AFL-CIO to Host Historic Two-Day Conference on Global Workers' Rights: World's Top Leaders Gather For Unprecedented Conference, Congressional Forum

Advisory for Mon., Dec. 10 and Tues., Dec. 11
Contact: Steve Smith / Alison Omens   
202-637-5018

AFL-CIO to Host Historic Two-Day Conference on Global Workers' Rights
World's Top Labor Leaders Gather for Unprecedented Conference,
Congressional  Forum

On Monday, December 10 and Tuesday December 11, the AFL-CIO will host
more  than 200 trade union leaders from the United States and 63
countries around  the world in the Washington area at a historic
conference and congressional  forum on the international crisis in
workers' rights and the freedom to form  unions and bargain
collectively.

The two-day conference, "Going Global: Organizing, Recognition and
Union  Rights," is sponsored by the Council of Global Unions (CGU).
It marks the  first time this number of trade union leaders from around
the globe have  gathered to develop ideas and strategies to combat
corporations' and  governments' efforts to suppress workers'
freedom to form and join unions,  enhance cooperation among trade unions
across borders and better represent  workers in a global economy. 

The conference will also include a special press briefing and forum at
the  U.S. Congress on December 11, "Restoring Workers' Rights to
Organize: Global  Perspectives, Global Action."  The forum will be
chaired and moderated by  congressional leaders, including Speaker of
the House Nancy Pelosi, Sen.  Edward Kennedy and Rep. George Miller.
Trade union leaders from around the  world will discuss why respect for
freedom of association and collective  bargaining is crucial to the
survival of human rights and democracy around  the world.  Leaders will
also urge for the passage of the Employee Free  Choice Act, which they
consider vital to their own effort to achieve full  organizing and
bargaining rights in their own countries and with  multinational
companies.

Reporters are invited to attend the conference opening session on
Monday  morning in Silver Spring, MD and the Congressional press
briefing and forum  Tuesday afternoon at the Capitol. Interviews with
U.S. and international  labor leaders are available upon request. The
press briefing preceding the  Congressional Forum is open to out-of-town
reporters via phone. The press  briefing will also be Webcast.  Please
call 202-637-5018 for dial-in and  Webcast information.

The Council of Global Unions (CGU) is made up of the International
Trade  Union Confederation (ITUC), the Trade Union Advisory Committee to
the OECD  and 10 of the Global Union Federations.  The AFL-CIO
represents 10 million  working men and women nationwide. 

           The schedule of events open to press is as follows:

Monday, December 10
Opening Session: "Going Global: Organizing, Recognition and Union
Rights"
National Labor College, 10000 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD

9:00 a.m.           Welcome, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney
9:30 noon        Presentations from U.S. leaders and global trade
union leaders  describing the challenges and opportunities facing
workers around the world  as they organize and collectively bargain
nationally and globally.

Tuesday, December 11
Congressional Forum: "Restoring Workers" Rights to Organize: Global
Perspectives, Global Action" -- Senate Dirksen Building, U.S.
Capitol

1:15-2:00 p.m.    Press Briefing (SD-430) * Phone access and
webcast available
                               John Sweeney, President, AFL-CIO
                               Sen. Edward Kennedy
                               Rep. George Miller
                               John Monks, General Secretary, European
Trade
                               Union Confederation
                               Sharan Burrow, President, International
Trade 
                               Union Confederation
                               Victor Baez, General Secretary,
Organización 
                               Regional Interamericana de
Trabajadores
                               Dr. Joh
n Logan, London School of
Economics
                               Worker who formed union with
international support

2:30-2:40                Congressional Forum Welcome (SD-G50)
                                Arlene Holt Baker, Executive Vice
President, AFL-
                                CIO
                                The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of
the 
                                 House

2:40-3:30                 Congressional Panel: US Crisis in Collective

                                 Bargaining * Sen.  Kennedy
presiding
                                 John Sweeney
                                 Wade Henderson, President and CEO,
Leadership
                                 Conference on Civil Rights
                                  Dr. John Logan
                                  Kelly Beringer, Registered Nurse,
West Suburban
                                  Hospital (Resurrection  Health Care),
Chicago, Ill.

3:30-3:35                  Richard Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer,
AFL-CIO

3:35-4:30                 Congressional Panel: Global Attack on
                                 Workers --Rep. Miller  presiding
                                 Guy Ryder, General Secretary,
International 
                                 Trade Union Confederation
                                 Joseph Hansen, President, United Food
and
                                 Commercial Workers Intl. Union
                                 John Monks