CEIU member wins Human Rights award

Nicole Ma, CEIU National Vice-President for Human Rights, is this year’s winner of the Bromley Armstrong award. Bromley Armstrong gave outstanding service in the cause of Labour and Human Rights, and each year the Toronto & York Region Labour Council honours his work through the award. Ma was recognized for her work both within the union and the international field.

Always educating and motivating members on basic human rights issues, Nicole’s work led to a better workplace and a stronger union. She was also instrumental in making changes within the PSAC that led to Aboriginal and Racially Visible groups having their own conferences to pursue human rights issues. "We recognize that Aboriginal and Racially Visible groups face similar human rights issues, but each has their own identity. Allowing them to address those issues within the context of their separate identities was a change we had to make" she said.

More broadly, Nicole has been active in support of international peace and women’s issues, and has also supported the Haitian community through fund-raising and other activities.

The presentation of the award was made by Bromley Armstrong at the Labour Council’s recent Aboriginal and Workers of Colour Conference. In his remarks, Armstrong noted that doing human rights work is often not easy — but is always worthwhile.

For Ma, the award was an honour she appreciated but one she could accept only by highlighting the work of others. "Many in the labour movement contribute to Human Rights, and without that broad-based effort we would not make the progress we need."

Within CEIU, Ma pointed to the work of the union’s Human Rights / Race Relations Committee. "The committee does important equity work, and we are looking forward to our conference this fall." CEIU’s Human Rights / Race Relations Conference will be held in Gatineau, Quebec, from September 7 to 9 and will carry forward the union’s work in the Human Rights field.