100 years of FES – find out more

15th Global Labour University Conference, March 30-April 1, April 4-5, 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic, digitalization, climate change, right-wing populism, and rising authoritarianism have changed the world of work.

In this 2022 edition of the GLU-Conference hosted by Penn State University, AFL-CIO, ICDD and FES, we analyze these developments and ask how we build anew our workplaces and societies based on social justice.

In GLU’s unique blend of academic work and trade union activism, we offer discussions in 7 tracks on: inclusive social protection; ending gender-based violence and racism at work; worker organizing for a just transition; organizing workers in and across the platform economy; empowering migrant workers; workers' rights under rising authoritarianism; global supply chains and joint collaboration of academics and trade unionists.

 

Virtual Event:

The conference will take place via Zoom and in English without translation. Some basic information about Zoom:

  1. Please download and install the newest Zoom client on your computer or mobile device (www.zoom.us/download).
  2. You will need a stable internet connection so that you can take part without interruptions.
  3. Please familiarise yourself with the basic functions of Zoom.

 

Livestream/Recording:

The Plenary Sessions on March 30 and April 5 will also be available via a public LIVESTREAM on this website. Please note that some of the Plenary Sessions will be recorded.

 

Participation/Registration:

To participate at the conference it is mandatory to follow the two-step-process, which includes registering for the conference and creating an account at MyFES.de (see two-step process). The Zoom links and the corresponding dial-in data/passwords for the conference can be found in the Programme and Breakout Sessions sections of this website. You must be logged in at your MyFES-account to access the information (see two-step process).

 

Papers:

Once you are logged in, you will be able to access the Papers section, where you can read all available papers and upload your own.

Two Steps to Participate



Contact

Julia Schultz
FES International Trade Union Policy Team

+49 30 26935-7493
unionstransform(at)fes.de
 

Zoom Help Desk

Technical problems during the conference?
Contact our Helpdesk:
+43 664 2139427
david(at)roethler.at


The Plenary Speakers at the 15th GLU Conference:

Hugo Dias

Hugo Dias

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Mostafa Henaway

Mostafa Henaway

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Elaine Hui

Elaine Hui

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Reema Nanavaty

Reema Nanavaty

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Stefanie Nutzenberger

Stefanie Nutzenberger

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Julie Su

Julie Su

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Programme

Time Difference

- Please note that all indicated times correspond to Central European Summer Time [CEST] -

For Eastern Standard Summer Time [EST] deduct 6 hours, for Brasília Time [BRT] deduct 5 hours, for India Standard Time [IST] add 3.5 hours. For South Africa Standard Time [SAST], there is no time difference to CEST.

March 30 – Opening Day

Opening Plenary: Welcome / Greetings

  • Mark Anner, Penn State University
  • Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO
  • Christoph Scherrer, University of Kassel and ICDD
  • Hugo Dias, UNICAMP Brazil

Moderator: Mirko Herberg, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)

Tribute to Kjeld/Joao with video and remarks by Antonio Lisboa

Plenary I

“The Path to Power: Union Organizing in the US

Julie Su, Deputy Secretary of Labor, USA

Roundtable with US Union Activists

  • Jennifer Bates, Organizing Committee Member Amazon Union Campaign
  • Michael Foster, Organizer, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)
  • Sarah B. McCabe, Organizer, Maine AFL-CIO
  • Deb Donovan, a Registered Nurse at Maine Medical Center and member of Maine State Nurses Association (NNU) 

Moderator: Carlos Jiménez

Break

Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer/Executive Vice President, AFL-CIO: "Justice for All: How the AFL-CIO is Moving to Meet the Moment"
 

Plenary II

“Breaking the Trade Union ‘Glass Ceiling’”, A Conversation with Women Leaders

  • Carmen Foro, General Secretary, Unified Workers' Central (CUT), Brazil

  • Gabrielle Carteris, Actor and President of Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), USA

  • Louisa Thipe, Second Deputy President, COSATU, South Africa
  • Stefanie Nutzenberger, Member of the Federal Executive Board, ver.di, Germany

  • Reema Nanavaty, National Coordinator, SEWA, India

Moderator: Cathy Feingold, Director International Department, AFL-CIO, USA

April 5 - Closing Day

Special Guest Speaker:

Olesia Briazgunova
International Secretary of the Ukrainian Free Trade Unions

Plenary I

Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6: Social Protection, Gender-Based Violence, Racism, Migrant Labour, Authoritarianism

Track speakers:

  • Baba Aye, Track 1, Social Protection
  • Jana Silverman, Track 2, Race and Gender-based Violence
  • Mostafa Henaway, Track 5, Migration
  • Frank Hoffer, Track 6, Authoritarianism

Trade union speakers:

  • Ambet Yuson, General Secretary, BWI
  • Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary, PSI
  • Myrtle Witbooi, President, IDWF

Moderator: Rebecca Tarlau, Penn State University

Break

Plenary II

Tracks 3, 4, 7: Just Transition, Platform Organizing, Global Supply Chains

Track speakers:

* Edlira Xhafa, Track 3, Just Transition
* Uma Rani, Track 4, Platform Organizing
* Mark Anner, Track 7, Global Supply Chains

Trade union speakers:

* Kemal Ozkan, Assistant General Secretary, IndustriALL
* Natalia Carrau, advisor on Labor and the Environment, Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA)
* Christy Hoffman, General Secretary, UNI Global

Moderator: Christoph Scherrer, University of Kassel and ICDD

Final Thank You Session

  • Elaine Hui, Penn State University
  • Mirko Herberg, FES
  • Hugo Dias, UNICAMP Brazil
  • Cathy Feingold, AFL-CIO

Breakout Sessions on March 31, April 1 & April 4

Find the Sessions Programmehere.

Our Partners


Picture Credits:
Header Pictures 1, 3-6: Canva.com
Header Picture 2: picture alliance / abaca | Lafargue Raphael/ABACA

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