MARK YOUR CALENDARS: November 9-11, 2012
The Ontario Federation of Labour will be hosting an Equity Conference from November 9 to 11 under thetheme: “We Are Ontario: Putting Equity Before Austerity.” The event will be opened to members who belong to the OFL’s many equity-seeking constituencies. Community groups will also be invited toparticipate in this event. Registration forms are available online at www.ofl.ca/index.php/equity2012
Location: Embassy Suites Niagara Falls – Fallsview, 6700 Fallsview Boulevard, Niagara Falls, L2G 3W6Hotel Bookings: 1-800-420-6980 or 905-356-3600 Request rates for “Ontario Federation of Labour”
Conference Start: Friday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m. Registration Fee: $175.00Child Care: Available on request
Descriptions of the learning circles are posted online at www.OFL.caFor more information, contact: Janice Gairey, OFL Human Rights Director at [email protected] or 416-347-9732
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August, 2012 TO: All Affiliates, Labour Councils & Community Groups Greetings:
WE ARE ONTARIO: PUTTING EQUITY BEFORE AUSTERITY CONFERENCE Friday, November 9 – Sunday, November 11, 2012
All affiliates, labour councils and community groups are invited to attend the OFL We Are Ontario: Putting Equity before Austerity Conference, Friday November 9 Sunday November 11, 2012 being held at the Embassy Suites, Niagara Falls ‐ Fallsview Hotel, in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Participants are responsible for booking and payment of their own hotel accommodations. The OFL has set aside a block of rooms at the rate is $185.00 plus tax per night. This rate includes complimentary full hot buffet breakfast each morning and two complimentary alcoholic drink tickets per suite per night. In order to receive this rate, reservations must be made by October 19, 2012. To assist in making your reservations you may access the hotels personalized web page at: http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/I/IAGESES‐OFL‐20121109/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG Group Name: Ontario Federation of Labour Group Code: OFL Check‐in: Friday, November 9, 2012 Check‐out: Sunday, November 11, 2012 Hotel Name: Embassy Suites Niagara Falls ‐ Fallsview
Hotel Address: 6700 Fallsview Boulevard Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3W6 Phone Number: 905.356.3600 Registration will take place on Friday, November 9 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm in front of Salon A, B and C, and again Saturday morning 8:00 am – 9:00 am. Friday’s registrants are requested to attend a Plenary session from 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm and an optional social from 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm in Salon A, B and C. Learning Circles – Registrants will participate in 2 Learning Circles. Please select your first three choices by numbering them 1, 2, and 3. The Circles start Saturday morning from 9:00 am – 12:00 Noon. Afternoon sessions resume at 1:30 pm – to 4:30 pm. Lunch from 12:00 Noon – 1:30 pm (no lunch provided). Space will be available for affiliates and equity caucuses before and after 4:30 pm on Saturday.
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We are Ontario: Putting Equity Before Austerity Conference August, 2012 Page 2 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Registration – The Registration Form is attached. The registration fee is $175.00. For further information please contact Janice Gairey, Director of Human Rights at 416.347.9732 or email [email protected]. You may register on line www.ofl.ca. Please return the completed registration form, together with a cheque payable to “We are Ontario Equity Conference”, by November 2, 2012 attention Paulette Hazel. Child Care – It is OFL policy that we will provide child care services if more than ten (10) children are registered for this service. The Child Care Registration Form must be received by Friday, October 19, 2012 as we must make arrangements with the child care provider. Personal Assistance Request Form – Accommodation can be provided for delegates with disabilities if advance notice is received. If services are needed, please complete and return the attached Personal Assistance Request Form by Friday, October 19, 2012. OFL Policy on Harassment – Attached. Allergy Alert Notice – It is OFL policy that events are scent free to ensure the active participation of those with chemical sensitivity. Please indicate any food allergies as well. For more information, please contact Janice Gairey. Additional forms can be obtained from the OFL website www.ofl.ca or by contacting Paulette Hazel at 416.443.7667 or [email protected] or toll‐free at 1.800.668.9138. In solidarity, Irwin Nanda OFL Executive Vice‐President cc: N. Hutchison, OFL Executive Board OFL Directors
IN/JG/ph/:cope343 Attachments
OFL Conference – We Are Ontario: Putting Equity Before Austerity November 9 – 11, 2012
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LEARNING CIRCLES
1. Pulling Up the Ladder: Youth and the Struggle for an Equitable Future Branding their re‐engineering of the social safety net as “austerity,” baby boomer politicians at every level are championing a stunning double standard that plots to pull up the ladder in health care, post‐secondary education, Employment Insurance and Old Age Security, just after their generation has taken full advantage of each.These social program cuts will have the most significant impact on the next generation of workers – today’s diverse students, from primary school through to university – and threaten to undermine the advancement of young people from equity‐seeking groups. This Learning Circle will look at the intersection of equity and youth as it gives voice to those who have the most to lose (or gain) from Ontario’s economic future.
2. Challenging White Privilege: Towards Equitable Prosperity In an increasingly diverse and multi racial society it is paramount that a discussion occurs about the form of racism called white privilege. The participants will have the opportunity to explore the issue of white privilege and the impact it has on all of us particularly around austerity issues. Privilege does not exist in a vacuum. We will respectfully explore the issue from many perspectives, including yours. Denial and resistance to its concept will be discussed. It will be a safe space where discomfort may occur but the willingness to share thoughts, ideas and feelings is critical because with discomfort comes learning.
3. Myths and Realities: Exposing Austerity’s Impact on Aboriginal Communities For centuries, myths and stereotypes have been perpetuated by the mainstream about Aboriginal peoples. This Circle will help create a space where mutual respect and understanding can unfold between Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal people. Do we truly know and understand each others’ stories? How is austerity affecting the Aboriginal, Metis and Inuit communities. The Circle will help begin the building process of mutual respect by developing a collective plan to ensure a long standing healthy proactive relationship across our differences and similarities.
OFL Conference – We Are Ontario: Putting Equity Before Austerity November 9 – 11, 2012
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4. Gendered Cuts: Women Bear the Brunt of Austerity
Extensive economic and policy changes are taking place in government services, which are affecting women as public sector workers, as benefit recipients and as service users. Corporations and governments, at all levels, are implementing harsh austerity programs as an attempt to balance profit and budget shortfalls by attacking over 30 years of equality gains. This Learning Circle will explore the impact of austerity and strategies for fight back.
5. Safe and Healthy Workplaces: LGBTQ Workers and the Law
Bullying and harassment is a day‐to‐day experience for women workers who are, LGBTQ or come from other equity seeking groups. After years of labour and community lobbying and legal challenges, Ontario workers has won significant gains under Ontario's health & safety legislation. This Learning Circle will explore the gains we have won; how to use them and next steps needed to establish harassment free workplaces.
6. Invisible Violence: Mental Injury Tools for Ontario Workers The psychosocial hazards that cause workplace stress are not new but they are more pronounced and are reaching epidemic proportions – exhausting workplace demands, workplace violence and harassment, job insecurity and funding and staffing shortfalls make work a constant worry for workers in every sector. Twelve labour groups have been working with Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) and researchers since 2009 to develop a resource kit to help Ontario workers to take action on workplace stress. This resource kit will be discussed and used in the Learning Circle. It will provide the tools to identify and collect data to assist union representatives to push for positive changes for healthier, safer workplaces. Data can be used by unions to produce sector‐specific supports and to inform broad labour action to push for legislative policy changes that will improve protections from psychosocial hazards.
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REGISTRATION FORM Organization _________________________________ Local No. ____________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________________________________
City/Town ___________________________________Postal Code ____________________________________
Telephone[Work] ____________________________ [Home] _______________________________________
[Fax] _________________________ [E‐mail] _____________________________________________________
REGISTRATION FEE: $175.00
Please print clearly. Photocopy extra forms if needed.
LAST NAME FIRST NAME ADDRESS POSTAL CODE
Participants are being asked to select two Learning Circles. Please indicate your first, second and third choice of the Learning Circles you would like to attend.
LEARNING CIRCLES (Full Descriptions Attached)
Pulling Up the Ladder: Youth and the Struggle for an Equitable Future
Challenging White Privilege: Towards Equitable Prosperity
Myths and Realities: Exposing Austerity’s Impact on Aboriginal Communities
Gendered Cuts: Women Bear the Brunt of Austerity
Safe and Healthy Workplaces: LGBTQ Workers and the Law
Invisible Violence: Mental Injury Tools for Ontario Workers
Enclosed is a cheque in the amount of $_________________ which covers ____________ delegate(s). Please indicate if you need vegetarian meals: Yes __________________ No ___________________
Please complete and return form with cheque payable to “We Are Ontario Equity Conference” no later than November 2, 2012 addressed to Paulette Hazel, OFL 202‐15 Gervais Drive, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y8 Tel: 416‐443‐7667, Toll Free 1‐800‐668‐9138, Fax: 416‐441‐1893. If child care is required, please complete the form enclosed. Cancellations must be received 48 hours before the date of the OFL Conference – We are Ontario: Putting Equity Before Austerity, November 9 – 11, 2012 for a refund.
OFL CONFERENCE – WE ARE ONTARIO: PUTTING EQUITY BEFORE AUSTERITY NOVEMBER 9 – 11, 2012
EMBASSY SUITES NIAGARA FALLS – FALLSVIEW 6700 FALLSVIEW BOULEVARD NIAGARA FALLS, ON L2G 3W6
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OFL Policy on Harassment The Officers of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) are committed to providing a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Workplace harassment and bullying will not be tolerated from any person in the workplace, over the phone or through the internet. In addition, the OFL strives to provide a harassment-free environment at all Federation activities. Mutual respect must be the basis of interaction among trade unionists in addition to cooperation and understanding. The OFL will neither tolerate nor condone behaviour that is likely to undermine the dignity or self-esteem of an individual, or create an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. Officers and all staff are expected to uphold this Policy, and will be held accountable by the Employer. Everyone in the workplace must be dedicated to preventing workplace harassment and bullying. Harassment can be defined as any unwelcome action by any person, whether verbal or physical, on a single or repeated basis, which humiliates, insults or degrades. “Unwelcome” or “unwanted” in this context means any action which the harasser knows or ought reasonably to know is not desired by the victim of the harassment. Prohibited grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code include: race, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and disability. In addition, the Occupational Health and Safety Act defines “workplace harassment” as engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker, in a workplace – behaviour that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. There are two principles which are fundamental to the trade union movement: human rights and solidarity. Harassment strikes at the heart of both. As trade unionists we must work to protect rights, not take them away. Trade union principles prohibit us from infringing on the human rights of others, and oblige us to stand with them to protect rights when others attack them. cont’d.../2
OFL Policy on Harassment Page 2 June 21, 2012
The Federation considers harassment of any kind a serious offence. Complaints of harassment at activities of the Federation will be investigated. A substantial complaint could result in the removal of the harasser from the event. A letter outlining the reasons for the removal will also be sent to the appropriate affiliate. OFL staff is encouraged to report any incidents of workplace harassment. Management will investigate and deal with all concerns, complaints, or incidents of workplace harassment in a fair and timely manner while respecting workers’ privacy as much as possible. Nothing in this policy prevents or discourages a worker from filing an application with the Human Rights Tribunal on a matter related to Ontario’s Human Rights Code within one year of the last alleged incident. A worker also retains the right to exercise any other legal avenues that may be available. Signed:
SID RYAN President
NANCY HUTCHISON Secretary-Treasurer
IRWIN NANDA Executive Vice-President
Dated: June 21, 2012 The Workplace Violence Policy should be consulted whenever there are concerns about violence in the workplace.
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