Academic staff associations, through the dues checkoff, collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, and membership engagement systems, are among the few groups with the financial and institutional resources necessary to engage in concerted collective action to advance equity. 

While unions also need to strengthen their own equity practices, every collective agreement in the country now contains enforceable provisions to protect members from discriminatory practices. Canadian unions have made a significant contribution to the fight for equity and human rights using the unique tools in their toolbox: bargaining, grievance arbitration and political action.