Equity Officer Resigns: Harassment in YUFA Executive?

6 April 2009

To the Executive Committee of YUFA:

I am resigning from my position as Equity Officer.

It is an understatement to say that this has not been an easy executive to work with. My experience in social movements has taught me that work is best shared, and change is best made, by maintaining open, democratic and participatory structures and processes. For YUFA, these structures and processes must be consistent with Section 1.3 of the Constitution.

Many YUFA members have dedicated years of their lives to building an organization that they believed would be modeled on democratic union principles. However, YUFA is now experiencing a crisis of confidence among its members due to the perception that YUFA is no longer an organization that is inclusive of and responsive to the interests of its members. I am not at all confident that the current YUFA executive is in a position to allay these concerns. For the good of the organization and the membership, I urge the YUFA executive to open the way for a period of transition, in order to allow the organization to enter a period of rebuilding and renewal.

Sincerely,
Deborah Brock

YUFA Constitution: 1.3 Equity Statement

The Association is committed to upholding the principles of equity, non-discrimination and freedom from harassment and to nurturing a culture of acceptance, diversity and inclusion where every member of YUFA and the broader York community is treated with dignity and respect, receives equal treatment and enjoys freedom from harassment, interference, restriction, coercion, or intimidation exercised or practised by a member with respect to another member both within the union and in the workplace because of, but not limited to, race, ancestry, place of origin (birth place), colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, language, creed, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, sexual preference, age, marital status, family status, number of dependents, disability, political views or beliefs, religious affiliation or belief or membership in associations.

Commenting on this Story is closed.