ILRF at the US Social Forum

Tim Newman, Campaigns Assistant, International Labor Rights Forum

The first United States Social Forum (USSF) is taking place between June 27th and July 1st in Atlanta, Georgia.  Gathering under the slogan "Another World is Possible, Another US is Necessary," thousands of people will converge to share stories of struggle and strategize on how to strengthen social movements in the US.  The USSF is part of the World Social Forum process which started in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001.

ILRF has a number of exciting events planned for the USSF.  Keep reading to find out more!

Below is a list of all the workshops involving ILRF.  Also, there will be six plenary dialogues throughout the Forum, one of which will be moderated by two ILRF Board members, Bill Fletcher and Sarita Gupta.  The Workers' Rights in the Global Economy plenary will be held on Saturday, June 30th at 8PM.  Click here for more information.

SEE YOU IN  ATLANTA!

Thursday, June 28

Big Box Retailer Organizing & International Day of Action
10:30 AM, Aracadia Room, Atlanta Marriott Downtown
This workshop will focus on the range of campaigns targeting big box retailers from site fights to workers’ rights to environmental to food, agriculture and supply chain campaigns.  The workshop will be a place for participants to plan for an international day of action against big box retailers in November 2007.
In collaboration with the Big Box Collaborative, DC Jobs with Justice, Institute for Policy Studies and many others

Radical Worker Organizing in the Colombian Floriculture Industry
3:30 PM, NOT ADA – Youth Plus Classroom at the Trinity United Methodist Church
Since about 85% of the flowers grown in Colombia are exported to the US, consumers here have remarkable potential to assist workers organizing in this sector.  These workers, the majority of whom are women, are fighting against multinational companies like Dole, despite the dangerous political climate in Colombia.  This workshop will increase participants’ knowledge on this issue and present ideas for action.
In collaboration with US LEAP and Miami Jobs With Justice

Friday, June 29
Global Justice: Crossing Borders, Outsourcing and Organizing for an Asia Floor Wage
1 PM, Westin Hotel, Room 1402
This session will present and discuss some of the Jobs With Justice Global Justice strategies and introduce US activists to an exciting new campaign that will link Asia and the US in fighting to raise the wages of workers across Asia.  The session will cover labor-faith-community efforts to organize around fair trade, a report on call centers, new trade union initiatives in India and groundwork for an Asia Floor Wage campaign.
In collaboration with Jobs With Justice

Sweatshops and Sweatshops in the Fields: What Can You Do About It?
3:30 PM, Room 1408, Westin Hotel
This workshop will focus on workers’ rights in the global supply chains for manufactured and agricultural products.  This event will include a dialogue and brainstorm about how US consumers can use their buying power to promote companies that have respect for workers and will also examine how some localities and states have passed policies regulating government procurement of apparel.  There will be a special focus on connections to women’s rights and immigration organizing.
In collaboration with STITCH, US LEAP and SweatFree Communities

Fighting for Global Economic Justice: Liberia-US Solidarity Campaigns
4 PM, Africa Tent
This workshop will focus on the struggle for economic justice in Liberia as a case study of how countries in the Global South are being exploited and how people are fighting back.  The two specific campaigns that will be highlighted are: 1) The fight for the cancellation of Liberia’s unjust debt; and 2) A corporate campaign calling for an end to 80 years of environmental and labor exploitation by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company on their rubber plantation in Liberia. We will focus on how people in the US can support these campaigns.  *Please note that this is the correct time and location of this workshop and that it will be listed incorrectly in the USSF program*
In collaboration with the Stop Firestone Coalition and the Jubilee USA Network

Saturday, June 30
Fair Trade Means Another World is Here!
3:30 PM, Westin Hotel, Room 1208
Fair Trade profoundly embodies the principle of “Another World is Possible” by redefining relationships between producers and consumers. This workshop will focus on how farmers around the world have united to build people’s power in the face of corporate-driven globalization.  One of the specific campaigns that will be highlighted is ILRF’s ongoing work to stop child labor in the cocoa industry. Participants will walk away with a concrete understanding of what they can do in their communities to support fair trade. 
In collaboration with Global Exchange, United Students for Fair Trade, Oke Bananas and Divine Chocolate USA

High School Students: Make your School Sweatfree!
3:30 PM, Task Force for the Homeless, Conference Room Does your school make you wear uniforms?  Youth across the US are making our schools require companies to tell us about the real labor conditions in their factories and source from sweatfree factories. Harnessing the purchasing power of schools can support worker struggles around the world. You'll come away from this fun and interactive workshop with info on how to bring this campaign to your school.
In collaboration with SweatFree Communities and United Students Against Sweatshops

 *PLEASE NOTE:  All dates and times subject to change.*

For the latest information please contact Tim Newman.