Get invovled
Make the most of what 87-M has to offer.
Get more involved with your workplace by joining a committee or help a student take advantage of our scholarship opportunities. If you have more questions please reach out at info@unifor87m.org or you can also subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest updates from your local.
Unifor 87-M Women's Committee
The Women’s Committee of Unifor Local 87-M works to make sure that women’s voices are heard, in our workplaces, our local and our union and in our communities at large.
What we do
We meet formally four times a year and hold elections once a year for core roles on the committee. We sometimes also hold special events and training sessions, like the One-Day Women’s Activist courses that we held with the support of Unifor National and women from other locals.
We strive to maximize participation of women in the local and look to make improvements in our workplaces when it comes to issues such as equal pay, parental leave, harassment, having a women’s advocate and other issues.
While we can normally only provide bookoffs for core members elected to the committee, all members of the local that identify as women are encouraged to participate in the committee and are welcome to attend meetings.
If you are interested in learning more or getting involved, please contact Women’s Committee Chair: Andrea MacDonald - info@unifor87m.org
How to start or build your women's committee
Women need unions today more than ever and unions need women more than ever as well. Unions are only as strong as the involvement and determination of their members. Local Union Women’s Committees are a key part of building our union.
The Women's Department at Unifor National has a great resource for women looking to form a committee at their local, or it can be used as a tool for existing committees to zero in on what their goals are and some of the ways they'd like to accomplish them. Check it out here.
Plus, learn about the Women’s Advocate program. The advocate is a specially trained workplace representative who assists coworkers with concerns such as workplace harassment, intimate violence and abuse. Here’s what they do and how to get one.
Unifor 87-M Equity Committee
Welcome to the 87-M equity committee! Formed in 2020, we've quickly made a small but mighty mark on the journalism landscape in Ontario and Canada.
Who we are
We are made up of BIPOC union members and allies who fiercely believe that more equitable practices -- be it of employers or of the union -- are an essential pillar for Canadian journalism to thrive now and in the future.
When we fight for better wages, better working conditions and security for news organizations big and small, we are also fighting to provide the next generation of journalists with the same opportunities to enjoy long and comfortable careers. But unless we actively support the diversification of media workers, there will be no pipeline left to fill the newsrooms we've fought to keep alive.
Get involved
Are you a member of 87-M who wants to join the committee? All our welcome, allies included. Get in touch with equity chair Cliff Lee to find out how you can help make a difference. - info@unifor87m.org
Some of our work includes:
Shared Bylines
Shared Bylines is a BIPOC-focused scholarship and mentorship program for early career journalists. Want to learn more? Whether you're a student looking for financial aid and mentorship or a working journalist looking to give back through mentoring or teaching, find out more about Shared Bylines here.
Awards advocacy
Our equity committee has been at the forefront of pushing some of Canada's top journalism awards, including the National Newspaper Awards, to diversify their programs, where the demographics of award winners have historically been monolithic and not a proper reflection of the wide range of BIPOC journalists who produce outstanding work year in, year out. When journalists of colour, be they years into their careers or just starting out, don't think they can ever win these awards, that's a problem. Follow us at @justiceinJRN to see how we've campaigned for more inclusive awards culture in Canadian journalism.
Unifor 87-M Young Workers Committee
Welcome to the 87-M Young Workers Committee! We make sure youth voices are heard, in our workplaces, our local and our union and in our communities at large.
Who we are
We are young members, 35 and under, of Unifor 87-m and their allies. We advocate for issues that affect young workers in particular who are often among the most precarious workers in the workplace.
There are fewer full-time jobs for us to fill, we face low wages at a time of increasing unaffordability and we are just learning how to push against our employers for better.
We are the future of media, our union and organizing power. We should advocate for our needs now and tomorrow.
Get involved
Are you a member of 87-M who wants to join the committee? Join us if you're looking to learn more about your union and advocate for issues that affect our young workers.
Scholarships and awards
Shared Bylines
Shared Bylines is a BIPOC-focused scholarship and mentorship program for early career journalists. As of 2023, SB has raised $54,000 over three years toward $3,000 scholarships that recipients can put toward tuition, rent, groceries -- any costs that can be alleviated so students in need can focus on building up their careers.
SB also provides 2-to-1 mentorship, where all eligible students are paired with two mentors each for the academic year. Our unique approach starts with students first: We ask them about their needs and goals before tapping into our network of BIPOC colleagues and allies to find the perfect matches. Every mentor is different, but many SB mentors develop long-lasting professional relationships with mentees that extend beyond our little program.
SB also hosts a year-long curriculum of virtual journalism workshops for early career journalists at large. The highest compliment we've ever received: They don't teach you this stuff in journalism school. From honest talks about how to interview with empathy to career-changing advice on cover letters and job hunting, our smartly curated lesson plans have already helped students land their dream journalism jobs.
A. O. Tate Memorial Award
For excellence in reporting in first year at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Journalism school.
A.O. (Alf) Tate was a Toronto Star reporter, served in the Royal Canadian Navy as a photographer, and was a former president of the Toronto chapter of what is now SONG. Tate also loved flight, and was the first reporter to dispatch a story from the air. In September 1955, he was covering a story on board a U.S. Navy plane which, while investigating a hurricane, was lost over the Caribbean Sea.
Testimonials
“From incredible lessons about investigations with Tom Cardoso to solutions journalism with Kelly Pedro to the pals I met along the way, I am so thankful for Shared Bylines. It’s truly a program like no other and has prepared me for the future of my career in ways I didn't expect when I joined the first meeting. And even though our pandemic days were filled with Zoom calls, Shared Bylines sessions were ones to look forward to and motivated me in ways I know will stick with me for years to come.”
— Alessia Passafiume, Class of 2021
“Shared Bylines acted like a launchpad for me. I knew that I had a group behind me whenever I had questions or concerns that needed to be addressed. It helped me learn about the industry and make invaluable connections. My mentors always kept tossing job opportunities toward me. I ran my cover letters and applications through them. We became buddies and always stay connected through text and often do conference calls at least once a month. Not only jobs, but I also got to know about journalism awards from my mentors and today I can proudly say that I am one of the finalists in the Student Excellence Category of the CAJ awards. I feel blessed that Shared Bylines gave me this opportunity. It gave me a boost as a young BIPOC journalist and due to being able to know the industry more and having my work critiqued by experts, I completed a six-week internship with the CBC, I got nominated for a national award and I am receiving great support looking for full-time work. Not to forget, the scholarship also helped me finish school with good grades. I love my team and I am proud that I am a Shared Bylines alumnus.”
–Rhythm Rathi, 2021 scholarship and mentorship recipient
“Shared Bylines is a fantastic program for emerging, racialized journalists. The breadth of the workshops – which covered topics such as freelancing pitching, building sources and job interviews – helped equip me with the tools needed to succeed as a young journalist. I still find myself referring to the practical tips I learned from these sessions and applying them to my everyday work. I'm also incredibly grateful for the informal mentorship opportunities that came out of Shared Bylines. The program showed me a broad range of career opportunities that exist in the Canadian media landscape. Perhaps most importantly, however, Shared Bylines offered a space to connect with other young professionals just starting out in the business. Don't miss this incredible program.”
— Joshua Chong, Class of 2021
“I had a great experience with my mentor and I am super grateful for the time and skills she shared with me. One of the things I learned was networking and how to format e-mails and cover letters to send to future employers. It was also so nice to talk about my dreams and goals and have someone to encourage me and give me advice. One of the things I liked the most was the fact that I could also talk to her about life outside of school/career stuff. In January someone in my family passed away and I was able to speak about this. It was a difficult time for me but I felt supported enough to open up. The advice I got was very helpful to me in connection to mental health and navigating journalism work/finishing school in general.”
–Afua Mfodwo, 2021 scholarship and mentorship recipient