On April 10 – International Day of Pink – HEU members are encouraged to wear an item of pink clothing as a symbol that we can each play a critical role in ending harassment and bullying.
For the past decade, HEU members have participated in February’s Pink Shirt Day to spread an anti-bullying message and make a continued commitment to support initiatives that eradicate bullying in schools and workplaces.
International Day of Pink is a celebration of diversity in our communities, schools and workplaces, but it also raises awareness of bullying on the grounds of homophobia, transphobia and transmisogyny.
HEU has a long and proud history of defending and promoting the rights of our equity-seeking members to gain ground through collective bargaining and our ongoing political action.
Diversity, equity and inclusion have become the pillars of HEU’s equity work in recent years to ensure the structure of the union reflects the diversity of our membership.
And at HEU’s 2018 convention, delegates adopted a “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” statement that conveys the interconnection between workers’ rights and equality. “We understand that equity and inclusion are intrinsically linked,” says that statement, “and that an injury to one is an injury to all.”
As a social justice union, HEU stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our LGBTQ+ members and community. Although we’ve made great strides, we have to remain vigilant. Together, we can achieve more inclusive and respectful work environments and communities, where everyone feels they belong and are treated with fairness.
International Day of Pink is an opportunity for the union to recognize our members’ uniqueness, raise awareness, and educate ourselves on equity issues, as we strive for respectful, harassment-free work environments.
After all, it’s every worker’s right to be, and feel, safe on the job.
For more information on International Day of Pink, visit <https://www.dayofpink.org>.