This Event Policy applies to BC Building Trades conventions.
Solidarity is the foundation of the labour movement.
Any conduct which undermines that solidarity undermines the dignity of our fellow members, and prevents us from achieving our goals.
Sexual harassment and harassment based on religion, race, sexual orientation, gender identity or other grounds, contradict the words of equality and justice that we so often use in our resolutions and speeches.
The BC Building Trades will not tolerate any sexist or racist jokes or behaviour that degrades women, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, IBPOC people or any other groups.
Harassment can include comments, slurs and jokes based on any identity listed as prohibited grounds in the BC Human Rights Code.
It can include displaying degrading or pornographic pictures or graffiti and, in the case of sexual harassment, includes unwanted contact or sexual demands.
If you experience harassment at any BC Building Trades event, meeting, or conference, do not feel you have to put up with it — let us try to resolve the problem. There is a simple process to follow.
Every BC Building Trades convention has a key contact person to help enforce this statement. The contact person will investigate and try to resolve the problem. They may take any action required to stop the harassment and may ask that the harasser be removed from convention. (See Ombudsperson process.)
Confidentiality will be respected throughout the process.
The purpose of this statement is to make it clear — there is no room for harassment at BC Building Trades conventions. We do not condone it, and we will not tolerate it.
Ombuds process
The BC Building Trades’ event policy applies to conventions and is there to ensure all delegates can fully participate.
Should any delegate experience harassment, we have assigned an Ombudsperson to assist.
The Ombuds process is in place to support the BC Building Trades’ commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, respectful and harassment free environment.
The Ombuds process implemented during BC Building Trades conventions is a neutral process. Ombudspersons are not here to monitor behaviour. Their job is to try to resolve disputes or complaints that are brought to their attention. The Ombuds process is collaborative and ideally includes all willing parties.
How to contact an Ombudsperson
If you need to reach an Ombudsperson during Convention, please email:
ombudsperson@bcbuildingtrades.org
You can also go to the Convention Information Desk and request that an Ombudsperson contact you.
Your outreach will be answered by an Ombudsperson during convention hours, normally within an hour. All outreach will be treated confidentially.