FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 20, 1998

Delegates call for action against racism
AFL conference challenges unions, government and business to all do their part

EDMONTON -- Delegates to the Alberta Federation of Labour's Human Rights Conference voted this morning to endorse a statement calling on unions to take a leading role in the international fight against racism.

The statement, prepared by the Canadian Labour Congress, says that it should become part of the labour movement's "on-going work" to campaign for the "end of all types of discrimination, such as racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia" and discrimination against the disabled.

Conference delegates discussed the statement today as part of their efforts to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The United Nations decided to mark March 21st as a special day in recognition of the infamous "Sharpeville Massacre."

On March 21, 1960, South African police fired into a crowd of peaceful demonstrators in Sharpeville Township, killing sixty-nine people. Since that time, the anniversary of the "Sharpeville Massacre" has become a rallying point for people involved in the fight against racism and intolerance. It has become a time to remember all the suffering that has been caused by racism and a time to celebrate successes in the on-going battle for racial tolerance.

"We've come a long way since Sharpeville," said AFL president Audrey Cormack this morning. "But unfortunately, racism and intolerance are still big problems, around the world and here in Alberta. That's why we've endorsed this statement today. And that's why the labour movement is making a commitment to fight against racism and intolerance wherever we see it."

The CLC statement says that the fight against racism must go hand-in-hand with the fight to improve social and economic conditions for the poor, women, children and the unemployed. More specifically, the statement calls for:

• accessible education, health care and child care programs
• laws that guarantee workers the rights to form unions and protect their own interests
• an end to international economic policies that have doomed millions of people to lives of poverty
• and the elimination of "systemic racism and worker bias" in the policies of international institutions such as the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund.

Cormack said that unions in Alberta will embrace the central message of the CLC's anti-racism statement. But she pointed out that the struggle against racism and intolerance can't be won by unions alone.

"We'll be doing what we can to fight racism," she said. "But other groups in society also have to do their part. In particular, governments and businesses have to start taking more responsibility for fighting discrimination in the workplace and in the community."

The AFL Human Rights conference -- called Dispelling Myths: Building a Multicultural Future -- will continue today and tomorrow. It is being held at the Howard Johnson Hotel, located at 10010-104 Street in Edmonton.

For more information call:
Audrey Cormack, President at 483-39021 or
Gil McGowan, Director of Communications at 483-3021