Newsletter No.1 – Introducing Me Too Mining
Welcome to Our first newsletter!
The Me Too Mining Association (MTMA) was founded to facilitate a conversation about and to help eliminate tolerance for sexual violence, harassment, bullying, intimidation and discrimination experienced by workers in mining, mineral exploration and mining impacted communities. We are working hard to empower the workforce with bystander intervention strategies and to offer policy and training recommendations to companies, workers and other stakeholders.
MTMA created the DIGGER Program, which includes active bystander intervention strategies, guidance on engaging a target, important information to record after an incident and options for reporting.
Our goal throughout is to contribute towards safe, inclusive and respectful workplaces and communities for everyone.
First Things First - Introductions....
In this issue we are introducing our President and Vice President but click here to meet the whole Board of Directors.
In this issue we are introducing our President and Vice President but click here to meet the whole Board of Directors.
Meet Susan Lomas, our President. She is a professional geologist with over 30 years experience in mining and exploration. Susan founded the Me Too Mining Association in 2018, at the height of the Me Too Movement. Susan and the Board stand in solidarity with anyone impacted by sexual violence or harassment in the mining industry.
And, meet Julia Gartley, our Vice President. She is a professional process engineer and obtained her MBA from UBC (2016). Julia bravely told her sexual assault story at a regional CMP conference in late 2017, and knew she wanted to contribute to transforming the workplace culture in mining. She joined the MTMA Board of Directors in the summer of 2018 and has contributed to its rapid growth and industry acceptance.
Conference Experiences
Conference Season 2020 is upon us and for some women, men and members of the LGBTQ2 community, attending a mining conference can be an intimidating, uncomfortable, harassing or even dangerous experience.
Susan has been attending the PDAC conference in Toronto every few years since 1986. “I have had really great experiences at the conference from the technical presentations, drill core displays and talking with exhibitors, but through the years, I have also been sexually harassed, felt unsafe and been made to feel that I did not belong. It can be really intimidating as it becomes so visually obvious that you are the minority as the mining industry is 80% male.
Last year was the first year MTMA had a presence at the conference and it was really frustrating to hear a university student tell us that she was inappropriately propositioned while waiting to come into our crowded booth. She was really shaken by the brashness of the experience.”
Conference attendees have recounted very negative experiences at the conference including
Sexual assault
Sexual harassment at booths and hospitality suites
Inappropriate phone calls at 1 to 3 am after giving out resumes to exploration and mining companies during the day
Woman geologist asked during a job interview if they would be willing to work in the field topless.
Attending panel discussion with male-only presenters (Manels)
What can you do to help?
Be an ally and be aware what is happening around you.
Stop inappropriate behaviour that is happening in your presences; See Something, Say Something!
If you see an all male panel, reach out to the organizers and suggest names of female candidates or racially diverse candidates that might also be a good fit.
Document your experiences or observations at a conference and then communicate them to the conference organizing committee after you have attended.
Would more women and men be able to attend mining conferences if there were childcare or lactation rooms available? There are independent companies that offer these services and MTMA would like to see them available at PDAC and other mining related conferences. It is time to be inclusive of parents and have these services available.
Video on Bystander Intervention
This video is about Bystander Intervention where four different people had an opportunity to intervene in a sexual assault. The video is a very powerful reminder that each person, a friend, a stranger, a bartender and a flatmate all have the power to help someone when they have had too much to drink and are vulnerable.
It is from the Sexual Abuse Prevention Network of New Zealand. They are a collaborative group including Tū Pakari Ora – Sexual Assault Assessment and Treatment Service, Sexual Abuse Prevention Network, Wellington Sexual Health, Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation, Radio Network Wellington, Hutt Rape Counselling Network, Wellington Police, Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care and Regional Public Health.
Training
DIGGER is a training program that empowers workers to intervene when inappropriate workplace behavior happens to them or in their presence.
DIGGER stands for:
Direct actions
Indirect actions
Get a co-worker
Get an authority
Engage the target
Record and report
In the DIGGER program, attendees learn:
To identify inappropriate workplace behaviors
Skills to handle undue situations
How to become an active bystander
Interested in the program? We'll come to you. Learn more here
Where are we next?
Check our events page for up to date information. Here's where you can find us:
March 1 to 4 - PDAC Conference, Toronto ON Register Here
Booth 6428 Drop by and take the Active Bystander Pledge and sign our 2020 Banner
May 3 to 6 - CIM Conference, Vancouver BC Register Here
May 3 Active Bystander Intervention Workshop
May 5 @ 3:40pm Talk: Women in Mining, We Need to Keep Pushing Forward: Me Too Mining
September 19 - SEG Conference, Whistler BC Info Here
September 19 Active Bystander Intervention Workshop
