Charles Brooks Award Honours Unionist With Ties To Migrant Workers

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United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County, and the Windsor & District Labour Council, will host the 44th annual Virtual Labour Appreciation Night next week where they will honourthe recipient of the Charles E. Brooks Labour Community Service Award, Elizabeth Ha, OPSEU Local 154, who has most recently helped to support and advocate for local migrant workers.

Ha is a community activist and serves as the 1st Vice President of OPSEU Local 154, the Chair of the OPSEU Provincial Human Rights Committee, the Vice Chair of the OPSEU Coalition of Racialized Workers, and as the OFL Equity Vice President. Ha is also on the WDLC Executive and is a member of the Advisory Board of Our Times labour magazine.

Ha is a devoted mother to Nola and Ruby and she teaches her children that serving your community is important and necessary. She has a mission and a voice for change, she strives to empower racialized workers by promoting workers’ rights and social justice, and advocating for corrective action on policies, laws, and regulations. As a member of the Justicia for Migrant Workers, she collects and delivers food, clothing and personal care items for migrant workers and organizes community dinners, workshops and demonstrations, championing for their rights.

“Elizabeth stands up for people without a voice, and has been supporting racialized workers from across the province for years,” says Lorraine Goddard, CEO, United Way. “Ha’s activism, especially her compassion and conviction for supporting local migrant workers, is leaving a mark on the Windsor-Essex County advancement of social justice, and we wish her our sincerest congratulations on her achievements.”

United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County and the Windsor & District Labour Council co-created the Charles E. Brooks Community Service Award, which is presented annually to a trade unionist in recognition of outstanding contributions in the area of voluntary community service.

This year’s virtual event will take place on November 24th, 2021 and will feature, the distinguished service award presentation, and a keynote address from Chris Ramsaroop, co-founder and organizer with the activist group Justicia for Migrant Workers.