Our History:
Trans Feminist Action began in 1986 as the Women's Caucus. The Women’s Caucus was formed to improve the situation of women and to combat sexism at York, within CUPE 3903, in the trade union movement, and in the broader community.

On July 17, 2003, the Women's Caucus was renamed the Trans-identified, Women-identified Caucus (TIWI) in order to better reflect our opposition to all forms of gender oppression and its intersections with other forms of oppression.

Three years later, at the TIWI AGM on February 23, 2006, the membership of the Caucus expanded to include all gender queer and gender variant members of the local. We simultaneously decided change our name in solidarity with this broadening of mission and mandate. We are now the Trans Feminist Action Caucus.

Over the past twenty years the Caucus has initiated and been involved with many campus and community activist campaigns. These have included:

• Working in coalition with many campus and community groups including No One Is Illegal, The Arab Film festival, OCAP, The Centre for Women and Trans people at York, The Toronto Women’s Book Store, National Action Committee on the Status of Women, and others.

• The development of bargaining proposals and recommendations to improve collective agreement language on sexual, gender, and racial harassment, workplace safety, maternity leave, transsexual/transgender rights and other issues.
• The negotiation of funds for members undergoing transsexual transition.
• Initiating Caucus Subcommittees to work on anti-racism and equity issues.
• Participating in creating a new CUPE 3903 Equity Officer staff position focused exclusively on equity issues in the workplace.
• Drafting policy resolutions for CUPE at the provincial and national levels.
• Sending delegates to a wide range of conference, conventions and committees.
• Undertaking surveys and research projects on various issues including member-to-member harassment.
• Organizing women on campus to participate in demonstrations and actions such as Take Back the Night, Women’s Remembrance Day, and the World March of Women.
• Initiation of a “Feminist Flying Squad” to provide support and solidarity at actions including escorts at abortion clinics, and picket solidarity with striking locals.

How does Trans Feminist Action work?
All women, trans, gender queer and gender variant members of the local are automatically members of Trans Feminist Action and are encouraged to attend meetings. The Caucus was formed under the Constitution of Local 3903, which states that the members of any group discriminated against on the grounds enumerated in the Ontario Human Rights Code have the right to form exclusionary caucuses within the local (see Article 12, CUPE 3903 Constitution and Bylaws).

The Caucus usually meets monthly, to share reports on ongoing activities, make decisions about the allocation of the Caucus budget, and to collectively plan projects and events. The Caucus elects either two co-chairs or one chair every March. Caucus co-chairs also sit on the 3903 Executive Committee.

The 2008-2009 co-chairs are Carolyn (cupe3903tfac@gmail.com) or Healy (healythompson @gmail.com)

Upcoming meetings and events are posted to the Trans Feminist Action email list. If you would like to join the email list, please send an email to either Carolyn or Healy, and feel free to write to us if you have any other questions about the work of the Caucus.

We provide food, drinks, and two tokens to members who attend Trans Feminist Action meetings.

All meetings are held in wheel chair assessable locations. Wheel Trans and childcare subsidies are available upon request. Please contact us for more information.

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