers to employment?

A Toronto local of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers had a pretty clever idea.

Three years ago, Barry Stevens of IBEW Local 353 ran a pilot program for electricians from China that taught basic Canadian electrical specs and vocab. Many of the participants were university-trained, non-unionized, and lacking Canadian experience. The immediate objectives of the training embodied core union values, but Barry also recognized the added long-term, tactical advantage: leave those workers feeling positive about IBEW and after acquiring some industry experience, they’ll return as active members.

“Our only security as workers is to grow trade unionism … The only way [for unions] to fight back is to gain market share … Get the percentage of unionized workers up ... If the union leaders aren’t going to do that, then they aren’t doing a service to the workers they are representing.”