Dialogues
Essential Work, but Disposable Workers?
Saturday, May 1, 6:00-7:30PM
Long before the pandemic hit, essential workers and labour organisers were denouncing the inadequate, if not deplorable, working conditions in their sectors, stemming from a lack of funding, resources and planning, as well as social inequalities arising from systemic racism and gender disparities. A year into the COVID-19 public-health crisis, these problems have been worsened by a neoliberal response that prioritises private interests and profit over the health, safety and wellbeing of frontline workers. This panel brings together workers and organisers from the long-term care, education, temporary and migrant labour sectors to discuss the impact the pandemic has had on them.
PANELISTS
Gail Bannister-Clarke, Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
Samuel Kisitu, Resident member of Jane Finch Action Against Poverty and Precarious worker who disinfected the subway, helped the disabled and is a PSW on the Pandemic frontlines
Butterfly GoPaul, Resident member of Jane Finch Action Against Poverty and frontline community health worker
Chris Ramsaroop, Justicia for Migrant Workers
Candace Rennick, Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario
MODERATOR
Dr. Naheed Dosani, Palliative Education And Care for the Homeless
ASL Interpretation is available.
Butterfly Sabrina GoPaul
is a mother, frontline worker, journalist and resident member of Jane Finch Action Against Poverty (JFAAP). For more than 11-years, Butterfly has worked at Black Creek Community Heath Centre in the role of a Community Health Worker with a focus on community development, advocacy, community mobilization and Social Determinants of Health. She was also instrumental in stewarding OPSEU Local 5117 and will be running for president in the next elections. She graduated in Journalism Print & Broadcast with honours from Humber College and was the first Brown woman and single mother who earned the Board of Governors Achievement Award. She is a proud mother of two Suns, 25-year-old and eight-year-old, and a grandmother to her seven-year-old granddaughter. She voices passionate viewpoints about the experiences shared by community and her vision for a stronger; more organized and mobilized Jane Finch community.
Samuel Kisitu
Is a Precarious worker who disinfected the subway, helped the disabled and he is a PSW on the Pandemic frontlines, He is a social activist and a member of Jane Finch Action Against Poverty. It is noticed that his story in the Toronto Star made the plight of temporary workers more visible which influenced the Canadian government to open doors to permanent residence for 90000 temporary workers. He is currently demanding Ontario government to implement a regulatory model for professional recognition and validation the valuable work of Personal Support Workers (PSWs), and paid sick days and a descent workplace for essential workers
As member of Dominion Church International Toronto and other organizations in Jane-Finch Area. Samuel ‘s deputation contributed to the approval of the land transfer from Metrolinx for the development of the Jane- Finch Community Hub and Centre for the Arts by the City of Toronto Licensing Committee. Samuel is a recent alumni of Coady International Institute at St. Francis Xavier University where he completed a Certificate in Social EnterpriseHe holds a Diploma in Secondary Education, Specializing in Fine Art from National Teachers College at Kaliro | Kyambogo University in Uganda. He taught in Agok Secondary School in South Sudan and other Schools in Uganda. The New African Canadians nominated and celebrated Samuel for the 2020 Inspiration Award.
Chris Ramsaroop
is an organizer with Justicia for Migrant Workers. He is also an instructor in the Caribbean Studies Program at the University of Toronto and a clinic instructor at the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law. Ramsaroop is working to complete his PhD at OISE/University of Toronto. Justicia for Migrant Workers is a grassroots activist collective that has been organizing with migrant workers for nearly 20 years. Justicia’s work is based on building long term trust and relationships with migrant workers and includes: engaging in direct actions, working with workers to resist at work, launching precedent setting legal cases, and organizing numerous collective actions.
Candace Rennick
made history when she was elected Secretary Treasurer of CUPE Ontario, the province’s largest union, becoming the first woman and the youngest person ever elected to the position. Candace is also a Regional Vice President on the CUPE National Executive Board and has served on a number of national committees as well as representing CUPE internationally.
Gail Bannister-Clarke
is the President of the Peel Elementary Teachers’ Local and represents 7000 members. She is an advocate for woman and racial justice and enjoys spending time with her husband, daughters, and her dog, Spencer. Gail loves eating good food, travelling, and swimming. Gail’s pronouns are she and her.
Dr. Naheed Dosani
is a palliative care physician who cares for homeless and vulnerably housed individuals with dignity and compassion, whether in a shelter or on the street. He is the founder of the world’s first mobile palliative care program for people experiencing homelessness, the PEACH (Palliative Education And Care for the Homeless) Program at the Inner City Health Associates in Toronto, Ontario. During COVID-19, Dr Dosani has served as Medical Director for the Region of Peel’s COVID-19 Isolation/Housing Program. In February 2018, Dr. Dosani received a Meritorious Service Cross for humanitarianism from Governor General Julie Payette, for being a trailblazer in providing mobile end-of-life care for the homeless and those with unreliable housing. The Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians recognized Dr. Dosani with a humanitarian award in May 2019 and the Canadian Medical Association celebrated his work with the Award for Young Leaders in 2020.