Unifor reaffirms that safe, clean washrooms are a fundamental human right

November 15, 2024

On November 19 - World Toilet Day - Unifor stands in solidarity with the global movement of ensuring that employers and governments provide everyone with access to safe and inclusive washroom facilities, particularly women and 2SLGBTQI+ members.

Safe sanitation at work is a fundamental human right. Workers and workplaces are diverse, so every employer must take steps to ensure sanitation facilities are clean, appropriate and safe to meet the individual needs of workers.

The United Nations World Toilet Day theme is "Toilets - A Place for Peace," but for billions, sanitation is under threat from war, climate change, disasters and neglect. In fact, 3.5 billion still live without safely managed sanitation, 2.2 billion without safe drinking water and two billion people lack basic hygiene services. "Safe toilets for all by 2030" is one of the targets of the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goal 6.

During the broad membership consultation for the 2023-2026 Unifor collective bargaining program, members identified access to safe and clean washroom facilities as an important health and safety right that must be upheld and negotiated into collective agreements. Harassment and abuse targeted at the 2SLGBTQI+ community must not be tolerated.

Safe and clean washrooms are not just about physical safety; they symbolize our belief in dignity, respect, and equality for every individual, regardless of their gender identity or expression.

In October, Unifor met with the Shaw Centre (newly-renamed Rogers Centre Ottawa) following up on a letter sent by Unifor urging the convention centre to allow taxi drivers to use its washroom facilities.

The issue stemmed after a taxi driver who was a delegate at Unifor's Ontario Regional Council in Ottawa last December was denied access to use the Shaw Centre's washrooms by security. Because of Unifor's lobbying efforts, the centre has now made clear commitments to provide clean and safe toilet facilities to taxi drivers in the city of Ottawa.

The centre made a commitment going forward to improve community access with security guards ensuring washroom access to when the building is open and there aren't specific security restrictions. Both Unifor and the centre agreed to bring up concerns to each other and resolve issues as they arise.

Unifor also continues to support the annual International Transport Workers' Federation Safe Rates campaign, which aims to improve the lives of road transport workers by addressing issues like access to bathroom facilities.

Access to rest areas with safe, secure, clean hygienic bathrooms, with access to free menstrual products, is a fundamental right in 2024 and beyond. Unifor is committed to ensuring that this right is upheld, and that workplaces are proactively providing this inclusion.