2016 OPSEU Human Rights Conference

Friday, November 18, 2016
To Sunday, November 20, 2016

7:00 PM to 12:00 PM

Canada

Equity Event
Disability Rights Caucus, Indigenous Circle, Provincial Francophone Committee, Provincial Human Rights Committee [PHRC], Provincial Women's Committee [PWC], Provincial Young Workers Committee [PYC], Rainbow Alliance arc-en-ciel, The Coalition of Racialized Workers

OPSEU’s Equity Committees and Caucuses successfully hosted the 2016 OPSEU Human Rights Conference: "New Realities, Different Directions."

The conference focused on the impact of current immigration laws within the labour movement. The topics explored included, but were not limited to, discussions on key human rights issues such as islamophobia and the criminalization and exploitation of racialized communities. In addition, participants were asked to think critically about current misconceptions surrounding migrant workers, immigrants and refugees. The overall goal was for participants to go home with ideas for immediate action in their communities.

This was an opportunity to network, learn, share experiences and have some fun.

Conference Agenda

Friday, November 18, 2016

5:00 to 7:00 PM — Registration (dinner on your own)
5:00 PM — Smudging Ceremony
5:00 to 7:00 PM — Speakers Corner
7:00 to 7:15 PM — Welcome, Conference Logistics, Meet the Committee Members, Statement of Respect
7:20 to 7:40 PM — Conference Icebreaker
7:40 to 7:45 PM — Introduction to e-polling
7:45 to 8:55 PM — Current Human Rights Issues – Myths vs Reality
8:55 to 9:00 PM — Wrap-up and adjourn

Saturday, November 19, 2016

7:30 AM — Smudging Ceremony
8:00 to 9:00 AM — Registration Re-opens, Breakfast (not provided)
9:00 to 9:15 AM — Conference Opening, Address from OPSEU President, Smokey Thomas
9:15 to 9:45 AM — Keynote Address: Human Rights in Ontario today with Renu Mandhane, Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission
9:45 to 10:30 AM — Question Café
10:30 to 10:45 AM — Break
10:45 to 11:15 AM — Guest Speaker: Syed Hussan, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change
11:15 to 11:55 AM — Question Café
11:55 to 12:00 PM — Morning Wrap-up
12:00 to 1:30 PM — Lunch (not provided)
1:30 to 3:30 PM — Workshop 1 – Human Rights, Union Rights and Global Solidarity
3:30 to 3:45 PM — Break
3:45 to 4:30 PM — Mohammad Ali Aumeer, Socialist Hip Hop Artist
4:30 PM — Wrap-up and adjourn
4:30 to 7:00 PM — Dinner (not provided)
7:00 to 9:00 PM — Film Presentation: Pride
U.K. gay activists work to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National
Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

7:30 AM — Smudging Ceremony
8:00 to 9:00 AM — Breakfast (not provided)
9:00 to 10:30 AM — Workshop 2 – Human Rights and Labour Activism
10:30 to 10:45 AM — Break
10:45 to 11:15 AM — Developing an Action Plan
11:15 to 11:45 AM — Commemorating the Transgender Day of Remembrance
11:45 AM to 12:00 PM — Conference Wrap-Up, Evaluation, Traveling Song and Adjournment