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THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMY is rapidly changing the world of work. What is happening to the principle of decent jobs, living wages, equity and a secure future for all?
What will it take to improve living and working conditions in Canada’s largest urban centre? Join with labour and community activists who are on the front lines in the fight for good jobs, as we share experiences and help craft winning strategies.
The Summit on Good Jobs will be one part of a long-term effort to tackle the pressing issues of social equity and economic justice in the 21st century.
Keynote Speakers
Dave Foster, Executive Director of the Blue-Green Alliance in the U.S., a unique partnership of the Steelworkers and Sierra Club that is on the leading edge of developing good jobs in the new green economy. http://www.bluegreenalliance.org
Deena Ladd, Co-ordinator of the Workers Action Centre which has been a strong voice of justice for the growing number of workers in precarious employment in the Toronto region. www.workersactioncentre.ca
Choosing Your Workshop
The Good Jobs for All Summit will involve participants in developing an action plan to tackle the key issues around jobs and decent work. Workshops are divided into six themes, with each providing an opportunity for input from people’s lived experience.
- Skills, Training and Professions: Covers everything from apprenticeships in construction and other trades; to nursing, teaching, engineers and other professions; to health and safety training. Over half the workforce in Toronto has post-secondary education, and the torrent of new technologies mean we can never stop learning.
- Community + Economic Development: Manufacturing is still the largest sector in the GTA economy. How do we protect those jobs in the global economy? Green jobs, local procurement, and fair trade deals are all part of the solution. So too are good jobs in other sectors – from culture to retail to hospitality.
- Immigration Policy and Labour: People have come from over 170 countries to make this region their home. Who decides on the rules? With the expansion of the temporary worker program, business is seeking to exploit a new pliable workforce. The fight for immigrants rights is essential for a just society, while the knowledge brought by newcomers can bring new strength to our movements.
- Precarious Work: The massive use of temp agencies is changing the reality of work. Outsourcing, competitive bidding, and contract work are eroding work standards in every sector. There is huge pressure on the government to limit and control these abuses – but will it be enough to bring back stable full-time jobs for the next generation?
- Employment Equity: The principle of ensuring that everyone has access to good jobs is easy to agree with but hard to put into practice. What is happening in different workplaces, and how do we make sure that nobody is being left behind in this globalized economy?
- Public Services: A just society must have a foundation of strong public services, including education. The dominant corporate agenda has relentlessly attacked the public sector and public employees, yet most Canadians value what we need for the “public good”. It’s time to rebuild and expand our common wealth.
