Megan Carter, President of OPSEU Local 557 representing George Brown College support staff, will be among the thousands of people from around the world gathering at the United Nations this week to explore issues around women's empowerment and gender equality.
Carter is attending the UN's 67th annual Commission on the Status of Women with her fellow representatives from the OPSEU (Ontario Public Service Employees Union) Women's Committee and as an observer with the Canadian Labour Congress. The theme of this year's event is "Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls."
"This will be my first time going," Carter says. "I'm very excited."
With events scheduled on various issues during the Commission, Carter looks forward to attending sessions on higher education, automation and the digital economy. She will also participate in a massive march outside the UN on International Women's Day on March 8.
The importance of women's leadership in labour
As Local 557 President for seven years, Carter says diverse women bring essential perspectives and priorities to labour leadership, which in the past has been male-dominated, including the importance of childcare and work-life balance and practices and policy rooted in equity and inclusion.
"I'm not just the local president. I'm also a mother, sister, aunt, Godmother, and friend. So being able to juggle your family and work is extremely important," she said. "You'll see that highlighted when you bring different genders and perspectives into leadership roles."
Carter and Local 557 union stewards work with the college to ensure employee candidates from diverse communities are recruited and considered for roles. She and her team also work with George Brown to build the employee complement up to pre-pandemic levels.
"I think our local has been so successful because of our stewards. Honestly, it's not a one-person show. It's the 32 stewards that run the local together," Carter said. "They're the boots on the ground."
On top of her work as Local 557 president, Carter also sits on many committees, including the OPSEU Women's Committee and the OPSEU Coalition of Racialized Workers. She is also the Vice-Chair of the Divisional Executive (DivEx), the OPSEU divisional sector for Ontario's 24 colleges, and the union's Employer/Employee Relations Committee that works with the College Employer Council.
Promoting and supporting leadership opportunities
Carter encourages everyone at the college to take advantage of educational opportunities to advance their career, including tuition reimbursement.
"I did my master's in education, and George Brown paid for it," she said.
Carter says excellent education and training opportunities are available at George Brown's School of Continuing Education, where college employees can take courses at significantly discounted rates (about $20 plus materials fees).
"This is a great reminder to take those classes and take advantage of these opportunities that you deserve as an employee," she said. "Take advantage of the opportunities your organization provides. Don't let that time pass you by because it goes quickly."
