Racism is rampant in construction, veteran worker says
Man who found noose at Toronto hospital project knows it was intentional
The worker who found a noose at a construction site at Toronto’s Michael Garron Hospital in September says the grim discovery was shocking, but also not at all surprising, as acts of racism are rampant in his industry.
The construction worker, who spoke to the Star on condition of anonymity as he fears repercussions from his employers, colleagues and the industry in general, said whoever knotted that nylon rope and left it knew what they were doing.
“That noose has one purpose only and it’s for hanging people. It’s a powerful symbol in the history of lynching,” said the worker, a veteran of the construction industry for nearly 20 years. “One up from that would be burning a cross on somebody’s lawn.”
The construction site in East York has become the centre of discussions on how racism has plagued the industry for many years. More than one noose has been discovered at the site, as well as hate graffiti scrawled on the walls.
Workers and industry observers say the incidents are just symbolic of a larger issue of racism across the field of construction, and are calling for stronger measures to tackle the problem.
EllisDon, the company that manages the site in question and subcontracts others for the works on the ground, has upped the reward from $5,000 to $50,000 for anyone who provides credible information leading to the people behind these racist acts. In a note posted on its website, the company says the increase came after getting meaningful feedback from the community on the issue.
“We are determined to find and convict the individual(s) responsible for the racist activities,” the note reads in part, in addition to listing other measures the company is undertaking to address the issue of racism, both short and long-term.
“We are committed to providing the safest possible working environment for all of our employees free of harassment and discrimination.”
But the worker who found the noose said Black people like himself, as well as other racialized people in the industry, know that those in positions of power have allowed these acts of racism to flourish because they often go unpunished. He remembers being warned by a few people of colour that the industry was full of racist people who don’t shy away from displaying it openly.
One of his hiring managers, early in his career, told him point-blank that he didn’t like Black people, but used the Nword in full when speaking to him, and added “I can see that you are a good one.”
The day after he discovered the noose, one of his colleagues kept harassing him and telling him they were meant to be a joke. At one point when he was in the bathroom the guy taunted him by saying, “What’s wrong with you f---ing people, you overexaggerate things.” The confrontation escalated. “I snapped, and I punched him in the face. I think it broke his nose or something,” said the worker. He was sent home as the subcontractor investigated the incident, but later allowed to return to the site. The other man was later let go.
Although he appreciates the renewed energy and focus to address the issue of racism in the industry, he is skeptical of meaningful change happening.
“It doesn’t matter what we say now, nothing is going to change,” he said. “After all this current tension goes away, we’re going to continue to deal with these issues of racism and insults at work. It’s just how it is.”
Geoff Smith, EllisDon CEO and president, wrote in a posted statement following the noose incident in September that systemic racism in the construction industry is real, and that they’re taking short and longterm measures to uproot it.
“Let’s be clear, this is the handiwork of one or two racist criminals. Every other worker and leader is appalled at their hatred and cowardice,” Smith wrote. “These individuals are unfortunately comfortable in the knowledge that on a heavily populated and constantly changing construction site, they will be hard to identify. But I want to send a clear message: We will not stop until you are found, charged and permanently evicted from our industry.”
Local MP Rima BernsMcGown, who has been working closely with the community to address these issues and has interacted with the worker who found the noose, said antiBlack racism is a public health crisis, in construction as everywhere, and the only way it is going to change is if it’s dealt with “systemically.”
“It really is going to take a village: EllisDon has to stop being naive and pay more attention. It has to build into its subtrade contracts that racism will not be tolerated on its sites and the trades will pay a financial penalty if their members are found to be responsible,” BernsMcGowan wrote in an email to the Star.
“I do believe that until there are financial penalties, the culture that allows racism to flourish will not change. Finger wagging and tut-tutting aren’t going to do it.”
In response to the incidents at the EllisDon site this summer, the Residential Construction Council of Ontario recently partnered with more than 20 employers, agencies and unions in the construction industry to launch a series of roundtable discussions that address the issue of racism in the trade.
Amina Dibe, chair of the roundtable, said this is a reactive response to a problem they had known existed before. Going forward, the plan is to be proactive, she said.