Conference announcement
April 24, 2012
Toronto, ON—Amidst the engulfing impacts of the economic crisis on workers’ lives, a national conference aims to spark up vital discussions towards generating a wave of resistance for genuine social change. The Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians (CPFC), its member organizations and allies invite all to participate in “Workers Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization,” to be held on August 11th and 12th at the United Steel Workers Hall in Toronto. As workers’ lives and conditions are being edged onto the precipice of society by the crisis of neoliberal globalization, the conference hopes to meet this critical moment by underscoring the important role that all workers have to play in addressing the challenges and opportunities at hand.
We are at a current juncture whereby the impacts of neoliberal globalization can no longer be denied. The fragile state of the economy, otherwise touted as having reached a state of recovery, can instead be seen and felt clearly in the everyday struggles faced by multitudes of people at a global scale. Workers all over the world are forcibly conceding to neoliberal measures against their wages, employment and living conditions—such as cutbacks on wages and social services, the contractualization of work and labour and the imposition of austerity against our most basic and essential needs.
Such solutions for short-term political and profit goals are creating a long-term social and human toll in the lives and futures of generations to come. Rather than simply contending with the impacts of the neoliberal agenda, this conference is an opportunity to understand the historic and present role of the working class in the process of social transformation. By generating a confluence of perspectives about our common struggles, this conference also aims to build and strengthen linkages amongst progressive organizations, groups and individuals towards advancing our common goals.
While the neoliberal agenda has undoubtedly made itself present to the lives of all workers, it is those who are the very margins, especially women and workers of colour, that are being pushed even further. This conference also aims to understand the importance and essentiality of race and gender in the working class movement by placing the struggles of migrant and immigrant workers at the forefront. Given all the devastating assaults on workers’ conditions on all fronts, this two-day conference will generate unity amongst workers to move beyond conversation and into action by building a movement that will bring forth genuine social change and transformation.
REGISTER NOW: http://bit.ly/workersconference
“Workers’ Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization”
North American Conference
August 11 & 12, 2012
United Steelworkers Hall
25 Cecil Street (Spadina& College)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Organized by the Counterspin secretariat (CPFC & allies)
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For more information, contact:
Bryan Taguba or John Nerier
(416) 519-2553
siklab-on@magkaisacentre.org
www.magkaisacentre.org
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