Sunday, March 20, 2022
Timna Ben-Ari, Labour Relations Specialist and one of the staff supports for the union’s equity caucuses, recently sat down with Women’s Caucus Chair Naomi Macleod and Vice-Chair Sancgeetha Kulaseharan, for a question-and-answer session. Ben-Ari, Macleod, and Kulaseharan discussed the International Women’s Day Social Event coming up on Tuesday, March 8, the Caucus’s goals, and why International Women’s Day is an opportunity to both celebrate and learn.
Timna Ben-Ari: Hi, Naomi and Sancgeetha. It’s great to have you both here! To start off, why don’t you give AMAPCEO members some background on your roles at work and within the union?
Naomi Macleod: I joined AMAPCEO in 2007 as an Ontario Public Service (OPS) worker but left the OPS for grad school from 2011-2013. I rejoined the OPS and AMAPCEO in 2013 and became active in our union during the 2014 bargaining campaign. I attended several lunchtime events and started talking with colleagues who were active in AMAPCEO to learn more about what we could do as members.
The next year, one of my colleagues who was (and still is!) active in AMAPCEO suggested that I run as a Delegate. The same pal also encouraged me to become a Workplace Representative (WPR) and I joined the Ministry of Finance AMAPCEO-Ministry Employee Relations Committee (AMERC) after that. I’m currently the co-chair of the Ministry of Finance AMERC, still a WPR, and a Delegate for University/Toronto South.
In my professional life, I’m a senior policy advisor in the Ministry of Finance. I work in cannabis policy (yes, it is a fun place to work).
Sancgeetha Kulaseharan: I joined AMAPCEO in 2020 when I started in my current role as a Business Intelligence and Analytics Specialist with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services in the OPS. I had previously attended a few Town Halls but was looking to participate more actively in the organisation, so I decided to join the Women’s Caucus.
TBA: Can you tell us a bit about your hobbies/interests outside of work?
NM: My hobbies have been different since the pandemic. Last year, my sister and I wanted to find an outdoor activity we could do together, so we learned how to roller skate and practised racing on school tracks. It was a lot of fun! I’m also an active member in a Zoom book club.
SK: I really enjoy baking and trying new recipes. I’ve also used the pandemic to get outside more. Last summer, I built trellises for my garden. Recently, I’ve been taking advantage of the winter paths and outdoor rinks.
TBA: That all sounds like fun! What drew you to the AMAPCEO Women’s Caucus, and to these leadership roles in the Caucus in particular?
SK: I joined the Women’s Caucus as Vice-Chair because I thought it would be a great way to learn more about the union’s initiatives and get to know some of the amazing people in our union —and it is! I was especially interested in joining the Women’s Caucus to contribute to a platform for women’s equity in the public service and the union.
TBA: What is something you are hoping to bring to your work with the Women’s Caucus? Any upcoming events or initiatives you’re excited about?
NM: My goal has been to support the Women’s Caucus as a hub for information, social connection, and showcasing opportunities for feminist activism.
SK: I am hoping to support engagement and networking among women in AMAPCEO, as well as create visibility for all members of the public service.
NM: In terms of upcoming events, the Women’s Caucus is hosting an International Women’s Day Social Event on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at 12:30 pm ET. All AMAPCEO members are welcome. We encourage you to take part! Please register in advance here.
TBA: What message would you like to share with members of the Women’s Caucus and other members of AMAPCEO on International Women’s Day?
NM: As Audre Lorde said, "I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own." There have been so many victories for women in recent history, and yet so many barriers still remain for women based on gender itself or intersectional layers of discrimination. International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate and also a reminder to learn!