FAQ: CUPW NHRC Survey Audit

1. Why am I being asked to complete a self-identification survey?

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is committed to fostering a diverse and welcoming union. Diversity in our union allows us to increase our solidarity and capacity to achieve a just society for all. 

We are excited to be launching a voluntary self-identification survey as part of an overall equity audit of our union. An equity audit will help us assess and align the human rights work we all wish to achieve.

The initial important step in this process is to take stock of our membership and examine our representation, at all levels in our union.  The equity audit will allow us to celebrate our diversity but also assess if we need to take on additional measures to ensure equity CUPW members can also access leadership opportunities.

 

 

2.   Who should complete the survey?

CUPW is conducting an initial audit of its elected officers and union representatives at the local, regional and national levels (and staff) to voluntary self-identify the equity groups to which they belong. We invite you to voluntarily complete this survey to be part of this important CUPW initiative.

 

 

3.   Can I identify in more than one group?

Yes, absolutely. Self-identification is personal and a core value of equity.

 

 

4.   I have already provided my self-identification data to CUPW. Why am I being asked to self-identify again?

You may have provided your self-identification data on a membership application form, through your local, through an educational or through another initiative. This survey objective is to take a snapshot of CUPW’s union representation in its entirety so that we can collect and analyze the data all in one place.

 

 

5.   Why are these particular questions asked?

The survey covers the dimensions that form the basis of the working groups in CUPW’s National Human Rights Committee: gender identity and sexual orientation, Indigenous identity, racialized identity, and disability identity. We acknowledge that not every diversity dimension is represented in this current survey.

 

 

6.   How was the terminology in the survey chosen?

As Human Rights continues to evolve, equity seeking groups self-identification terminology also evolves. The terminology used in this survey is the most recent, up to date terminology used by Statistics Canada, however CUPW also sought input from our National Human Rights Committee working groups as we respect the right of equity groups to determine their identity terminology.

 

 

7.   What is meant by the term Indigenous persons?

For the purposes of this survey, Indigenous persons include people who identify as First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Native or North American Indian. We are not concerned nor do we wish to know status, non-status or Treaty in the case of First Nations.

 

 

8.   What is meant by the term racialized persons?

It is a term designed to acknowledge that race is a social construct which has been falsely assigned by physical characteristics, as the only true race is the human race. For the purposes of this survey, the concept of racialized persons refers to the processes by which  people (other than Indigenous/Aboriginal persons) who are non-white in colour, regardless of their place of birth or citizenship have been defined by race.

 

 

9.   What is meant by the term disability?

The Accessible Canada Act defines disability as “any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment—or a functional limitation—whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.”

 

 

10. What is meant by the term gender identity?

Gender identity refers to a person’s internal and individual identification of gender, whether it is the same as their sex assigned at birth, is different, or is somewhere along the gender spectrum, regardless of their gender expression, and can change during their lifetime.

 

 

11. What is meant by the term gender expression?

Gender expression is how a person publicly expresses or presents their gender. This can include behaviour and outward appearance such as dress, hair, make-up, body language and voice. A person; chosen name and pronoun are also common ways of expressing gender.  Others perceive a person's gender through these attributes.

 

 

12.  What is meant by the term sexual orientation?

For the purposes of this survey, persons in this category include individuals who identify as: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer (an umbrella term used by some people to defy gender or sexual restrictions), Two spirit (a cultural identity used by some indigenous people who have both masculine and feminine spirits).

 

 

13.  Do I have to answer these questions?

You are not obligated to provide your information as this is a voluntary survey. However, we encourage participation as this equity audit will allow us to celebrate our diversity and also assess if we need to take on additional measures to ensure equity so that all CUPW members can access leadership opportunities.

 

 

14.  How will my information be used? How will it be stored?

Individual responses will be kept confidential and be used only in support of CUPW’s human rights initiatives and in line with applicable human rights legislation. Further, to protect the identity of individuals, CUPW will report on collected data in aggregate, using enough data so as not to be able to deduce individual respondents. Viewing of data, access, use and storage will be done in compliance with our privacy policy for this survey and those of our service providers.

 

 

15.  Who will be able to see my responses and information?

Your individual responses will be confidential, used only in support of CUPW’s human rights initiatives and reported only in aggregate form to ensure protection of the identity of any individual. Viewing of data, access, use and storage will be done in compliance with our privacy policy for this survey and those of our service providers.

 

 

16.  Can I edit my responses once I have submitted the survey?

It is not possible to edit your answers once the survey has been submitted.

 

 

17.  Who can I contact for more information or to provide feedback?

If you have questions, concerns or would like more more information you can reach out to: 

• Jan Simpson <[email protected]>
• Don Foreman <[email protected]>

We will make every effort to get back to you as soon as we can.

 

 

 

Source Credit: With great appreciation for their pioneering work, a number of the questions and answers are from https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/063.nsf/eng/h_97737.html