Women’s advocate appointed at Bell Aliant office

P.E.I.'s Bell Aliant office is one of the latest workplaces in Canada to see a new position added, known as a women's advocate.

Bell Aliant’s 200 Island workers are members of the union Unifor, which has been lobbying to see these roles added to workplaces across the country. The union says there are currently 311 of these advocates working, including one at the Irving shipyard in Halifax and in the fishing industry in Newfoundland.

Lana Payne, Unifor's regional director for Atlantic Canada, told CBC News women's advocates are trained to offer a range of services, including education campaigns and helping women exit difficult personal situations.

"Sometimes education means just kind of explaining to folks that a joke is not a joke. It can be something as small as that,” said Payne.

“Or it can be advocates who have actually intervened and helped women move out of a violent situation in their homes. This has happened quite a number of times.”

Payne said Unifor was invited to present information about its Women's Advocates program at the United Nations, and it was recognized internationally as a model program by the global trade union movement.

In an email to CBC News, Bell Aliant said it is pleased to support Unifor's Women's Advocate program, and looked forward to collaborating to implement this important and progressive program in our workplace."