The OFL stands in solidarity with Scholar Strike Canada, which is being held on September 9 and 10 to protest anti-Black murders by the police in the United States and in Canada.
“Many scholars are employed in precarious work in our academic institutions, and as such, we recognize that this solidarity action of coming together to take labour action in protest of the racist violence by police against Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities is a brave one,” said Ontario Federation of Labour President Patty Coates. “Together we can put an end to state-sanctioned violence against racialized communities. I encourage every Ontarian to join in working to put an end to racism in our province.”
“The lack of transparency and accountability of the police in the deaths of racialized Ontarians continues to be a shameful manifestation of the systemic racism that the labour movement works to eliminate,” said Ontario Federation of Labour Secretary-Treasurer Ahmad Gaied. “I join in the call for University Administrators to support the scholars, librarians and professional staff who participate by refusing to penalize those who take part in the Scholar Strike.”
The Scholar Strike will present a teach-in with a keynote address from journalist Desmond Cole, as well as digital teach-ins bringing together activists, artists, and scholars from York University, University of Toronto, Ryerson University and OCAD University.
The OFL encourages solidarity actions – find out more by reading the open letter.
