Black Lives Matter: Unions Must Be a Force for Social Justice

Black Lives Matter: Unions Must Be a Force for Social Justice

The Solidarity Center believes that Black Lives Matter and stands unequivocally with the millions of Americans and allies around the world peacefully calling for equality for Black people and an end to all forms of racist violence. These mass demonstrations are a demand for a society that fully lives the value of opportunity for all—which includes respect for human dignity and racial, social and economic justice.

Vigilante murders and state-sanctioned acts of violence—and their attempted cover-ups—committed against George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many other Black men, women and children reflect historic and systemic racial injustice and inequality, specifically anti-Black racism, in the United States. The effects of such inequality are evident today as Black communities are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, and Black workers, many on the front lines, are hit hard by the economic downturn. The lack of access to decent social services continues to relegate Black communities to the fringes of society. Black women’s economic prosperity and freedom are doubly jeopardized by racism and sexism.

Sadly, we know that this is not unique to our country. Anti-Blackness is global, and all countries around the world have their own histories of oppression rooted in white supremacy, sexism, orientalism, colonialism, economic exploitation, classism, homophobia, ethnic and cultural tension, religion and xenophobia. These systems are distinct but interrelated and have been used for generations to shape societies, exploit resource-rich countries, entrench poverty and dependency, and deny fundamental human rights.

These same systems lead to discrimination and marginalization of whole communities and normalizes the exploitation of immigrants and dehumanization of those seeking asylum in our country. These systems cause pain and division among and harm to all people. Because of this, the Solidarity Center stands with the global labor movement to reject racism, discrimination in all its forms and police brutality in the United States and everywhere around the world. Dismantling systemic racism, discrimination and inequality are vital to ensuring workers everywhere are empowered to create just and enduring democratic societies.

Around the world, protesters, trade unions, civil society and human rights organizations are calling for a new economic and social order centered on equality and justice. Solidarity Center union partners in Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Nigeria, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, among others, have initiated solidarity rallies, written letters of support and taken to social media to call for change—in the United States and in their own countries.

Brazil’s General Union of Workers (UGT) called George Floyd’s killing, a “tragic action that has an international context, as discrimination is a crime that does not respect borders, languages, religions or social status.”

To protesters in U.S. streets, the Bangladesh Sommolito Garment Sramik Federation tweeted, “What you are doing is necessary and vital to dismantle the oppression that saturates our world and deliver a future where justice prevails.”

The South African Federation of Trade Unions wrote: “Saying ‘Black Lives Matter!’ is not just about opposing police brutality though. It is also about the structure of society: the political and economic systems that devalue black lives, black land, black culture, and blackness.” And the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions said, “We recognize that anti-blackness is an injustice that must continue to be addressed fearlessly in the United States and around the world. We strongly believe that labor unions have a crucial role to play in this fight.”

The labor movement, globally, protects and defends the human rights of workers. This must include joining the fight for racial justice and confronting racism and all forms of discrimination, especially within union ranks. Unions have the most racially diverse membership in the world and cannot afford to uphold discrimination or reinforce racist viewpoints and beliefs. Because of their ability to bring workers together across race, unions are uniquely positioned to reduce racial resentment and become a leading force for racial equality and inclusion. At a time when the United States is reconciling with its history of genocide, slavery and exclusion, other countries are grappling with similar or parallel histories–or, in the Global South, still living the experience of fighting colonialism, racism, abuse and exploitation. The labor movement has the opportunity to help shape a society that is anti-racist, free of exploitation, explicitly intersectional feminist, pro-worker, pro-migrant, class conscious and that values the dignity of Black lives. And we join our sisters and brothers in trade unions all over the world who are protesting right now demanding the same from their countries, and their labor movements.

To achieve real power for workers, the Solidarity Center supports the right to free speech, assembly and protest, calls for the demilitarization of the police and the active prosecution of police officers who use excessive, brutal and unjustified or illegal force. These acts are a threat to workers everywhere. There cannot be justice in a society in which democracy is threatened and where protest is met with state violence. Nor can there be a true democracy without racial justice. The labor movement must be a consistent force for racial equity, which goes hand-in-hand with economic justice and dignity for workers.

Eradicating Gender-Based Violence and Harassment at Work in Southern Africa: An M-POWER High-Level Summit

Eradicating Gender-Based Violence and Harassment at Work in Southern Africa: An M-POWER High-Level Summit

WELCOME RECEPTION
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., South African Standard Time
Place: Avani Maseru Hotel, Maseru

SUMMIT 
Date: Thursday, July 27, 2023
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., South African Standard Time / 2:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time
Place: Avani Maseru Hotel, Maseru, Lesotho, in person.

Register to join virtually.


Millions of workers—most of them women—face intimidation, humiliation, physical and verbal assault, and worse on the job.

The Multilateral Partnership for Organizing, Worker Empowerment and Rights (M-POWER)* is working to eradicate gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the world of work as part of its efforts to ensure worker rights and civil-society participation around the globe. This high-level summit, convened by M-POWER, is bringing together government, labor and business leaders to highlight advances toward that goal—including the Lesotho government’s ratification of ILO Convention 190 and the groundbreaking anti-GVBH agreements negotiated collaboratively by local unions, multinational brands sourcing from Lesotho and a local factory producing clothing for Western markets.


IN-PERSON ATTENDEES: Please find information about Maseru accommodations and transportation here.


SPEAKERS

FEATURED SPEAKERS: The Right Honorable Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, and representatives from M-POWER government partners Argentina, Germany, Spain and the United States. 

  • Honorable Richard Ramoeletsi, Minister of Public Service, Labor and Employment, Kingdom of Lesotho
  • Shawna Bader-Blau, Executive Director, Solidarity Center*
  • Chris Cooter, High Commissioner for Canada in South Africa* (by video)
  • Cecilia Cross, Undersecretary for Inclusion Policies in the World of Work, Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, Argentina*
  • Laura Gutierrez, Global Worker Rights Coordinator, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO*)
  • Jeffrey Hogue, Chief Sustainability Officer, Levi Strauss & Co. (by video)
  • Nellie Kahua, General Secretary, Namibian Domestic and Allied Workers Union (NDAWU), an International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF*) affiliate
  • Gloria Kente, Organizer, South African Domestic Services and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU)
  • Marieke Koning, Policy Adviser, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC*)
  • Mamolise Lawrance, Programs Coordinator, Informal Traders Association
  • Zingiswa Losi, President, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU*)
  • Nhlanhla Mabizela, Field Program Specialist, Lesotho, Solidarity Center*
  • Leeto Makoro, Shop Steward, Independent Democratic Union of Lesotho (IDUL)
  • Matsie Moalosi, Education and Awareness Raising Facilitator, National Clothing Textile and Allied Workers Union (NACTWU) 
  • Mamohale Matsoso, Labor Commissioner, Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Employment, Kingdom of Lesotho
  • Itumeleng Moerane, Information Line Manager, Federation of Women Lawyers Lesotho (FIDA)
  • Samuel Mokhele, Secretary General, NACTWU
  • Dr. Anna Montén-Küchel, First Secretary, Labor and Social Affairs, German Missions in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini*
  • Leboeala Motebang, Gender Focal Person, Lesotho Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU)
  • Nyasha Muchichwa, Representative, Southern Africa Trade Union Coordinating Council (SATUCC)
  • Harry Nkhetse, Senior Facilitator and  Leadership Coach, Tobaka Consultants, Mountain Peak Business Solutions
  • Popoti Ntebe, Trade Union Member, United Textile Employees (UNITE)
  • Thusoana Ntlama, Programs Coordinator, FIDA Lesotho
  • Sethelile Ntlhakana, Lesotho Country Representative, Worker Rights Consortium*
  • Joaquín Perez Rey, Secretary of State for Employment and Social Economy, Ministry of Labor and Social Economy, Spain* (by video)
  • Elliot Ramochela, Secretary General, LFTU
  • Kelly M. Fay Rodríguez, Special Representative for International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of State*
  • Thato Sebeko, Member, Lesotho Labor Council (LLC)
  • Puleng Selebeli, Trade Union Member, UNITE
  • Paul Sematlane, General Secretary, Lesotho Labor Council (LLC) 
  • Motseoa Senyane, Lead Assessor, Workers’ Rights Watch 
  • Teboho Tolo, President, LFTU
  • Keisha Toms, Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy, Lesotho*
  • Luc Triangle, Acting General Secretary, ITUC* (by video)
  • Mathekiso Tseote, Shop Steward, NACTWU

* M-POWER Steering Committee Member or proxy, or M-POWER affiliated.

AGENDA

Wednesday, July 26

5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Welcome Reception honoring Lesotho government, labor, nonprofit and business leaders behind the historic Lesotho Agreements

Thursday, July 27

8:00 a.m. Registration

8:30 a.m. Opening Session 

9:30 a.m. Group Photo and Break 

10:00 a.m. Panel 1: The Role of Governments in Eliminating Gender-Based Violence and Harassment at Work: C190

11:15 a.m. U.S. Global Labor Priorities: Kelly M. Fay Rodríguez, Special Representative for International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of State

11:45 a.m. Break

12:15 a.m. Panel 2: Spotlight – How Workers and Companies are Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in a Global Supply Chain: Focus on the Lesotho Agreement

1:30 p.m. Lunch

2:30 p.m. Panel 3: The Role of Trade Unions in Creating Safer, Fair and Healthy Workplaces Free from Harassment and Violence

3:30 p.m. Panel 4: Women Workers’ Participation in Democratic Governance

4:30 p.m. Closing Statements and Commitments

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LANDMARK LESOTHO AGREEMENTS


This event is co-hosted by: The Multilateral Partnership for Organizing, Worker Empowerment, and Rights (M-POWER), the Lesotho Federation of Trade Unions and Lesotho Labor Council, and supported by the Solidarity Center.

Event Partners: the Congress of South African Trade Unions; Federation of Women Lawyers Lesotho; Independent Democratic Union of Lesotho; International Domestic Workers Federation; International Trade Union Confederation-Africa; International Trade Union Confederation; National Clothing, Textile and Allied Workers Union; Southern Africa Trade Union Coordination Council; United Textile Employees, Lesotho; Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Education Trust; Worker Rights Consortium and Workers’ Rights Watch.


* M-POWER is a historic global initiative focused on ensuring working families thrive in the global economy and elevating the role of trade unions and organized workers as essential to advancing democracy. The government of the United States and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) co-chair M-POWER, joined by steering committee members: the governments of Argentina, Canada and Spain; the International Domestic Worker Federation; the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU); the AFL-CIO; and Funders Organized for Rights in the Global Economy (FORGE). Additional partners include the governments of Germany and South Africa, Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, Global Labor Justice-International Labor Rights Forum, ProDESC, Solidarity Center and Worker Rights Consortium.

 

What Does Winning Look Like: Investing in Labor Rights Campaigns to Foster Change in Repressive Systems

What Does Winning Look Like: Investing in Labor Rights Campaigns to Foster Change in Repressive Systems

Date: Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Time: 3:30 PM – 8:00 PM EDT

Place: National Endowment for Democracy, 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 1100 Washington, D.C., DC 20004. Click here to register. 

Co-Hosted By: National Endowment for Democracy and Global Labor Justice-International Labor Rights Forum 

In March 2022, the Cotton Campaign, a global coalition against forced labor, announced that it was ending its call for a global boycott of Uzbek cotton. The Coalition made this decision following the 2021 harvest: Uzbek Forum for Human Rights, a frontline partner of the Cotton Campaign that has monitored the annual cotton harvest since 2010, found no state-imposed forced labor for the first time in years. This landmark achievement marked the elimination of state-imposed forced labor in Uzbekistan’s cotton harvest, which had affected millions of children and adults. Despite these gains, civic space and fundamental labor rights in Uzbekistan remain arbitrarily restricted and farmers face exploitation, jeopardizing reforms in the cotton sector.

Turkmenistan remains one of the most closed and repressive countries in the world. Every year during the harvest, the government continues to force tens of thousands of public sector workers to pick cotton in hazardous and unsanitary conditions and extorts money from public employees to pay harvest expenses. To this day, the government continues to deny the forced labor problem and has taken harsh actions against those who report on abuses.

Please join the National Endowment for Democracy and Global Labor Justice-International Labor Rights Forum for an in-person, two-panel discussion and reception to reflect on one year since the end of state-imposed forced labor in Uzbek cotton—including the implications for global cotton supply chains, next steps in Uzbekistan, and making labor rights gains in Turkmenistan and the Uyghur region. The panels will place the fight for workers’ rights in Central Asia in the broader context of global supply chains and supply chain governance. This has been given new prominence and urgency by systematic forced labor as part of genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated by the government of China against the Uyghur and other Turkic and/or Muslim-majority peoples.

SPEAKERS

  • Shawna Bader-Blau- Executive Director, Solidarity Center
  • Kelly M. Fay Rodríguez- Special Representative for International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of State
  • Panelists
  • Bennett Freeman- Cotton Campaign co-founder and former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
  • Patricia Jurewicz- Cotton Campaign co-founder and founder and CEO, Responsible Sourcing Network
  • Ruslan Myatiev- Founder and Editor, Turkmen.News
  • Umida Niyazova- Director, Uzbek Forum for Human Rights

Additional Panelists to be Announced

AGENDA
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM Panel Discussions
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM Reception

Official Summit for Democracy Side Event: Amplifying the Voices of Workers to Safeguard Democracy in Africa

Official Summit for Democracy Side Event: Amplifying the Voices of Workers to Safeguard Democracy in Africa

Date: Thursday, March 30, 2023

Time: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Central Africa Time / 2 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time

Place: In-person (Southern Sun Ridgeway Lusaka, Zambia) and virtual event. Registration required.
To join online, click here.
To join us in Lusaka, RSVP to [email protected].

Co-Hosted By: The Multilateral Partnership for Organizing, Worker Empowerment, and Rights (M-POWER) and the Zambian Congress of Trade Unions
Supported By: Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF), International Trade Union Confederation-Africa, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Solidarity Center and Southern African Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC)

“Amplifying the Voices of Workers to Safeguard Democracy in Africa” is an official side event of the second Summit for Democracy, a global democracy initiative co-hosted by Costa Rica, the Netherlands, South Korea, the United States and Zambia from March 28-30, 2023. The second Summit will showcase progress made by Summit partners on commitments during the Year of Action. M-POWER is one of the largest commitments made by Summit partners.

SPEAKERS
●    Joy Beene, Secretary General, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions 
●    Toindepi Dhure, General Secretary, Zimbabwe Domestic and Allied Workers Union
●    Kassahun Follo, President, Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions
●    Akiko Gono, President, International Trade Union Confederation  
●    Naomi Kimbala Lunat, Director Gender Youth and Child Development, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions
●    Mavis Koogotsitse, Executive Secretary, Southern Africa Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC) 
●    Thea Lee, Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor
●    Bheki Mamba, President, Trade Union Congress of Swaziland
●    Dan Mihadi, General Secretary, Transport Workers Union – Kenya
●    Japhet Moyo, Secretary General, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions
●    Richard Mulonga, Chief Executive Officer, Bloggers Association of Zambia
●    Alex Nkosi, Coordinator, International Trade Union Confederation-Africa 
●    Joel Odigie, Deputy General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation-Africa 
●    Guy Olivier Ouédraogo, General Secretary, Confédération Syndicale Burkinabé
●    Matthew Parks, Parliamentary Coordinator, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
●    Lisa Peterson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Bureau, U.S. State Department
●    Ruth Sakala, General Secretary, Domestic Workers Union of Zambia  
●    Henry Sinkala, General Secretary, Basic Education Teachers Union, Zambia
●    Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress 
●    Ezra Sekelani Zulu, Youth Chairperson, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions

AGENDA
8:00 a.m.    Introductions and Opening Remarks
9:00 a.m.    Solidarity Messages
9:30 a.m.    Declining Labor and Human Rights Standards on the African Continent
11:30 a.m.  Closing Democratic Spaces and Challenges of Transparent Electoral Processes
12:30 p.m.  Lunch
1:30 p.m.    How Workers Can Strengthen Democracy Through Elimination of State Capture and Corruption in Africa
2:30 p.m.    Youth and Women Workers’ Participation in Democratic Governance
3:30 p.m.    Closing Statements

Full agenda here.

Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in French.

The Multilateral Partnership for Organizing, Worker Empowerment and Rights (M-POWER) is a historic global initiative focused on ensuring working families thrive in the global economy and elevating the role of trade unions and organized workers as essential to advancing democracy. It includes steering committee members from governments, philanthropy and labor organizations, including the AFL-CIO, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC); the governments of Argentina, Canada, Spain and the United States; and Funders Organized for Rights in the Global Economy (FORGE). The Solidarity Center is a partner.

No Democracy without Unions: Labor Movements as Defenders of Democratic Rights

No Democracy without Unions: Labor Movements as Defenders of Democratic Rights

Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Time: 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. EDT

Place: In-person (U.S. Dept of Labor – Frances Perkins Building 200 Constitution Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20210) and virtual event. 
To join online, tune in here at 11:30 a.m.
To join in person, register here.

Co-Hosted By: Department of Labor, Department of State, and U.S. Agency for International Development

This session will elevate the role of labor movements as drivers of democracy and essential components of democratic societies. Government and labor representatives will highlight country cases and approaches of labor movements defending, reclaiming, and expanding democratic space, with an emphasis on the responsibilities of governments to protect and hold space for democratic labor movements.

“No Democracy without Unions: Labor Movements as Defenders of Democratic Rights” is an official event of the second Summit for Democracy, a global democracy initiative co-hosted by Costa Rica, the Netherlands, South Korea, the United States and Zambia from March 28-30, 2023. The second Summit will showcase progress made by Summit partners on commitments during the Year of Action. M-POWER is one of the largest commitments made by Summit partners.

M-POWER Global Launch Summit

Official headshot of AFL-CIO President Shuler as of August 2021

“We stand with all workers everywhere who are on the front lines of democracy”—AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler at last year’s U.S. Summit for Democracy. Credit: Solidarity Center

 

 

Date: Thursday, December 8, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., EST
Place: Virtual (live streaming available). Registration required.

M-POWER is a global initiative that unites governments, worker organizations, labor academics, civil society and philanthropic institutions committed to working in partnership to uphold and promote worker empowerment and rights as core to democracy, inclusive societies and equitable economic growth. One year after M-POWER was announced at the 2021 Summit for Democracy, the founding partners of M-POWER are proud to share our actions and pledges for M-POWER’s inaugural year of work.

Please join USDOL Secretary of Labor Walsh, along with other U.S. government officials, M-POWER founding government representatives, trade unions, philanthropic institutions and civil society organizations on December 8 to formalize our shared commitment to promoting worker voice and empowerment around the globe.

The Future of U.S. Taiwan Trade

The Future of U.S. Taiwan Trade

Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Longworth House Office Building 1100 and remotely here.
Solidarity Center Executive Director Shawna Bader-Blau testifies before the U.S. Congress on improving worker rights in Taiwan.
Bargaining for Decent Work: The Honduran Maquila Sector

Bargaining for Decent Work: The Honduran Maquila Sector

Date: Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., EDT
Place: Virtual. Registration required. (NEW registration link)

The event will include Creole and Spanish interpretation.

Please join the Solidarity Center for a discussion of a new report on collective bargaining agreements as tools for addressing poor working conditions in global supply chains.

FEATURING
Dr. Mark Anner, report author, director of the Center for Global Workers’ Rights and professor of labor and employment relations at Pennsylvania State University; Solidarity Center Executive Director Shawna Bader-Blau; senior labor leaders from Honduras Evangelina Argueta, Joel Lopez and Maria Elena Sabillon, as well as Worker Rights Consortium Field Director of the Americas Tara Mathur will share new insights on the impact of collective bargaining.

The report, “Bargaining for Decent Work and Beyond: Transforming Work and Lives through Collective Bargaining Agreements in the Honduran Maquila Sector” was commissioned by the Solidarity Center and draws its findings from original research in Honduras, principally the garment industry. Findings include that:

  • Workers covered by collective bargaining agreements have more access to decent work, fair wages and safe working conditions, reducing economic coercion and other factors that compel migration.
  • Collective bargaining agreements can address gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work.
  • Unions have been critically effective in the promotion of health and public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, contact event organizer Tom Egan, [email protected].

Speakers

Mark Anner, Pennsylvania State University Center for Global Workers’ Rights (CGWR) Director, and Labor and Employment Relations and Political Science Associate Professor 
Mark Anner, whose field research has taken him to Bangladesh, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras and Vietnam, has written about international labor solidarity, labor law reform in Latin America, strikes in Vietnam and corporate social responsibility in the global apparel industry. He is currently examining how pricing and other sourcing dynamics in global supply chains affect working conditions and worker rights. Anner also directs Penn State’s labor and global workers’ rights master’s degree program, which is a part of the Global Labor University network. He holds a doctorate in government from Cornell University and a master’s degree in Latin American studies from Stanford University.

Evangelina Argueta, General Workers Central (CGT, Honduras) Representative, and Maquila Organizing Project Coordinator
Evangelina Argueta—who, at age 16, helped found a union at the factory where she had worked—negotiated landmark agreements with apparel brands Fruit of the Loom and Nike, in 2009 and 2010. Leading the CGT garment worker organizing program, she helped organize 27 unions representing nearly 30,000 garment workers, and now serves on bi- and tripartite commissions setting Honduras garment worker wages and conditions. As current coordinator of the Central American Regional Coordinating Body of Apparel and Textile Unions, Argueta serves as a role model for working women and provides mentorship and support for women taking on leadership positions in their unions.

Joel López, Independent Federation of Workers of Honduras (FITH) General Secretary
In addition to leading FITH, López serves on the political commission of the Central American Coordinating Body of Maquila and Textile Unions, and helps lead the Network of Garment Worker Unions of Honduras. López holds a bachelor’s degree in legal and social sciences with a specialization in labor law.

Tara Mathur, Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) Field Director for the Americas
Tara Mathur, who has worked with the WRC for more than 16 years, led a field investigation on freedom of association violations at Honduras Fruit of the Loom factories that resulted in the CGT union negotiating and signing the “Washington Agreement” with the company. Mathur leads the WRC’s work in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean to document, report on and engage with buyers on remedying worker rights violations at garment factories.

María Elena Sabillón, Solidarity Center Senior Coordinator, Honduras
A labor lawyer and fearless advocate for apparel sector workers and their organizations, Sabillón has worked for the Solidarity Center in Honduras since 2011. She currently serves as a worker-side representative on the Fruit of the Loom (FOTL) Supervisory Committee responsible for monitoring the framework agreement on freedom of association and collective bargaining in Honduran FOTL factories. Sabillón holds a law degree and master’s degree in criminal law and procedures from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH), and a doctorate in labor law, social security and human rights from Universidad de San Carlos (USAC) de Guatemala.

Moderated by Shawna Bader-Blau, Solidarity Center Executive Director

Grassroots Voices: Spotlight on Migrant Perspectives towards the IMRF [Report Launch Event]

Grassroots Voices: Spotlight on Migrant Perspectives towards the IMRF [Report Launch Event]

Date: Thursday, April 28, 2022
Time: 08:30 NY / 14:30h Geneva / 19:30 BKK
Place: Virtual. Registration required.

The Global Coalition on Migration and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung are pleased to announce the launch of the Spotlight Report on Global Migration.

The launch event represents an important opportunity for Member States and stakeholders to hear grassroots migrant perspectives on progress and challenges regarding migrant realities in the lead up to the IMRF. The report launch will offer a space for dialogue between grassroots migrant organizations, their civil society allies, and Member States on urgent issues for migrants.

Speakers
Alma Maquitico, Co-director of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR)
Mishka Pillay, Migration & lived experience advocate & campaigner
Roula Seghaier, Strategic program coordinator of the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF)

Respondents
Irene Biontino, Counsellor Humanitarian Affairs, Migration, Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations in Geneva
Fernando de la Mora, Coordination of the Economic, Social, Human Rights and Humanitarian Section of the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations in New York

Full invitation in English.

More information on the Spotlight Report on Global Migration.

Simultaneous interpretation in French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic will be provided. Here you can find the launch event invitation in FrenchSpanishRussian and Arabic.

Stopping Gender-Based Violence and Harassment at Work: The Campaign for an ILO Convention

Stopping Gender-Based Violence and Harassment at Work: The Campaign for an ILO Convention

Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m. EDT
Place: Virtual. Registration required.

Georgetown University’s Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor and the Solidarity Center invite you to a virtual conversation and book launch.

In June 2019, the International Labor Organization adopted a ground-breaking global treaty on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based harassment. This historic treaty was the result of a global grassroots, cross-movement campaign to end gender-based workplace violence led by women trade unionists and their allies. In their newly published book, Stopping Gender-Based Violence and Harassment at Work: The Campaign for an ILO Convention, Jane Pillinger, Robin Runge and Chidi King document the critical role of women and unions in achieving this landmark achievement.

Join us on April 26 to hear from the authors who were directly involved in the campaign and key women union leaders of the global movement to end gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work. Learn more about this campaign and the impact of International Labour Convention 190 to prevent and address gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work.

Featured Panel
Robin Runge, Co-author
Jane Pillinger, Co-author
Cathy Feingold, International Trade Union Confederation
Rose Omamo, Amalgamated Union of Kenya Metal Workers

Requests for accommodation should be submitted by April 20 to [email protected]. A good faith effort will be made to accommodate requests made after that date. 

OECD Global Deal Conference: A Better Future for Essential Workers

OECD Global Deal Conference: A Better Future for Essential Workers

Date: Thursday, April 7, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. EST
Place: Virtual. Registration required.

Join Solidarity Center Executive Director Shawna Bader-Blau for a high-level discussion with global leaders on ending gender violence. The panel, “Ending Violence and Harassment in the World of Work,” will look at how governments and social partners have addressed work-related violence and harassment, including gender violence, which markedly increased during the pandemic. Essential workers—grocery clerks, market vendors, domestic workers, health professionals—have been especially targeted for abuse.

The discussion is one of four panels featured by Global Deal Conference, A Better Future for Essential Workers, which will take place online April 6–7.

In partnership with the Open Society Foundations (OSF), the Global Deal Conference will raise awareness of essential workers’ key role supporting economies, societies and business, highlight practices that worked during COVID-19 and explore how to sustain effective changes. The conference features top-level global worker rights leaders, including:
  • Sharan Burrow, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation
  • Christy Hoffman, General Secretary, UNI Global Union
  • Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary, Public Services International

Register here.

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