Workers’ Rights, Human Rights: Making the Connection
Friday, November 16th & Saturday, November 17th2007
Best Western Primrose Hotel, 111 Carlton Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TENTATIVE AGENDA
November 16:
8:30-9:00 Registration
9:00-9:30Introduction and Welcome: Norene Pupo, Centre for Research on Work and Society
9:30-11:15
Panel 1: Collective Bargaining as a Human Right
Evolution Current Status of Collective Bargaining as a Human Right, Roy J. Adams, McMasterUniversity
Commentary:
A Trade Union Perspective, James Clancy, National Union of Public and General Employees
Human Rights Perspective, Rhoda Howard-Hassmann, Canada Research Chair in International Human Rights,WilfridLaurierUniversity
Government Perspective, Tony Giles, International & Intergovernmental Labour Affairs, HRDSC Canada
11:15-11:30 REFRESHMENT BREAK
11:30-1:15
Panel 2: International and National Developments
Moderator: Steve Barrett, Sack, Goldblatt & Mitchell
Brian Langille, University of Toronto Law School, Review of Recent intl developments
Ken Norman, University of Saskatchewan Law School, Freedom of Assn and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - recent developments
Brian McArthur, UFCW, The Canadian union alliance to promote labour rights as human rights
Janek Kuczkiewicz, ITUC International Trade Union Confederation, The Decent Work Campaign (TBC)
1:15-2:15LUNCH
2:15-4:15
Workshops (Choose A, B, C, or D)
A. Organizing outside of statute:
Workers’ Action Centre and organizing temporary workers,Karen Dick
Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and organizing rural postal workers, Geoff Bickerton
Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)Ontario part time college workers, Roger Couvrette
ACORN/Service Employees International Union (SEIU) experience in Chicago, Keith Kelleher
Bruce Nissen, FloridaInternationalUniversity
B. Global Integration of Labour Markets and Workers' Rights
United Food and Commercial Workers on immigrant worker centres, Stan Raper
JUSTICIA for Migrant Workers on advocacy for migrant workers, Kate Sheese and Maya Shapiro
KAIROS Canadaon representing migrant workers, Alfredo Barahona
Canadian Labour Congress, Salimah Valiani
C. Combating "illegal" Back to Work legislation
British Columbia Teachers' Federation, Irene Lanzinger, President
SaskatchewanUnion of Nurses, Rosalee Longmoore, President
The National Union of Public General Employees (NUPGE) national campaign, James Clancy, President
British Columbia Federation of Labour, John Weir, Organizing Director
D. Corporate Accountability and Codes of Conduct
Negotiating codes internationally, Owen Herrnstadt, International Association of Machinists
Compelling conformity to intl human rights standards, the NIKE experience, Jeff Ballinger
Employer neutrality agreements, Arne Anderson, UFCW; David Doorey, York University
Corporate accountability, Joel Harden, Canadian Labour Congress
The potential of the Equator Principles, Janek Kuczkiewicz, International Trade Union Confederation (TBC)
E. Exploring the potential of the BC Health Services Decision
Ethan Poskanzer, Sack Goldblatt and Mitchell
Steve Barrett, Sack Goldblatt and Mitchell
Fay Faraday, Cavalluzzo Hayes McIntyre Shilton and Cornish
November 17
9:00-10:45
Keynote Address and Discussion
Labour Rights and Human Rights/The Human Rights Responsibilities of Business
(Speaker TBA)
10:45-11:00REFRESHMENT BREAK
11:00-1:00
Panel 3: Bridging the Gap Between Labour Rights and Human Rights
Lance Compa, CornellUniversity
Carol Pier, Human Rights Watch
Lee Swepston, Senior Adviser on Human Rights, International Labour Organization
1:00-2:00 LUNCH
2:00-3:30
Afternoon Plenary
Putting Workers’ Rights on the Policy Agenda
American Experience: MaryBeth Maxwell, American Rights at Work
British Experience: Keith Ewing, Employment Rights Institute, UK
Discussion: What a Canadian workers rights institute might look like, moderator: Roy Adams, McMasterUniversity
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