> Labor on the Move: Which way from here? > Labor Notes' Ninth Biennial Conference > April 18-20, 1997 > Westin Hotel, Downtown Detroit > > "...the most significant gathering of individuals committed to > democratic reform in the trade union movement..." > -Victor Reuther, Co-founder of the UAW > > The bosses are tough--downsizing, contracting out, halting our > efforts to organize. Our workplaces are lean and mean. And, we > face aggressive attacks on affirmative action, health care, > immigrant and welfare worker rights, and the 40-hour week. > > The fight we face goes beyond individual unions or countries and > is sounding a wake-up call to the whole labor movement. With > changes at the top of the AFL-CIO, the ranks are calling for more > action against corporate greed. > > We are fighting back, with immigrant truckers and tortilla > workers organizing in Los Angeles, demolition workers in New > York; Boeing workers beating outsourcing; Canadian Autoworkers > taking-over General Motors; turning around corruption and > business-unionism in the Teamsters; winning living wage > campaigns, student-union organizing, and the founding of the > Labor Party. And thousands have taken to the streets in Canada, > Mexico, Brazil, and in Europe against privatization. > > But we have much to do to be a winning movement, to reform our > old ways. Unions could be a force for justice and securing a > decent standard of living. The 1997 Labor Notes Conference will > take a look at where we are at, and where we need to go. > > What Is Labor Notes? > Labor Notes is an independent non-profit educational organization > dedicated to rank and file labor activism. Since 1979 we've > published books and a monthly magazine, and sponsored eight > international conferences. > > --Conerence Information-- > Place: Westin Hotel, Renaissance Center, In downtown Detroit > > Registration: $85 ($105 Canadian) includes Saturday Banquet. > Early registrations by Jan. 31, take $10 OFF. Some scholarship > money is available for low-income workers. > > Lodging: $72 per night single; $82 double; $92 triple; $102 quad. > Call the Westin, 800/228-3000. Mention Labor Notes to get these > rates. > > Air Transportation: Northwest Airlines offers a 5% discount on > conference travel. Call 800/328-1111--mention Labor Notes > Conference, and Code #NY3CX. Shuttles to the Westin are available > from Detroit Metro airport. > > Childcare (ages over 1 year): Available for a fee if registered > by March 15. > > > Conference Agenda > > Friday, April 18 > Registration open 12-9:00pm. > 1:00 Early workshops, Women of Color Meeting > 3:00 Latino Workers Meeting > 5:00 Early Union/Industry Meetings > > 7:00 Opening Session: Labor on the Move--Which Way > A report card on the changes in our movement. > 9:00 Reception, various Caucus meetings > > Saturday, April 19 > 7:30am Registration > 8:30 Three Concurrent Mini-Plenaries: > One: Social Movement Unionism--many attacks, one struggle > Two: Lean Production/Privatization--an international fight > Three: Organizing Strategies--how we win, today and beyond > 10:00 Union/Sector Meetings > 12:30 People of Color Meeting > 2:00-5:15 Workshops I & II > 5:30 Interest Meetings > 7:30 Banquet, Party > > Sunday, April 20 > 7:30 Caucus Meetings > 9:00 Workshops and Meetings > 11:00 Brunch, Women's Caucus > 12:30-2:30 Keynote speakers and Program > > [All main sessions, some workshops and meetings will be > translated into Spanish and sign language.] > > Over 50 workshops, and meetings by union and industry-- > > > Workshops will include: > > * Model Organizing Locals > * How to Win Strikes > * Workers' Centers > * Building Workplace Unionism > * Controlling Contracting > * Job Security: Shorter workweek > * Coalitions Against Privatization > * Living Wage Campaigns > * How to Run for Office > * Fighting Racism on the Job > * Cooperation Programs > * Telecommunications Rengineering > * Technology and Jobs > * Health Care Restructuring > * Contract Campaigns > > "A lot of things have happened in my union life since I attended > the '95 Labor Notes conference that were good for me and for my > union sisters and brothers. It was like a light came on in > Detroit and I brought that light back to Columbus." > -Dennis Anderson, Teamsters Local 413 > > For More Information, write to Labor Notes, 7435 Michigan Ave., > Detroit, MI 48210. Or call 313/842-6262. Or fax us at 313/842- > 0227. Or E-mail us at <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > P.S. We are putting together a program book for the conference, > and are looking for unions and labor activists to advertise. It's > a great way to contribute to Labor Notes and send a message to > the over 1000 people who will be attending. It also helps defray > the costs of putting together the conference, and provides > scholarships for those (strikers, students, etc.) who need. >
