Black Workers Still Not Recognized

Left:Valerie Payn, president Halifax Chamber of Commerce.

On Friday March 4, 1977 at a meeting of the Black United Front’s Employment Outreach Projects of Nova Scotia held at the Atlantic Christian Training Centre, in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia there was a very good turn out of Black Nova Scotians concerned about the lack of employment opportunities for Black workers throughout the province.

Cameron Brothers opened a meeting introducing those gather to discuss solutions to the employment problems facing Black Nova Scotia. Many among those introduced nearly 30 years ago by Cameron Brothers are now deceased. Still the problems of finding employment for visible Black minorities in Nova Scotia have not changed.

Those introduced were: Edward and Ada Fells, P.A. Best, Vern Simms, Alfred Bright, Beulah States, Lawrence States, Stan Morrison, Lowminda Clyke, Patricia Meade, Garfield Yakimchuck, Myles Beals and Gary Johnson.

These outreach employment project leaders unanimously said the same thing that the outreach workers, and thus, Black Nova Scotians do not have complete access to what was then called Manpower programs (Employment programs). Some of the outreach workers characterized their reception at the Canada Employment Centres in the following manner as “ranging from completely negative to boldly reluctant” to assist even the Black Outreach workers just introduced at the meeting.

Now, after more than a generation of lost Black labour force potential and of out migration to find work in other parts of Canada, it is more than interesting (downright insulting) that in 2006 we have a call from the Halifax Chamber of Commerce saying that N.S. firms must open their doors to immigrants and youth. Note still there is no specific mention of Nova Scotia’s Black workforce.

What this means is that if Nova Scotia firms can still find solutions to their need for workers, other than by hiring Black workers, they will continue the cycle of employment discrimination they have imposed on Black workers in this province in the last two and one half hundred years. Make no mistake about it; the Black worker is being threatened yet again.

Where is the fairness? Where is the equity? Where is "the just society" that internationally Canada claims to be?

This call from Valerie Payn president of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce is not only late but comes because Nova Scotia firms are finally beginning to realize their economic survival hangs in the balance. Here are some of her remarks (for more, see, The Chronicle Herald, Tuesday April 11, 2006 at page E3):

"There is the whole attitude in the community, and in particular in Halifax, that people seem to think we are diverse enough, as diverse as any other place," Ms. Payn said. "That is an incredible ignorance on our part. And they are also working under the misconception that immigrants will take our jobs."

Although Nova Scotians are polite and friendly, Ms. Payn said she wonders whether we are as welcoming as we could be. "Do we really open our doors?

"I don’t know what the answer is, but talking frankly about it helps," she said. She pointed to the community level as a solid starting point to deal with attitudes.

While the province’s ranks of professional workers, skilled labour and unskilled labour are being slowly eroded by the call to go west for more money and the retirement of the baby boomers, employers are being challenged to find qualified people.

A national study recently released by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says there were 12,000 jobs in small and medium-size businesses left vacant over four months last year in Nova Scotia.

As always, Well wishes,

F. Stanley Boyd