International Employment Relations Network List
(IERN-L)
A Miscellany of International Employment Relations News
Miscellany 15, 17 May 2012
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Contents
Main Stories
ILO: Africa: No real growth without jobs
Thailand: UNI calls on Walmart to end debt bondage in Thailand
UK: New public-sector pensions strike is ‘futile’ says Maude
In Brief
Australia: Too soon to sue Craig Thomson to recover union funds, says HSU chief
Australia: Bill Kelty calls on the faithful to get behind Labor cause
Bangladesh: Bangladeshi workers risk lives in shipbreaking yards
Egypt: Independent postal union calls for open strike on Saturday
Europe: EU member states should refrain from deregulating labour markets
Guatemala: Systematic anti-union violence continues unchecked
ILO: Three steps to curb youth unemployment
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Kenya: Suspension of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) board and
chief executive officer
Nigeria: Imo specialist hospital workers’ begin strike
Qatar: New evidence of abuses of workers rights in Qatar
Singapore: Singapore Girl gets to stay in the air longer
Singapore: Wider govt plan to help bridge wage gap
UK: Doctors balloted for action over NHS pension changes
WFTU: The TUI and Regional Offices yearly meeting with the WFTU Secretariat
Publications
Calls for Papers, Conferences, Seminars, Symposia
Other Sites
Awards
Obituries
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Main Stories
ILO: Africa: No real growth without jobs
ER/Africa/ILO/Labour Market
ILO, 10 May 2012 at http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/press-and-mediacentre/news/WCMS_180516/lang--en/index.htm
ADDIS ABABA (ILO News) – Macroeconomic policies, investments, works schemes and
youth programmes aimed at promoting employment are essential if Africa is to sustain its
recent economic growth, the ILO said as hundreds of regional leaders attended the World
Economic Forum on Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“Improving the employability of young people, putting in place pro-employment
macroeconomic policies, providing finance and venture capital and public works schemes, as
well as investing in quality jobs are key to transforming Africa’s growth story into shared
opportunities for present and future generations,” said Judica Amri-Lawson, ILO Deputy
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Regional Director for Africa.
“The promotion of youth employment must address both the supply and demand side
constraints of the labour markets", she said.
As the world struggles to recover from the economic crisis, sub-Saharan countries have
posted solid growth and are among the fastest growing economies, but the jobs situation,
including youth unemployment, remains a major concern.
Strategies for integrating the youth workforce, investing in skills and education to boost
labour productivity, and promoting sectors with strong employment potential were among the
topics discussed at the Addis Ababa gathering.
More than 700 leaders from the private and public sectors, as well as civil society
organizations attended the three-day annual meeting, whose organisers warned that youth
unemployment remains one of several major challenges Africa faces.
“In 2012, Africa’s projected growth rate of 6 per cent will be driven by improved
macroeconomic and political stability, an ongoing resource boom and a growing consumer
base. However, resource price volatility, youth unemployment, food insecurity and the
adverse effects of climate change remain significant challenges”, the conference organisers
said.
Youth unemployment in Africa is exacerbated by the additional challenges of a youth
population which is considerably higher than other regions, weak national labour markets and
persistently high levels of poverty.
70% of the region’s population is under the age of 30, and slightly more than 20% are young
people between the ages of 15 to 24. The situation is particularly dramatic in North Africa,
which has the world’s highest youth unemployment rates and where one in four young people
is jobless.
Unemployment is only part of the problem. African youth are more likely to be
underemployed and among the working poor than their adult counterparts.
The recent social uprisings in North Africa, in which youth played a critical role, highlighted
the urgent need to address young people’s right to enter and stay in the labour market. If
youth unemployment persists, there is the growing risk of greater inequalities and social and
economic instability across the region.
Despite impressive economic growth in Africa, over 70 per cent of the working-age
population remains without a job or in vulnerable employment.
Meanwhile, thirty-two African countries have made employment and particularly youth
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employment priorities within their development strategies.
The ILO will host a Youth Employment Forum from 23-25 May 2012 in Geneva to discuss
the challenges young people face in acquiring gainful employment.
The Forum – the first of its kind – will bring together over 100 young women and men,
including 21 from Africa. The youth will share their experiences and views on the current
employment situation and discuss practical examples of successful initiatives which have led
to the promotion of decent work for youth.
Youth unemployment will also feature in the discussions at the ILO’s world parliament of
labour, the International Labour Conference (ILC), gathering some 4,000 representatives
of the world of work from 30 May – 15 June.
________________________________________________________________
Thailand: UNI calls on Walmart to end debt bondage in Thailand
ER/Thailand/Walmart/Working Conditions/Terms/Migrant Labour
Uni, 15 May 2012 at
http://www.uniglobalunion.org/Apps/uni.nsf/pages/homepageEn?Opendocument&exURL=ht
tp://www.uniglobalunion.org/Apps/UNINews.nsf/vwLkpByIdHome/E04FE63DF1BC8639C
12579FF00429D1D?OpenDocument
UNI Global Union is asking its affiliates to petition Walmart to demand that factory owners
end human trafficking immediately and allow independent monitors to audit the factories in
its supply chain in Thailand.
UNI’s General Secretary said, “Once again Walmart is in the headlines for all the wrong
reasons. The company has a responsibility to monitor what is going on in the factories in its
supply chain. Evidence from Thailand suggests it is failing in its duty of care to factory
workers who are living in virtual slavery. UNI urges its affiliates to sign the petition to
expose these practices and force Walmart to act now.”
Recently there was a revolt in a factory in Thailand that processes prawn for a major supplier
to Walmart. 2,000 guest workers from Cambodia and Myanmar were protesting at the seizure
of their passports and wages cuts by the factory management. These wage slashes have put
the workers deep into the factory’s debt making them victims of debt bondage.
At present, many of them are still legally and financially trapped at the factory, victims of
human trafficking.
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This is not an isolated incident. Also in Thailand, a pineapple factory had similar protests
over wage reductions. There are now reports of human trafficking and that children under 15
have been bought and sold to work there. 73% of the company’s US exports go to Walmart,
and they are likely a large supplier to Walmart’s subsidiaries globally.
Walmart’s own internal system claims to protect against these abuses, some of which the
Bangkok Post has described as “the equivalent of actual slavery”. But these two cases
highlight a chronic problem -- human trafficking, identity document seizure, child labour,
forced unpaid overtime, and debt-bondage are found across Walmart’s supply chain.
Its internal system that audits factories to prevent these kind of abuses is broken at its core.
Walmart's internal auditors schedule visits to factories -- a deeply flawed practice that allows
owners to coach workers and hide the most egregious abuses as is evident today. On the other
hand, independent monitors show up unannounced, don't aim to please factory owners, and
provide a real check against some of the worst abuses -- that is why they are so desperately
needed.
Walmart customers around the world may be buying prawn, pineapple, and who knows what
else and unwittingly supporting near-slavery, debt bondage and child labor. Walmart is
already feeling the heat after a New York Times investigation exposed a top-level cover up of
a bribery scandal in the company’s Mexican subsidiary.
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UK: New public-sector pensions strike is ‘futile’ says Maude
IR/UK/Public Sector/Pensions/ Industrial Action
CIPD, 10 May 2012 at http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/2012/05/newpublic-sector-pensions-strike-is-futile-saysmaude.htm?wa_src=email&wa_pub=cipd&wa_crt=news_3&wa_cmp=pmdaily_100512
Hundreds of thousands of public-sector workers are striking today in a renewed protest at
changes to their pensions, which they claim will mean working for longer for a reduced
retirement income.
Civil servants, paramedics, lecturers, court employees and border force staff are among the
400,000 people that trade unions estimate have walked out today.
They have been joined by 20,000 off-duty police officers staging a protest march in
opposition to the “excessive” budget cuts faced by the country’s constabularies.
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Today’s strike is on a smaller scale than that staged on 30 November last year, which saw up
to two million public servants walk out nationwide. It is the latest in a wave of industrial
action in protest at government pension reforms that will see personal contributions increase,
the retirement age rise, a move to a career average scheme and a change from RPI to CPI
indexation.
However, cabinet office minister Francis Maude described the walkout as “futile” and said
that there was no prospect of further talks on the reforms.
“It is very disappointing that a handful of unions insist on carrying on with futile strike action
which will benefit no one,” said Maude. “We would urge these union leaders to reconsider
their position. Pension talks will not be reopened and nothing further will be achieved
through strike action.”
The Queen’s Speech yesterday confirmed the coalition’s intention to push ahead with the
changes to public-sector pensions, which it says will otherwise become unaffordable to the
state.
The government has said that today’s strike turn-out has been overstated, but the Public and
Commercial Services union (PCS) – the largest in the civil service – insisted that the
stoppage has been “well supported”.
The union said that all business in the Welsh Assembly had been suspended, while national
museums in Wales were closed. Around 95 per cent of the court staff in Manchester were on
strike and many civilian police staff were not crossing picket lines, according to the union.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “The early signs are that our strike is being very
well supported across the UK. Our members do not take strike action lightly but, faced with
severe attacks on their pensions, pay, jobs and communities they have no choice but to
defend what they and their families have worked to create for generations.”
The Prison Officers Association whose members, along with the police, cannot go out on
strike, has also held protest meetings at jails across England, Scotland and Wales. Many
prison officers are reported to have joined the walkout despite having no official right to do
so.
Today’s police rally, organised by the Police Federation, has been sparked by the 20 per cent
cut to national police budgets and the changes to pay, conditions and recruitment
recommended in the Winsor Review.
Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation, said: “In the past year alone, we have lost
over 5,200 police officers from the front-line, and we are witnessing the privatisation of core
policing roles as chief officers struggle to cope with budget restraints. The government need
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to be realistic about the outcome of severe cuts to policing; we cannot afford to compromise
on public safety.”
Unions taking part in today’s strike action include the PCS, the University and College
Union, health service members of Unite, the Immigration Services Union, Royal Fleet
Auxiliary members of the RMT, and the Northern Ireland Public Services Alliance.
___________________________________________________________________________
In Brief
Australia: Too soon to sue Craig Thomson to recover union funds, says
HSU chief Chris Brown
IR/Australia/Union Corruption (see Miscellany 14)
The Australian 11 May 2012 at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/too-soon-tosue-craig-thomson-to-recover-union-funds-says-hsu-chief-chris-brown/story-e6frg6nf1226353002230
A HEALTH Services Union chief says it would be premature to sue former union boss and
now federal MP Craig Thomson to recover $500,000 in allegedly misused members' funds.
But the union's acting president, Chris Brown, says such action could be considered in the
future. HSU general secretary Kathy Jackson told The Australian she wants the union's
national executive to back a motion, at a national executive meeting on Monday, to sue Mr
Thomson, who now sits as a federal independent MP after being suspended from the ALP.
___________________________________________________________________________
Australia: Bill Kelty calls on the faithful to get behind Labor cause
IR/Australia/Labour Government and Trade Unions
The Australian, 17 May 2012 at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/industrialrelations/kelty-calls-on-the-faithful-to-get-behind-labor-cause/story-fn59noo31226358280377
FORMER ACTU secretary Bill Kelty last night delivered a rallying call to the labour
movement, imploring unions not to blame the opposition or the media for the Gillard
government's unpopularity and to work with Labor to confront the structural challenges
facing the economy.
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Bangladesh: Bangladeshi workers risk lives in shipbreaking yards
ER/Bangladesh/Shipbreaking/OH&S
Guardian Weekly, 5 May 2012 at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/05/bangladesh-workers-asiashipbreaking?intcmp=122
EU safety rules for recycling yards could save hundreds from injury and poisoning but pose
dangers for south Asian economies.
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Egypt: Independent postal union calls for open strike on Saturday
IR/Egypt/Postal Workers/Working Week/ Strike
Uni, 11 May 2012 at
http://www.uniglobalunion.org/Apps/uni.nsf/pages/homepageEn?Opendocument&exURL=ht
tp://www.uniglobalunion.org/Apps/UNINews.nsf/vwLkpByIdHome/9D4780D6B7090F1FC1
2579FB004B8496?OpenDocument
The independent postal union in Egypt has put out a call for an open strike on Saturday in
their struggle to maintain a two-day weekend with Saturday’s off.
The management of Egypt Post signed an agreement following a previous postal strike in
September 2011 giving postal workers Saturday’s off. This agreement was implemented on
January 1, 2012. Egypt Post is now trying to force postal workers back to work on Saturdays.
This is despite the Minister of State for Administrative Development’s decision that all public
sector staff should have Friday’s and Saturday’s off work.
___________________________________________________________________________
Europe: EU member states should refrain from deregulating labour
markets
ER/Europe/Labour Markets
ILO, 7 May 2012 at http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/press-and-mediacentre/news/WCMS_180160/lang--en/index.htm Interview with Raymond Torres, author of
the recent ILO's World of Work, on French growth and employment strategy.
8
EU member states should refrain from deregulating labour markets,” said Mr. Torres. “In the
present crisis context, deregulation will aggravate job losses without promoting job creation.
Of course, looking further ahead, badly-designed regulations should be reconsidered.
Successful reforms as in Austria suggest that social dialogue is an effective instrument in this
respect”, he added.
___________________________________________________________________________
Guatemala: Systematic anti-union violence continues unchecked
IR/Guatemala/anti-unionism
ITUC, 8 May 2012 at http://www.ituc-csi.org/systematic-anti-union-violence.html
Anti-union violence remains unchecked in Guatemala. Roberto Oswaldo Ramos, the work
and disputes secretary of the Coatepeque workers’ union Sindicato de Trabajadores de
Coatepeque and a member of the CUSG Advisory Council, and Wilder Hugo López, general
secretary of the local urban transport union Sindicato de Microbuseros Urbanos, were
assassinated due to their involvement in the trade union movement.
___________________________________________________________________________
ILO: Three steps to curb youth unemployment
ER/Labour Markets/Youth Unemployment
ILO, 15 May 2012 at http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/press-and-mediacentre/news/WCMS_180802/lang--en/index.htm
The right mix of education and training, promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening
employment services is key to tackling the current youth employment crisis in many parts of
the world, said Executive Director of the ILO’s Employment Sector, Mr José Manuel
Salazar-Xirinachs.
___________________________________________________________________________
Kenya: Suspension of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) board
and chief executive officer
IR/Kenya/COTU/NHIF http://www.cotu-kenya.org/press-release/re-suspension-nationalhospital-insurance-fund-nhif-board-and-chief-executive-officer
9
COTU, 6 May 2012 at http://www.cotu-kenya.org/press-release/re-suspension-nationalhospital-insurance-fund-nhif-board-and-chief-executive-officer
The decision by His Excellency the President through the Office of the Permanent Secretary,
Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia to suspend the entire
National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) Board together with its Chief Executive Officer
Richard Kerich is overwhelmingly recommendable and the Central Organization of Trade
Unions, COTU (K) do fully support this bold move taken to rescue millions of workers
money from further outright diversion into dubious deals.
___________________________________________________________________________
Nigeria: Imo specialist hospital workers’ begin strike over irregular
payment of salaries
IR/Nigeria/Hospital Workers/Payment Dispute/Strike
Vanguard, 17 May 2012 at http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/imo-specialist-hospitalworkers-begin-strike-over-irregular-payment-of-salaries/
Staff of Imo Specialist Hospital, Owerri, yesterday embarked on indefinite industrial action
over irregular payment of salaries and anti-labour policies of the hospital management.
__________________________________________________________________________
Qatar: New evidence of abuses of workers’ rights in Qatar
IR/Qatar/Middle East/migrant workers
ITUC, 16 May 2012 at http://www.ituc-csi.org/new-evidence-of-abuses-ofworkers.html?lang=en
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has announced a new investigation into
the conditions of workers in Qatar following a visit of the ITUC General Secretary to Nepal
to hear firsthand accounts from workers who have just returned from the Gulf Kingdom.
___________________________________________________________________________
10
Singapore: Singapore Girl gets to stay in the air longer
IR/ER/Singapore/Cabin Crew/Ageism
Straits Times Newsletter, 14 May 2012 at
http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_798631.html
THE Singapore Girl can now swan in her iconic kebaya well into her late 40s or even early
50s. After more than a year of wrangling and with intervention by the Manpower Ministry,
Singapore Airlines and the union that represents cabin crew have agreed to add up to three
years to the crew's flying time. The deal between the carrier and the Singapore Airlines Staff
Union (Siasu) was inked last Wednesday.
___________________________________________________________________________
Singapore: Wider govt plan to help bridge wage gap
IR/Singapore/Wage Fixing/Lower Paid Workers
Straits Times Newsletter, 15 May 2012 at
http://www.straitstimes.com/PrimeNews/Story/STIStory_798980.html
GOOD jobs and wages backed up by an array of targeted schemes to help lower-income
households are part of the Government's plan to tackle the wage gap, Minister of State for
Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin said yesterday. In the first Parliament sitting since Professor Lim
Chong Yah's radical proposal to push up wages at the bottom, Mr Tan laid out the multipronged approach to helping low-income families, saying wages are only part of the
equation.
__________________________________________________________________________
UK: Doctors balloted for action over NHS pension changes
IR/UK/Medical/Strike Ballot
CIPD, 14 May 2012 at http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/2012/05/doctorsballoted-for-action-over-nhs-pensionchanges.htm?wa_src=email&wa_pub=cipd&wa_crt=news_4&wa_cmp=pmdaily_150512
11
More than 100,000 doctors in England and Wales are being balloted for industrial action for
the first time in 37 years in a dispute over government NHS pension reforms.
___________________________________________________________________________
WFTU: The TUI and Regional Offices yearly meeting with the WFTU Secretariat
IR/International/WFTU
WFTU, 9 May 2012 at http://www.wftucentral.org/?p=5190&language=en#more-5190
The yearly meeting between the WFTU Secretariat, the TUIs’ leadership and the Heads of
the Regional Offices of WFTU was held on the 8th of May 2012 in Athens Greece.
The meeting was one more step in the course of implementing the resolutions of the 16th
World Trade Union Congress for the strengthening of the Trade Union Internationals and the
Regional Offices of WFTU.
The main point in the agenda of the meeting, the preparation of the International Action Day
on the 3rd October 2012, was thoroughly discussed.
On the 3rd of October 2012, the International Action Day 2012, the participants reaffirmed
their determination to organize the struggle in international level with strikes, demonstrations,
mobilizations, activities in dozens of countries of the five continents to end the
multinationals’ predatory exploitation, to demand the right in Food, Clean Water, Housing,
Medication, Education, Transport and Free and Qualitative Public Services for all.
__________________________________________________________________________
Publications 2012
The ILO “World of Work Report 2012: Better Jobs for a Better Economy” Access at:
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inst/download/eswow12_e.pdf
________________________________________________________________________
Employment Trends unit of the ILO Employment Sector (2012) Global Employment Trends,
Download at http://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/global-employmenttrends/WCMS_171571/lang--en/index.htm ISBN 978-92-2-124924-5
The annual Global Employment Trends report offers the latest global and regional
information and projections on several indicators of the labour market, including
employment, unemployment, working poverty and vulnerable employment. It also presents a
12
number of policy considerations in light of the new challenges facing policy makers in the
coming year.
___________________________________________________________________________
Pierluigi Rausei, Michele Tiraboschi Work: a reform in midstream (ADAPT 2012 @
University Press) access at http://www.bollettinoadapt.it/acm-on-line/Home.html
________________________________________________________________
26th AIRAANZ Conference 2012: Re-Organising Work, Association of Industrial Relations
Academics of Australia and New Zealand, published papers, ed. Robin Price, Brisbane,
Queensland University of Technology.
________________________________________________________________________
Pocock, B., Skinner, N and Williams, P. (2012) Time Bomb: Work, Rest and Play in
Australia Today, NewSouth Books, may be ordered at
http://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/isbn/9781742232959.htm
_________________________________________________________________________
Baird, M., Hancock, K. and Isaac, J. eds. (2012) Work and Employment Relations: An Era
of Change, The Federation Press, ISBN: 9781862878501 may be ordered at www.federation
press.com.au
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Bamber, G. J., Lansbury, R. D. and Wailes, N. (2012) International and Comparative
Employment Relations: Globalisation and Change, Allen and Unwin, ISBN:
9781742370651 may be ordered from academic@allenandunwin.com
___________________________________________________________________________
European Commission (2012) White Paper on Pensions (16/02/2012). White Paper on
Pensions .
This document is the follow up of the Green Paper 'Towards adequate, sustainable and safe
European pension systems' published in July 2010. Its purpose was to initiate a European
debate on the key challenges concerning pensions, the main question being: how can the EU
best support the efforts of Member States to ensure adequate, sustainable and safe pensions
for their citizens both now and in the future. On the basis of the responses to the open
13
consultation launched by the Green Paper, the White Paper identifies the most important
measures to be taken forward in this respect at the European level.
___________________________________________________________________________
International Labour Review, Vol. 150 (3-4)
Posting of workers, EU enlargement and the globalization of trade in services, by S.
LALANNE
Job attitudes, behaviours and well-being among different types of temporary workers in
Europe and Israel, by E.J. GRACIA, J. RAMOS, J. M. PEIRÓ, A. CABALLER and B.
SORA
Primary school student employment and academic achievement in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador
and Peru, by D. POST
Trade union influence in Spanish manufacturing firms, by C. GARCÍA-OLAVERRI and
E.HUERTA
Special feature: DECENT WORK IN GLOBAL PRODUCTION NETWORKS
Decent work in global production networks: Framing the policy debate, by S.
BARRIENTOS, F. MAYER, J. PICKLES and A. POSTHUMA
Economic and social upgrading in global production networks: A new paradigm for a
changing world, by S. BARRIENTOS, G. GEREFFI and A. ROSSI
Economic and social upgrading in global production networks: Problems of theory and
measurement, by W. MILBERG and D. WINKLER
Further reading
Notes and debates
Documents and communications
Book reviews
___________________________________________________________________________
Japan Labor Review, Vol. 9 (1) Winter 2012
Special Edition: ‘Labor Relations in Japan’
Access at http://www.jil.go.jp/english/JLR.htm
14
Introduction
Articles
Japan's Labor Unions: Past, Present, Future
Unionization of Non-Regular Workers by Enterprise Unions
The Functions and Limits of Enterprise Unions in Individual Labor Disputes
The Current Status and Significance of General Unions: Concerning the Resolution of
Individual Labor Disputes General Unions and Community Unions, and Japanese
Labor Law
Article Based on Research Report
The Scheduled Increase in the Pension Age a JILPT Research Activities and the Effect
of Job Security Measures for the Elderly in Supporting Their Subsistence
JILPT Research Activities
________________________________________________________________
Calls for Papers, Conferences, Seminars, Symposia, Meetings
International Labour Review
Full details at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/revue/m_scripts/index.htm
Unsolicited articles are welcome and are considered on their merits and in the light of the
overall programme of the Review. All manuscripts are subject to scholarly review and, if
accepted, to editorial revision.
Manuscripts may be submitted as email attachments in English, French or Spanish (if
translated from another language the original should also be provided). They should be
between 7 000 and 10 000 words, with a 100-word abstract.
Manuscripts should be addressed to: the Managing Editor, International Labour Review,
International Labour Office, 4, route des Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. Tel.
+41-22 799 79 03; Fax +41-22 799 61 17; Email: revue@ilo.org.
__________________________________________________________________________
International: The E-Journal of International and Comparative Labour Studies
15
The following is a list of indicative, but far from exhaustive, topic areas: - collective and
individual labour issues; - equality and discrimination; - school-to-work transition; industrial relations; - vulnerable workers and precarious working; - employment productivity;
- role of skills and human capital in a global context – immigration issues, labour law. For
more information http://www.adaptbulletin.eu/docs/e_journal_cfp.pdf
___________________________________________________________________________
Korea: The Korean Journal of Industrial Relations
The Korean Journal of Industrial Relations (KJIR) is published by the Korean Industrial
Relations Association. There is no due date for the submission. We receive articles around a
year. Web/URL:
http://www.lera.uiuc.edu/news/Calls/2007/Korean%20Journal%20of%20Industrial%20Relati
ons.htm
__________________________________________________________________________
UK: The Crisis, Austerity and Labour Market Change
May 18th - 12.30-2pm, Working Lives Research Institute Seminar, WLRI, London Met
University, 31 Jewry St, Room JS3-74, EC3N 2EY. By Dr Kevin Doogan, Jean Monnet
Professor of European Policy Studies, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol.
___________________________________________________________________________
UK: Transnational Industrial Relations and the Search for Alternatives, Greenwich
University, 31 May 2012 to 1 June 2012. For abstract submission or more information,
contact Lefteris Kretsos (l.kretsos@greenwich.ac.uk).
___________________________________________________________________________
Ireland: IFSAM 2012 Conference, Limerick, Ireland, 26-29 June 2012. Website:
http://www.ifsam.org/
___________________________________________________________________________
UK: BUIRA 2012 Conference, University of Bradford, 28 - 30 June 2012. Calls for
abstracts have now closed, however if you have submitted an abstract to the conference
please check that your submission was successfully submitted. As this is the first time we
have used this electronic submission system you may not have been aware that you should
16
have received this confirmation. If you did not receive confirmation of your submission
please contact k.gilbert@strath.ac.uk attaching a copy of your abstract.
___________________________________________________________________________
USA: ILERA Study Group (Public Sector)
Leading Public Service Organisations in Challenging Times, July 2-5, 2012 in Philadelphia at
ILERA.
Governments are looking towards their senior civil servants and top managers to implement
challenging programmes of organisational and workforce restructuring and routinely include
leadership as a core competency for top level positions. The study group is interested in
papers that address a number of issues in relation to leadership in a period of restructuring,
not only relating to central government but also in other public services such as health,
education and municipal services. Abstracts and papers are invited on this topic. We are also
interested in receiving shorter papers from policy makers and practitioners that contributes to
our understanding of current developments. The abstract should be around 500-750 words
and submitted to Stephen.bach@kcl.ac.uk or lorenzo.bordogna@unimi.it no later than 16th
March 2012. Acceptance decisions will be communicated by the 30 March 2012. Accepted
papers should be submitted by 15 June 2012.Full call for papers:
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/iira/study/publicsector.htm
___________________________________________________________________________
USA: ILERA Study Group #9 (Pay Systems)
If you are interested in making a presentation at Study Group #9 the 16th World Congress of
the ILERA in Philadelphia, please send an email with the title and brief description to
daniel.j.b.mitchell@anderson.ucla.edu.
__________________________________________________________________
USA: ILERA Study Group (Research Methods)
The study group will meet during, USA, 2–5 July 2012 (http://www.ilera2012.com/). The
focus of the meeting will be on Partisanship in Industrial Relations Research. The aim of
this study group is to examine issues around the topic of whether IR can be truly objective.
Please send abstracts or papers as a Word or 'rtf' file by e-mail to both coordinators: Professor
Keith Whitfield whitfield@cardiff.ac.uk and Professor Ralph Darlington
17
r.r.darlington@salford.ac.uk no later than Friday 30 March 2012. Acceptance decisions will
be communicated by 15 April 2012. Accepted papers should be submitted by 15 June 2012.
__________________________________________________________________________
USA: ILERA - Global Meeting of Deans/Directors/Chairs of Programs in Industrial
Relations and Human Resources
In conjunction with the 16th World Congress of ILERA in Philadelphia during 2-5 July,
2012, a global meeting of Deans/Directors/Chairs of university and college programs in
industrial relations and human resources will be held from 4 pm - 5:30 pm on Monday, July
2, 2012. To participate in this forum, please send an email request to: ac@ilera2012.com
Please include name, address, name of the university, email, phone and some information on
the programs at your university like name of the degree and annual enrollment.
___________________________________________________________________________
USA: 16th World Congress of ILERA, 16th World Congress of ILERA, 2-5 July 2012,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Website: http://www.ilera2012.com/
Register at: http://www.ilera2012.com/Registration/default.asp
Reserve accommodation at:
http://www.ilera2012.com/Accommodations/default.asp
Review program at:
http://www.ilera2012.com/Congress-Program/default.asp
Arrange travel at:
http://www.ilera2012.com/General-Information/default.asp
__________________________________________________________________________________
Australia: Special Issue of Labour and Industry
Governance and CSR: Implications for Labour.
Papers are due to s.h.young@latrobe.edu.au by end of August 2012
___________________________________________________________________________
Portugal: IREC 2012: Challenges for Public and Private Sector Industrial Relations and
Unions in times of Crisis and Austerity
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5-7 September 2012, CIES-ISCTE/IUL, Lisbon, Portugal
This year the conference is organised jointly with the Research Network on Work,
Employment and Industrial Relations of the European Sociological Association, but
participants are not required to be ESA members.
The conference will consist of plenary and workshop sessions focusing on the impacts of
crisis and austerity upon the institutions and actors of European industrial relations systems in
both the private and public sectors, and the methodological issues involved in their study.
• What is the concrete impact of the crisis upon industrial relations systems in Europe, and
what are the comparative implications of these transformations?
• What are the differential impacts of austerity upon private and public sector employment
and labour relations?
• To what extent have the crises accelerated transformations already in progress in European
industrial relations, and to what extent have they spawned qualitatively new challenges?
• Have the crises accentuated the complex trends towards both convergence and divergence
across European industrial relations?
• How are unions and employers’ associations in the private and public sectors facing up to
the varied challenges of current transformations?
• Are new forms of social movements and collective action around labour issues emerging in
these crises? If so, which; and what, if any, are the emergent relationships between old and
new forms of collective action?
Papers may be theoretical and/or empirical (both qualitative and quantitative). As in previous
conferences, cross-national papers are especially welcome. The conference will be hosted at
ISCTE-Lisbon University Institute by the Centro de Investigação e de Estudos em
Sociologia.
Deadlines:
April 30 submission of abstract proposals ; May 30 acceptance of papers; June 15 early bird
registration; August 1 submission of papers
For full details, visit the conference web site at
http://conferencias.cies.iscte.pt/index.php/IREC2012/irec2012
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UK: 2nd International Conference on Vulnerable Workers and Precarious Work in a
Changing World
Date:
10-11 September 2012
Venue:
Middlesex University Business School, Hendon campus, The
Burroughs, NW4 4BT, London.
___________________________________________________________________________
Canada: International Interuniversity Research Centre on Globalization and Work
(CRIMT) Conference, on Union Futures: Innovations, Transformations, Strategies,
October 25th to 27th 2012, HEC Montréal, Montral, Canada.
Original academic and actor contributions are invited on one or more of the following
themes. 1. What do Unions Stand For? 2. Who do Unions Represent? 3. What are the
Dynamics of Union Activism? 4. What are the Strategies for Union Power? 5. How do
Unions Innovate? For details on each of these themes and on how to submit proposals, see
the full call for papers at http://www.crimt.org/UnionFutures.html . The deadline for
submission of proposals is April 30th, 2012. They must be sent to Nicolas Roby, CRIMT
Scientific Coordinator at nicolas.roby at umontreal.ca.
__________________________________________________________________________
Australia: Pacific Employment Relations Association Conference, Hervey Bay,
Queensland, Australia, 19 to 21 November, 2012. Information at http://www.pera.net.au.
Theme: People, Management and Employment Issues: Sustainability, Inclusiveness and
Knowledge Management. Full paper 13 September 2012.
___________________________________________________________________________
Australia: 27th AIRAANZ Conference, 6-8 February 2013, Freemantle, Western Australia.
Information from www.conferencewa.com.au/airaanz2013; email trish.todd@uwa.edu.au;
email al.rainnie@gbs.curtin.edu.au . Submission deadline for refereed papers 21 September
2012.
__________________________________________________________________________
Australia: 8th Asian Regional Congress of the International Labour and Employment
Relations Association, 9-12 April 2013, Melbourne, Victoria.
Theme: Work and Employment in the Asian Century
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The program will be organised around four track themes:
1. The changing contours of employment relations and labour market regulation.
2. Human Resource management – trends and challenges.
3. The future of worker voice and representation, and
4. Globalisation, corporate social responsibility and decent work.
Call for Abstracts Open, February 2012; Deadline for Special Interest Symposia,
27 July 2012; Deadline for Abstract Submissions, 28 September 2012; Registration Open
11 April 2012.
For more details about the program, please click here:
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Netherlands: 10th European Conference of the International Labour and
Employment Relations Association, Imagining new employment relations and new
solidarities. Amsterdam, 20 - 22 June 2013
Call for Papers and Submission of Abstracts
Abstracts must be 350-500 words in length and can be submitted on the conference website
as of 1 May 2012.
Over the last two decades employment and labour relations in Europe have undergone
important changes. Manufacturing employment is decreasing and various types of service
employment are rising, together with female participation levels. The standard employment
relationship is losing its dominant position with the growing use of flexible and part-time
contracts, temporary agency work and (dependent) self-employment. Segmentation between
stronger and weaker groups is increasing. Social solidarity is under pressure in many
countries as a consequence of the increasing diversity of populations and of the labour force.
Collective bargaining is decentralizing but there are also attempts to transnationalise
bargaining within multinationals or within certain sectors. Trade unions are slowly losing
membership and power but worker involvement in social innovation is wanted more than
ever. The role of the EU is getting more important and new forms of governance are being
experimented with. Change is accelerating as a result of the crisis and austerity is leading to
profound restructuring of the public sector, affecting employment conditions and service
provision.
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Within this context, we want to foster a reflection and debate on the future of employment
relations and new forms of solidarity. Such questions include: What can or should
employment relations look like in the future? What is the future of the public sector? Can or
should growing segmentation and polarization be countered? What new types of governance
support collaborative efforts to tackle today’s collective problems? What new types of
solidarity can we foresee between group of workers or workers in different countries? What
new types of cooperation or conflict can we foresee between workers and employers?
Papers presented at the Conference will be organised around five broad tracks (for more
detailed descriptions, see conference website):
Track 1: Industrial relations actors in a changing labour market. Track 2: Europeanisation of
social and employment policies. Track 3: Public sector restructuring: consequences for
employment relations and public services. Track 4: New forms of regulation and governance.
Track 5: HRM and Social Innovation.
Abstract submission deadline: 31 December 2012. Acceptance decisions will be
communicated by: 1 February 2013.
Apart from regular sessions with paper presentations there will be interactive sessions with
short presentations.
Symposia
We welcome proposals for special symposia. Symposia are self-contained sessions of one
and a half hour. They can be on the general theme of the conference or on one of the track
themes. The convenor of a symposium is requested to submit a proposal of about 1000
words, including the theme of the symposium, the details of speakers and the abstracts of
their papers. Proposals can be submitted at the Conference website as of 1 May 2013.
Conference Venue
The conference will be held at the historic Oudemanhuispoort building of the University of
Amsterdam, located in the city centre.
The 10th European ILERA Conference is organized by a consortium of universities in the
Netherlands which are home to research groups studying labour and employment relations, in
collaboration with the Dutch Labour and Employment Relations Association (DLERA).
Contact
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For more information please visit: www.ilera-europe2013.eu as of 1 May 2012 or contact the
conference management at: Amsterdam Institute for Advanced labour Studies (AIAS),
Plantage Muidergracht 12, 1018 TV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.info@ilera-europe2013.eu
www.ilera-europe2013.eu
___________________________________________________________________________
Australia: Fifth International Community, Work and Family Conference, The fifth
international Community, Work and Family Conference will take place at the University of
Sydney, 15-17 July 2013. Information at www.CWF2013.aifs.gov.au
___________________________________________________________________________
Other Sites
ILO: The International Institute for Labour Studies (IILS) was established by the
International Labour Organization in 1960 as a centre for advanced studies in the social and
labour fields. It produces the annual "World of Work Report". The International Labour
Review, a global multidisciplinary journal of labour and social policies is also published
under the aegis of the IILS.
http://www.ilo.org/
___________________________________________________________________________
UK: Working Lives Research Institute
Subscribe to the WLRI mailing list for regular news updates, including our regular WLRI
electronic-newsletter, and subscribe to our WLRI press release mailing list.
___________________________________________________________________________
UK: Pay Fair campaign media summary (May 2012)
TUC at http://www.tuc.org.uk/industrial/tuc-21036-f0.cfm
Since the Government announced its intention to consider regional and localised public sector
pay arrangements, there has been extensive coverage of its implications across the UK in
local and national press.
___________________________________________________________________________
Obituries
Ireland: Sheila Conroy
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Congress General Secretary David Begg has offered his condolences on the death of Sheila
Conroy and paid tribute to her 'lifelong service and dedication to the labour movement."
Mr Begg said: "It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Sheila Conroy,
someone who dedicated her life to the advancement of working people.
“Sheila made an enormous contribution to Irish society and to the trade union movement,
championing the cause of women and greater equality.
“Her sense of dedication was plain to see in the key role she played in the People's College
acting as an advocate for the education and betterment of working people.
“She will be sadly missed by all who knew and admired her tireless commitment," Mr Begg
said. 12 May 2012
__________________________________________________________________________
Nigeria: Paschal Myeleri Bafyau
It is with shock and deep sorrow but with total submission to the Almighty, that the Nigeria
Labour Congress (NLC) announces the passing away of its former President, Comrade
Paschal Myeleri Bafyau.
Comrade Bafyau who passed on at 11.30pm on Tuesday 15th May, 2012 was the Congress
President from 1988 to 1994. The five years he was NLC President were the turbulent years
of the Generals Babangida and Abacha regimes. Comrade Bafyau had been elected NLC
President in December 1988 after a ten-month seizure of the Congress by the Babangida
regime. His Presidency ended in 1994 when the Military under General Abacha again seized
the Congress.
Despite this turbulent period in the country's history, which included the June 12 crises,
Comrade Bafyau made remarkable achievements as NLC President. These include the
building of the 12-Storey Labour House in Abuja, establishment of the Labour Transport
Service (now Labour City Transport), the founding of the now defunct Labour Bank
(LACON), and the establishment of the old Labour Party in 1989.
But perhaps what he would be best remembered for was the strive for a strong and united
Labour Movement. This, saw in 1988, the uniting of the two factions of the NLC, the
Democrats and Progressives, which were engaged in a fratricidal ideological struggle.
Bafyau was Board Chairman of the National Mass Education Commission from 2009,
member of the 1986 Political Bureau and the 1987 Constituent Assembly. He was also a
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Board member of the Urban Development Bank (UDBN), the Nigeria Agricultural Land
Development Authority (NALDA), and the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
Comrade Bafyau dedicated his adult life to the Labour Movement beginning from 1969 when
at 22, he was elected the North East Branch Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Railwaymen
(NUR), and rose to be the NUR General Secretary in 1982.
Throughout his life, Comrade Bafyau lived in the best traditions of the Labour Movement. He
worked hard for sustainable democracy in the country. He also shunned material things;
despite the height he attained in labour and politics, as at the time of his death, he lived in a
rented house in Abuja.
His death is a big blow to the Labour Movement and the democratic process in the country.
Adieu, Comrade Paschal Bafyau!
Abdulwahed Omar
President
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