Resolutions at BC Federation of Labour convention call for C-IRG to be dismantled, force not to be used in Indigenous disputes

Photo: “MoveUP delegate Colin Sanderson speaking in support of a MoveUP submitted resolution calling on the prov. and federal governments to disband the Community-Industry Response Group and require on-site Indigenous civilian oversight on RCMP operations on Indigenous lands.”

Resolutions related to Indigenous land defenders were considered at the British Columbia Federation of Labour convention that took place from November 21-25 at the Vancouver Convention Centre (East).

The Tyee reports: “Unions representing more than half a million B.C. workers called on the provincial government Tuesday to resolve disputes on Indigenous territories without the use of force, a clear nod to years-long clashes over resource development in the province’s north.”

Resolution 2228, page 132.

That article continues: “The federation also considered several additional resolutions related to Indigenous rights and police oversight, including calling on governments to disband the RCMP’s controversial Community-Industry Response Group, or C-IRG.”

“The motion to disband RCMP’s C-IRG was submitted by MoveUP, which represents more than 12,000 union members across Canada, including support staff at the BC Federation of Labour.”

“Marjorie Dumont, a BC Teachers’ Federation delegate and a Wet’suwet’en member, had planned to speak in favour of a motion that called on senior governments to disband the RCMP’s controversial Community-Industry Response Group. Dumont drew a parallel between the Coastal Gaslink clashes and the experiences of her great-grandparents, who she said were marched by RCMP out of their home community in the early 1990s.”

Resolution 2223, page 130.

The BC Federation of Labour has tweeted:

The full package of resolutions can be read here.

At the convention, long-time BCGEU member Sussanne Skidmore was elected BC Federation of Labour president and Hermender Singh Kailley was elected Secretary-Treasurer.

Related reading: Peace Brigades International in solidarity with the labour movement and the struggle for workers rights and social justice.

PBI-Honduras accompanying Franklin Almendares, the General Secretary of the National Union of Rural Workers (CNTC) which is affiliated with the Unified Confederation of Honduran Workers (CUTH) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).