20. Tracey Ramsey, Unifor - How can your union support DEI in the workplace?

Free to Grow in Forestry - A podcast working to move #ForestryForward Welcome to the twentieth episode of the Free to Grow in Forestry Podcast series where our host, Kelly Cooper, President and Founder of the Centre for Social Intelligence, is joined by guest Tracey Ramsey, Director of Women’s Department at Unifor. As a grassroots activist with a strong focus on social justice, Tracey talks to us about her role in working with women and the value and impact that unions have on workplace culture and diversity. She also shares how education and asking the right questions can be essential to attracting more diversity in the forest sector, and what it means to have an inclusive workplace.  Tracey Ramsey is the new Director of Women’s department of Unifor (unifor.org). Tracey is a Unifor Local 200 member and strong trade union activist. She is an autoworker, and has worked at Ford engine plants in Windsor since 1996. Tracey is a grassroots activist with a strong focus on social justice.She is a former union Discussion Leader and Women’s Committee Chairperson. She currently serves as Co-Chairperson of the Windsor Health Coalition Chapter, fighting for better publicly delivered healthcare. She has been an advocate for publicly delivered child care since her children were young and is currently serving on the Board of Child Care Now, a National Child Care Advocacy organization. While laid off in 2008, she graduated from Practical Nursing at St. Clair College. Tracey is also a former Member of Parliament for the Riding of Essex, where she served as the NDP Trade, Justice and Deputy Labour Critic. She describes herself as a passionate working class feminist, policy wonk, and community advocate. After spending a few years as a National Organizer, she accepted the position of  Director of Women’s department for Unifor. She enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, enjoying summers at their family cottage on Lake Erie and being crafty when not working.  Tracey lives with her husband Germaine and sons Max and Maliq in Puce, Ontario. Germaine and Max are also Local 200 members while Maliq is in his third year of college. Together, we can move #ForestryForward. Learn more at freetogrowinforestry.ca ---- This podcast series is brought to you by the Canadian Institute of Forestry and the Centre for Social Intelligence.  The Canadian Institute of Forestry (cif-ifc.org) is the national voice of forest practitioners with an interdisciplinary membership across Canada working to ensure our forests are vibrant, healthy and sustainable. The Centre for Social Intelligence (centreforsocialintelligence.ca) empowers individuals and organizations to create inclusion and diversity in the workplace.