Democracy and an Economy for All:
Protests and Strategies for Change
May 1, 2012 ~ May Day – International Workers’ Rights Day
At Communications Workers of America, 501 Third Street NW, Washington DC
Register here! [1]
Can't come for the entire event? Feel free to join us at the reception from 5:30-7:30pm for good discussion, drinks and light fare. Please still RSVP. [1]
2011 gave us a political moment for change and ILRF’s Spring Forum aims to build on and contribute to that momentum. From Wisconsin to Tunisia, Egypt to Wall Street, 2011 was the year of the protester; the year that we, the 99%, made our collective voice heard. Advocates of workers’ rights everywhere have embraced this movement and the calls for meaningful democratic participation and a global economy that works for everyone. But how can we sustain the momentum? What links can we foster between sister campaigns across the globe? ILRF’s Spring Forum will bring together worker rights advocates from around the world and across the US to share stories and strategies.
1:30 pm: Registration and Coffee
2:00 pm: Opening Plenary
How trade unions and social movements help democracy work for the 99%
• Judy Gearhart, Executive Director, International Labor Rights Forum
• Sarita Gupta, Executive Director, Jobs with Justice
• Bill Fletcher, Jr., Director of Field Services, American Federation of Government Employees
• Larry Cohen, President, Communications Workers of America
2:30 pm: Broken Democracy: the Global Attack on Collective Bargaining Rights
An examination of workers’ struggles; collective bargaining rights and extreme employer tactics.
• Tunisian Spring: How Labor Translated Protest into Change: Lisa McGowan, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Program, Solidarity Center, AFL-CIO
• US Public Sector and Collective Bargaining Rights: Minh Nguyen, Assistant Director of Organization and Field Services, American Federation of Teachers: Minh Nguyen
• Illegal bargaining: Gerry Rivera, President, Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA)
• Moderator: Ken Grossinger, Principal, Democracy Partners
4:00 pm: Just Jobs: Innovative Strategies for Protecting Vulnerable Workers
Innovative initiatives to empower and support workers in precarious work situations.
• Women farm workers in the Honduran Melon sector: Iris Munguia, Secretary General, Coordinating Body of Latin-America Banana and Agro-industrial Workers (COLSIBA)
• Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports: Independent Contractors Strike for Power in Seattle: Nick Weiner, National Coordinator of the Ports Campaign, Change to Win & International Brotherhood of Teamsters
• Chinese Migrant Workers: How Labor Law Clinics are Helping Workers: Jeffrey Becker, China Program Director, International Labor Rights Forum
• The Guest Workers Alliance and New Strategies for Supporting Mobile Workers: Saket Soni, Executive Director, National Guest Workers Alliance
• Moderator, John Cavanagh, Director, Institute for Policy Studies
5:30 – 7:30: Cocktail and Reception
With all the panelists and also with (visas pending) two longtime ILRF allies: Kalpona Akter, Executive Director, BCWS, Bangladesh; and Edwin B. Cisco, Secretary General, Firestone Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia (FAWUL), Liberia
Co-hosts include AFSCME, Amalgamated Transit Union, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Teachers, American Rights at Work, Communications Workers of America, Food Chain Workers Aliance, Institute for Policy Studies, International Association of Machinists, James & Hoffman, Jobs with Justice, National Consumers League, Solidarity Center (AFL-CIO), Unite Here!, United Auto Workers, and United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society.