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Human rights complaint brought against UNW Woman claims union headquarters lack disability access
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, June 5, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A human rights hearing regarding access for persons with disabilities to the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) building on 52 Street resumed Monday.
Elizabeth Portman filed a human rights complaint against the Union of Northern Workers in 2011. The hearing on the issue regarding access for persons with disabilities to the UNW building on 52 Street resumed Monday after breaking in May. - Miranda Scotland/NNSL photo |
Yellowknife resident Elizabeth Portman initially brought the case to the NWT Human Rights Commission Oct. 4, 2011. She was hoping that by filing the complaint the UNW would reconsider moving a meeting it was holding at its headquarters in nine days to a more accessible location. But it didn't.
Her reason for continuing with the case now, Portman said, is to find out whether the human rights panel adjudicator believes the building's access is suitable.
The hearing started May 13 but was adjourned until Monday due to witness availability. It is expected to wrap up later this week.
Portman suffers from multiple sclerosis and her mobility is limited as a result. When she filed the complaint her access to the building was restricted because she was unable to climb the stairs to the main floor, which houses the reception area, meeting rooms and office space.
Portman was told she could use a chair lift, which is located at the rear of the building. She took issue with this because, she said, the alleyway that leads to the back of the office is unlit, the pavement is uneven and it is frequented by people who are intoxicated.
She also refused to use the lift because she felt it was "undignified."
"As a person with a disability I feel I should be able to come in the front door like every other person when I wish to do so without having to risk my safety, suffer the humiliation of using a chair lift and the extra burden of having to transverse the distance of the block to then go that distance up the back alleyway in order to gain entrance to a building whose occupants present themselves as being champions of human rights and equality," Portman wrote in her complaint.
Former president of Local 01 Tracey Lynn DeBaie testified Monday that she received e-mails from Portman regarding the issue. DeBaie said she forwarded Portman's request for the meeting to be moved to an accessible location to Todd Parsons, the president of the UNW, and left the decision to him.
However, she said Portman's request came two weeks before the meeting and the union usually sets the location a month prior to the event.
Further, the union offered to pay for Portman to take a cab to the rear entrance of the building and DeBaie said there was a teleconference number that members who couldn't make it in person could call. Portman said she was never told about this number.
Patty Ducharme, director of finance and administration for the UNW, gave evidence Tuesday. She revealed the union has plans to break ground this summer on a new building, which will be fully accessible. Ducharme did not say when construction on the property, to be located by city hall, would wrap up.
Parsons declined to comment on the case.
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