RESCON launches anti-racism campaign
September 10, 2020 | By HPAC Magazine
The Residential Construction Council of Ontario kicked-off its Construction Against Racism Everywhere (CARE) campaign, and is spearheading a coalition of employers, unions and sub-trades from all sectors of the industry.
The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) has launched a campaign to bring employers, unions and government together to combat and address racism in the industry.
“We have always taken a leadership role in fighting racism and discrimination in the construction industry,” says RESCON president Richard Lyall. “We are very proud of the fact that we have a multi-racial, multi-cultural and incredibly diverse workforce in Ontario’s construction industry and racist behaviour of any kind or in any form will not be tolerated by any of our employers.”
RESCON held a webinar on Thursday, September 10 featuring a legal discussion on employers’ obligations when dealing with racism and discrimination incidents and a separate panel discussion on anti-racism and diversity efforts undertaken by builders and labour.
In addition, RESCON kicked-off a Construction Against Racism Everywhere (CARE) campaign, with the hashtag #RESCONCare. Stickers are being distributed to construction employers and the broader industry for workers to post on their hard hats and around construction sites.
RESCON and its board of directors are also spearheading the formation of a coalition of employers, unions and sub-trades from all sectors of the industry. The group will come up with ideas on how to deal with racism and change the culture of the industry.
Members will also figure out a strategy to educate workers and engage construction stakeholders through conversations and meetings with the Ontario Residential Council of Construction Associations, Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, Construction Employers Coalition and Construction and Design Alliance of Ontario.
“We intend to work closely with construction employers and unions, the provincial and municipal governments to address racism in all forms,” says Bruno Giancola, chair of RESCON’s board of directors and senior vice president, project management at Tridel.
“We have decided to launch these new initiatives,” says Lyall, “and bring together stakeholders from across the industry to discuss how to move forward with a comprehensive anti-racism strategy.”
