June 25th, 2015, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
The Murphy Institute
25 West 43rd Street, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Walmart’s unique position as the world’s largest private employer should come with a responsibility to ensure workers’ voices are heard and their freedom of association respected. Walmart’s refusal to accept this responsibility has led workers to organize across national lines to hold the company accountable for its labor practices. Representatives of unions and other worker organizations from India, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the US will discuss how to strengthen the ability of workers to improve conditions at the world’s largest supply chain.
Introductory Remarks: Stephanie Luce, The Murphy Institute; Stephanie Ehmsen, Rosa Luxembourg Stiftung – NYC Office
Overview: “Walmart’s Impact on the Global Supply Chain”
Ashim Roy, Asia Floor Wage Alliance
Moderated Discussion: Erica Smiley, Jobs with Justice
Panelists:
Kalpona Akter, Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity
Sunrith Ham, Cambodian Labor Education Center
Sheheryar Kaoosji, Warehouse Workers Resource Center
Organization United for Respect at Walmart (tbd)
The panel discussion will be led by Duan Yi, who founded the first cooperative law firm in China in 1988 and the pioneering Guangdong Lao Wei Law Firm in Shenzhen in 2005. Lao Wei – which means “uphold workers’ rights” in Chinese – has a specific mission to safeguard workers’ rights. Its lawyers have handled more than 2000 cases involving migrant workers from many parts of China. In recent years, Duan has advised increasing numbers of workers involved in various forms of collective negotiations with employers and has emerged as a key advocate of collective bargaining in China. He has represented Walmart workers in China in their grievances with the company. In addition to practicing law, Duan is a Research Fellow with the Institute of Labour and Social Security at Wuhan University and an adjunct Professor at the Renmin University Law School in Beijing. In 2013, Duan founded an important new “think tank,” the Beijing Mingde Institute for Labor Relations and Employment Research, which has partnered with the CUNY Murphy Institute’s China Program on workshops in China on collective bargaining and collective dispute resolution.
Call to Action:
Annanya Bhattacharjee, Garment Workers Union/Asia Floor Wage Alliance.
Light refreshments will be served.
Click HERE to RSVP