This year’s Indigenous and Workers of Colour Conference (IWOC), hosted by the Equity Committee of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council on October 14th was a huge success! 

Under the theme “Power Beyond the Checkbox: Taking Action as BIWOC,” this year’s conference invited us to go beyond the surface and reshape the narrative as Black, Indigenous and other Workers of Colour.

Now more than ever, we need to break free from the confines of token representation and step into our collective power as racialized workers. No more passive checkboxes—this is about dynamic action that changes lives, workplaces, and societies. Taking Power as Black and Indigenous Workers of Colour isn't just a slogan—it's a call to action to bring together our collective power within the Labour Movement and unite our struggles across communities through anti-racism and decolonization.  

Below you can find a list of resources from this year’s conference as we take power and bring it to the forefront of unions and movements.

2023 IWOC PROGRAM

See Pictures HERE, & HERE | Video forthcoming

THE UNION ADVANTAGE: FOR BLACK & RACIALIZED WORKERS - Presentation Slides

THE UNION ADVANTAGE: THE IMPORTANCE OF UNIONS IN REDUCING RACIAL INEQUALITY - One Pager

JUST TRANSITION IN A TIME OF CLIMATE CRISIS - Workshop Slides (forthcoming)

INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK - INDIGENOUS PRINCIPLES OF JUST TRANSITION

INJURED WORKERS ACTION FOR JUSTICE

JUSTICE FOR MIGRANT WORKERS 

Thank you to each and every one of our presenters — including our MCs and Co-Chairs of the Equity Committee, Camlin Vinayagamoorthy and Keith Menezes — you made a tremendous impact on this year’s IWOC! Your knowledge, shared experiences and contributions have made all the difference!

Panel Presenters:

• Yvette Blackburn, Moderator, Member of ETT
• Tina Stevens, President of OPSEU Local 102, Loon clan, Kitigan Zibi Ojibwe Nation
• Angele Alook, Assistant Professor, Bigstone Cree Nation
• Rokhaya Gueye “Rok”, Community Partnership Coordinator at Carpenters Regional Council and the Ontario Chair of the Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB)
• Joseanne Job, former President of OPSEU Local 527
• Chris Ramaroop, Assistant Professor, New College, University of Toronto, Justice for Migrant Workers

Workshop Presenters:

• The Sound of Struggle in our Movement(s): Rosina Kazi, Lead Singer of LAL
• Justice for Injured Migrant Workers: Sang-Hun Mun, Injured Workers Action for Justice
• Political Action from the Boardroom to the Grassroots: Marie Clarke Walker, former Executive VP and Secretary Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress; and Justin Kong, Regional Education Officer at the Public Service Alliance Canada – Ontario Region
• Decolonizing our Movements across Seven Generations: Angele Alook, Assistant Professor, Bigstone Cree Nation
• Just Transition in a Time of Climate Crisis: Steve Shallhorn, Executive Director of Working Green 2050 at the Labour Education Centre; and Brad Evoy, Scarborough Community Legal Services, Mi'kmaq Nation