OPSEU/SEFPO has declared itself to be a social justice union, and has made commitments to ensure all members can participate without fear of discrimination and harassment.

Annette Bouzi, president of Local 415, notwithstanding these commitments, has found herself the subject of repeated harassment and discrimination within the union on the basis of her race and gender.

Recent coverage in the CBC has revealed the deep systemic racism and bias within OPSEU/SEFPO. 

The response from OPSEU/SEFPO thus far has been to protect those who are committing these aggressions. Those individuals continue to subject Annette Bouzi, and other members of Local 415 and OPSEU/SEFPO, to ongoing harassment and discrimination.

We call on OPSEU/SEFPO to make a real commitment and to implement concrete and meaningful change, specifically:

• The inclusion of more equity-seeking members on the OPSEU/SEFPO executive board, including the enshrining of these positions in its constitution.
• An open apology to Annette Bouzi from President Thomas for the acts of racism and sexism that she has been subjected to, by members of OPSEU/SEFPO, under his leadership, some of which have already been substantiated by the union’s own investigation.
• The removal of all OPSEU/SEFPO member-harassers in Local 415 from all their union duties, so that OPSEU/SEFPO can become a safer space for Black women and all historically marginalized people.
• That those OPSEU/SEFPO staff involved in condoning the mistreatment of Bouzi, or interfering with investigations, be held accountable for actively enabling white supremacy and patriarchy within our system.
• That OPSEU/SEFPO reconstruct its Harassment and Discrimination Prevention Policy, with input from survivors of racial discrimination and harassment, so that the policy becomes survivor-centered, non-political, and grants the needed authority to the Equity Unit to enforce its decisions.
• That, in the spirit of a union which claims to be "a social justice union", OPSEU/SEFPO respond favourably to Annette Bouzi’s complaint before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario which has been filed against them.