May is Asian Heritage Month, a month to recognize and celebrate the contributions that Asian-Canadians to our history, culture, economy and communities.
Though people across the country have celebrated May as Asian Heritage Month since the 1990s, the Canadian government officially recognized this in 2002.
This month also gives us an opportunity to recognize the instrumental role that Asians workers have played in building B.C.’s labour movement. Despite a long history of racism and discrimination, workers of Asian descent have resisted and organized to make our labour movement stronger and more equitable.
Today, we know that a significant number of health care workers in our union continue to face racism and discrimination at their workplace because of their Asian heritage and ethnicity. The disturbing surge of racist violence against Asians has been reported during the COVID pandemic. This is why Hospital Employees’ Union has joined many others across the province to endorse Stand with Asians Coalition’s call to mark May 10th as a national Day of Action Against Anti-Asian Racism.
We know that the work of dismantling racism and discrimination is on-going. So, as we celebrate Asian heritage and culture in our communities, we must recommit to working towards equity and fairness for all.