Local 560 Employment Equity Officer

The Employment Equity Officer for OPSEU Local 560 (1998-2000) is Beth Agnew. She is currently at S@Y
Campus in Room SC2100A (416) 491-5050, Ext.3133.

Employment Equity at Seneca College

The Resolution, Equity and Diversity Centre supervises the application and enforcement of Seneca College's policies
regarding education and employment equity. In particular, the College's "Policies and Procedures Regarding
Harassment/Discrimination" governs the conduct of all members of the college community with regard to matters of
harassment and discrimination. Faculty should be aware of the College's employment and education equity policies. If you are requested to attend a meeting at the Centre for Equity and Human Rights, we strongly advise that you
contact the Local 560 office at (416) 495-1599 or the Local 560 Employment Equity Officer, Beth Agnew, at (416)
491-5050, Ext. 3133 (bagnew@opseu560.org or union@opseu560.org) to request a union officer to accompany you.

Employment Equity in the Collective Agreement

The Collective Agreement contains two references to employment equity. The first, in Article 9:
Employee/Employer Relations Committee, Section 9.03 G, reads, "The Committee will examine issues relating to
employment equity and means of enhancing it, including an examination of the recognition of part-time service under the
College's Classification Plans."

The second reference to employment equity is a Letter of Understanding signed by representatives of both parties to
the collective agreement. The following is the letter negotiated by the parties and renewed during the most recent
round of bargaining.  

Re:      Employment Equity

The parties recognize a shared commitment to achieving employment equity within the college system.  This,
therefore, will confirm the understanding reached at negotiations between the parties that:

1.     At the local level, the parties will work together to facilitate:

•      the implementation of employment systems, policies and practices, including matters relating to child care, that
•      are non-discriminatory in nature and effect; and
•     the implementation of practices and policies to enhance the hiring of, and transfer, promotion, training and
•     developmental opportunities of, persons from designated groups; and
•      generating data as to the current representation and distribution of the designated groups; and
•      examination of recruitment and practices of hiring into the bargaining unit of persons from designated groups;     and
•      the removal of any barriers that may exist in employment policies and the monitoring of data relative to
•     employment equity; and
•      the attainment of appropriate representation of targeted groups identified by the Province of Ontario.

 3. At both the provincial and local level, the parties will work together to enhance the participation of individuals
from populations identified by the Province of Ontario as designated groups in the day-to-day administration of the
Agreement.  This could include, but not be limited to, the administration of Articles 7, 9, 11, 32, Appendix II and IV.

The designated groups referred to above are considered to be, for the purpose of this letter:

• women
• visible and ethnic minorities
• disabled persons
• native persons
• Francophones

Sites of Interest

• Aboriginal Links: Canada & the US http://www.bloorstreet.com/300block/aborcan.htm
• Assembly of First Nations http://www.afn.ca/
• The Council for Canadian Unity http://www.ccu-cuc.ca/
• Ontario Human Rights Commission http://www.ohrc.on.ca/
• Ontario Women's Directorate http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/owd/index.html