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Stephen Lewis lauds local residents for social activism efforts by Nathan Howes Oakville Beaver Staff 9 | Thursday, November 28, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Activism is thriving in Oakville, as seen at the recent Oakville and District Labour Council's (ODLC) 13th annual Activist Awards Banquet. The ceremony recognized five local activists for their involvement in the community and awarded three union-affiliated members' children with a $500 or $1,000 ODLC scholarship. The event took place at Oakville's Unifor Local 707 Galaxy Hall. Stephen Lewis, co-founder and co-director of AIDS-Free World and board chair of the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF), was keynote speaker. He discussed numerous national and global issues, much of it relating to the award recipients' efforts. "I was very much taken (back) with the awards and scholarships. It strikes me they are (symbolic) of the themes that should animate a just and civilized society," said Lewis. Gary Beck, Unifor Local 707 president, took home the Political Activist Award. Lewis said the need now for political activism in the trade union movement has "never been greater." "The behaviour of the federal government towards the public sector unions and the extraordinary dismembering of the public sector architecture to provide a surplus a year or two from now, shows such astonishing contempt for working people that it is deeply and profoundly offensive," said Lewis. "It shows collectively, federally and provincially, The Oakville and District Labour Council's 13th annual Activists Awards Banquet featured speaker Stephen Lewis, co-founder of AIDS-Free World. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) in two major political organizations the remarkable contempt and indifference for the trade union movement." The AIDS-Free World co-founder has always had a fondness for trade unions because there is a "natural affinity among members to do generous and decent things," he said, which is mirrored in the trade unions that carry it forward. The need for equality is another pressing issue t No iday nd! s It' t Fr eke e Jus ll W A s ' t I Complete Central Vacuum systems BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND $ $ from Central Vacuum Accessories On Promo · · · · · · · · · Garage Kit Hose Cover Mop Head Hose Box Vac Pan Rug Rat Pet Tool Shag Rake Long Crevice Tool · Combo Tool and more... Savings so good... they won't last for Lewis, who said, "one per cent of income earners in Canada hold more than 10 per cent of the total income." "Ten per cent of the highest income earners in Canada hold more than 30 per cent of the total income. The increasing inequality in this society is divisive and wrong," said Lewis. "Every piece of my molecular structure cries out against the injustice and the inequality that is everywhere." Marg Macfarlane, president of the Halton Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), was awarded the Linda Jones Women's Activist Award. Lewis said an award for women's activism is recognition the "single most important struggle on the planet is the struggle for gender equality." "It was particularly telling it went to someone in the elementary teachers' association because in my experience that's one of the finest associations this province has yielded in the teaching profession," said Lewis. "You cannot continue to marginalize 50 per cent of the world's population and ever expect social justice or equity." In Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom, Lewis said women make 72 to 75 cents for every "male dollar" in identical jobs. "Everywhere in this world, the struggle for equality goes apace. There isn't a single western country that has equality, including this country for obvious reasons," said Lewis. "In the developing world, you're dealing with sexual trafficking, female genital mutilation and child marriage." The Barney Banovac United Way Social Activist Award went to Su-Ann Teepell, a union campaign coordinator for Ford Motor Company/Unifor Local 707. The SLF board chair says the United Way "fills in where governments fail to tread, and does so with (a) full heart." In March 2012, nearly 413,000 Ontarians accessed food banks, of which 40 per cent were children, Lewis said. "What kind of society is it, with all the privileges we absorb, that we maintain 10-12 per cent of the population below the low-income cut-off line in a situation of poverty?" asked Lewis. "The United Way's attempt to fill the gaps that the government wilfully creates, neglects and ignores, is an exemplary thing to do." The 2013 recipients include: · Gary Beck, president of Unifor Local 707 (Political Activist Award) · Marg Macfarlane, president of Halton ETFO (Linda Jones Women's Activist Award) · John Watson, health and benefits officer, Teachers' Bargaining Unit, OSSTF District 20 (ODRT/OFL Disability Response Team Award) · Mark Whinton, Halton Secondary, OECTA (Health and Safety Activist Award) · Su-Ann Teepell, union campaign coordinator, Ford Motor Company/Unifor Local 707 (Barney Banovac United Way Social Activist Award) · Kelly Henley ($500 George Hicks Scholarship Award) · Brianna Mullin ($500 Linda Jones Scholarship Award) · Syed Touhid Imam ($1,000 Stephen Lewis Scholarship Award) For more information, visit http://odlc.co. 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