Asian Heritage Month has been celebrated across Canada since the 1990s. It was officially recognized by the federal government in May 2002. CUPE recognizes and celebrates the contributions that members of Asian communities have made to Canada.

Asian Heritage Month has been celebrated across Canada since the 1990s. It was officially recognized by the federal government in May 2002. CUPE recognizes and celebrates the contributions that members of Asian communities have made to Canada.

We acknowledge and honour the activism of people of Asian descent in their fight for human rights and social justice. Their ongoing struggles against multiple forms of oppression have been instrumental in strengthening our labour movement and our communities.

Historical struggles like the Komagata Maru incident led to challenges against the federal government’s racist “continuous journey regulation”. In current times, COVID-19 has amplified anti-Asian racism. The current pandemic has been made worse by xenophobia, increased feelings of isolation, exclusion, and hate. These struggles are historical and are not tolerable.

Asian communities have reported an increase in racism and discrimination since the beginning of the pandemic. These experiences are also layered with misogyny and sexism. According to data analyzed by the grassroots Asian community group project1907.org, women have been most impacted by the spike in anti-Asian racism in Canada, reporting 60% of incidents.

These unwelcomed and unwanted acts of violence need to stop.

For Asian Heritage Month, CUPE would like to remind members that we are here to support you through any experience of racism in your workplace, union, and community. CUPE encourages members to act against racism, discrimination, xenophobia, misogyny, sexism, and all forms of oppression today, tomorrow, and always.

May is Jewish Heritage Month. Jewish Heritage Month was officially recognized by the federal government in March 2018 after a unanimous vote in the House of Commons.

The Jewish community has long played a central role in labour struggles and in the fight against discrimination in Canada. In 1947, the Jewish Labour Committee successfully lobbied to pass the first anti-discrimination resolution at the Canadian Congress of Labour, demanding “vigorous action” in “the fight for full equality for all peoples, regardless of race, colour, creed, or national origin.”

For Jewish Heritage Month, CUPE honours the historic role of the Jewish community in the promotion and defense of labour rights and social justice, and we call on our members to take action against the growing tide of antisemitism in our country and around the world.

As part of our celebration this year, we encourage members to learn more about the Jewish-Canadian trade unionist Léa Roback, who organized Francophone and Yiddish-speaking workers in Montréal and fought tirelessly for women’s, environmental, immigrant and Indigenous rights.