There are a number of spaces throughout HEU that are created for members who self-identify with one or more of HEU's seven equity-deserving groups. These spaces can include: Equity Conference, Equity Standing Committees, Equity Caucuses at conventions and other meetings.
The following are HEU's seven equity-deserving groups:
- Ethnic Diversity (or racialized, person of colour, BIPOC, IBPOC, visible minority)
- Indigenous
- People with Disabilities (including visible and invisible disabilities)
- Pink Triangle (2SLGBTQIA+)
- Two-Spirit, Women and Non-Binary
- Young Worker (up to 35 years)
- Older persons (55 years+)
What does self-identification mean?
Self-identification means the voluntary, confidential, and self-described declaration of your identity. It is a self-described declaration of lived experience. Those who self-identify with an equity group can attend that equity caucus.
- Who cannot attend the Equity Conference?
Self-identification does not include equity member allies or advocates. As a social justice union, HEU values the important work and solidarity of allyship and advocacy. But for the purposes of this conference, only members who self-identify with the designated equity-deserving group are able to participate in the conference.
- Example scenario 1: I am a parent of a child with disabilities. I advocate for them every day. Can I attend the Persons with Disabilities caucus at the conference or run for a position on the People with Disabilities Standing Committee?
No, you cannot attend the Equity Conference nor be considered for a position on the People with Disabilities Committee. While your advocacy work is valuable, you do not identify as a person with a disability and therefore cannot participate in the spaces created for people with disabilities.
- Example scenario 2: My child and husband are Indigenous but I do not self-identify as Indigenous. Can I attend the conference?
You can attend the conference if you self-identify as a member of an equity-deserving group. But if you do not self-identify as an Indigenous person (even though your husband and your child do), you cannot attend the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus at the conference.