By Serena Mohammed (she/her), teacher-librarian, Richmond
As a racialized woman who has a physical disability, I have experienced many barriers, inequities, and exclusions throughout my education, work experiences, and in various community spaces. So, as a newer member I felt unsure and unconfident about participating in union committees and roles. I was worried about experiencing similar barriers and challenges. I was also worried about feeling isolated, as I wasn’t sure if other members would have similar lived experiences, views, and passions.
However, when I became active in my local and provincial unions, I realized that there were many members who shared my passion for advocacy, social justice, equity, and inclusion. Being active in the Richmond Teachers’ Association (RTA) and the BCTF has been empowering and educational for me. I have been able to work and connect with members from all over the province and have developed many meaningful connections and friendships. I have had many opportunities to contribute to a wide range of advocacy work related to social justice, gender equity, women in leadership, working and learning conditions, and the labour movement. These connections and opportunities have helped me become a more empowered and confident advocate for myself and other members, especially when there are issues and barriers related to accessibility, health and wellness, equity, and inclusion.
My first involvement with my union was on my local’s TTOC and early career teachers’ committees. I later joined my local’s social justice committee. I was very fortunate to have a colleague who reached out to me and encouraged me to join this committee. Participating in the RTA Social Justice Committee helped me develop a sense of belonging and helped me feel connected to my local union. It also allowed me to learn more about the various ways members can get involved with their union.
There is a wide variety of union work for members to participate in, both at the local and provincial level. After some time on local committees, I joined the BCTF Committee for Action on Social Justice (CASJ)—Status of Women Action Group. I served on this committee for six years and had the opportunity to travel to different locals to help facilitate Summer Leadership Conferences, Fall Zone Meetings, and Spring Zone Meetings. Some of the events required travelling and attending meetings over multiple days. I was unaware of what the process would be for asking for accommodations to support my accessibility needs, and I was worried about how I would be perceived or judged by others. As I gained more experience and opportunities working with colleagues who are also very passionate about removing barriers, inequities, and exclusions, I felt more confident and empowered to speak up and advocate for myself and others when there were actual or potential barriers to accessing union roles, spaces, and events.
One of the most memorable, empowering, and transformative experiences that I gained from serving on CASJ was getting to represent the BCTF on the BC Federation of Labour Human Rights Standing Committee. This experience had a lasting impact on me. I learned about how other labour unions are working toward advancing human rights for their members and communities. My experience also reaffirmed my belief that equitable representation of members with disabilities/disabled members in all union roles, events, and spaces is essential as their lived experiences contribute to barriers being addressed in proactive and meaningful ways.
Another great avenue for union participation is through provincial specialist associations. I am currently serving on the executive committee of the BC Teacher-Librarians’ Association. In my work with this PSA, I get to advocate for teachers, students, and public education. PSAs also have a strong focus on professional development and fostering community among teachers with shared interests and teaching specialties.
I am also currently a BCTF facilitator with Women in Leadership. This role gives me opportunities to facilitate workshops all over BC to help union representatives better understand their roles, union policies and procedures, and the collective agreement.
By getting involved in the union, I’ve grown as a teacher and an activist. Barriers to accessibility still exist in all our public spaces, but I’ve learned that accommodations are available in union work. I hope that my story will encourage other members, especially members who are part of equity-seeking or traditionally underrepresented groups, to become more active in their local and provincial unions. If you are thinking about starting your journey into union work, I encourage you give it a try.