For immediate release October 15, 2012 Vancouver, BC—The Kalayaan Centre, its allies and the Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians (CPFC) call on all to take action and participate in a province-wide workers’ conference titled “Workers’ Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization” on November 10th at Simon Fraser University’s Harbour Centre. Originally held in Toronto in August, the Kalayaan Centre is now hosting the conference in Vancouver to continue raising workers’ political consciousness necessary to critically understand and combat the all-out attacks of the neoliberal agenda of globalization on all workers in Canada and beyond. Throughout the year, we have witnessed popular movements in all corners of the world in resistance to capitalism’s onslaughts on the majority of people worldwide. Popular movements such as the Arab Spring, the continuing protests in Europe against the austerity agenda and ongoing social movements in the Global South signify the increasing discontent of people against policies and practices that prioritize profit over people. The victory of the Quebec student strike here in Canada reminds us of the possibilities of social change if we are united [...]

Conference announcement October 3, 2012 Vancouver, BC—The Kalayaan Centre, its member organizations, along with the Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians (CPFC), welcome and invite all to participate in a province-wide conference “Workers’ Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization,” to be held on the 10th of November at Simon Fraser University’s Harbour Centre in Downtown Vancouver. Co-sponsored by other groups such as the Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Department of Simon Fraser University, this significant gathering aims to put forth a critical and dynamic dialogue amongst progressive organizations, groups and individuals about our struggles and conditions as workers under the present global crisis of capitalism. The conference will welcome all to join the over decades-long history and militancy of the educating, organizing and mobilizing work of the Kalayaan Centre by continuing to build a progressive movement for social change. Now more than ever, workers’ lives are becoming more insecure and unstable as the neoliberal agenda of globalization intensifies its attacks on workers’ employment, wages, standard of living and overall conditions. The conference hopes to concretely contextualize neoliberalism’s ongoing assaults against the [...]

The Centre for Women and Trans People at the University of Toronto presents: A Discussion Circle on Workers' Disablement and Anti-imperialist Organizing Thursday August 16, 5-7pm The Centre for Women and Trans People 536 Spadina Avenue With Pete Pinlac, Chairperson of MAKABAYAN/Workers for People's Liberation, Philippines Rachel Gorman, Assistant Professor, York U. Critical Disability Studies ASL Interpretation available Refreshments will be served Wheelchair accessible via Bancroft Avenue For more information, contact: Kim Abis cwtp@utoronto.ca Centre for Women and Trans People of the University of Toronto In partnership with Philippines Women Centre of Ontario Graduate Program in Critical Disability Studies at York University Transit directions and map available at http://womenscentre.sa.utoronto.ca/contact/

Transnational Narratives of Disability Speaker Series presents: Disabled Workers Organize! Life and death at the Hanjin shipyard Wednesday August 15, 5-7pm Vari Hall Room 1156 York University Featuring Pete Pinlac, Chairperson, MAKABAYAN/Workers for People's Liberation, Philippines Rachel Gorman, Assistant Professor, Critical Disability Studies, York University Please join us for a panel presentation and discussion of: Neoliberal policy and workplace disablement The role of disabled workers in labour union organizing Representations of disability in anti-imperialist campaigns Disability identity and possibilities for transnational solidarity For more information, contact: Rachel Gorman gorman@yorku.ca and see http://hanjinworkers.wordpress.com/ Graduate Program in Critical Disability Studies, York University In partnership with Philippine Women Centre of Ontario The Centre for Women and Trans People at University of Toronto Transit directions and campus map available at http://www.yorku.ca/web/futurestudents/map/keele_map.html This event is wheelchair accessible

For immediate release August 9, 2012 Toronto, ON—Progressive individuals and organizations are set to bring out the integral experiences of workers in Canada for the upcoming two-day conference, “Workers’ Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization.” The conference will highlight the importance of transnational community organizing in exposing and countering neoliberal policies that affect all workers, especially marginalized communities. The two-day nationwide conference is set to highlight the historic role of the working class in building a movement for social change. They will advance the role of marginalized communities as central to building a movement for social change. Tackling the issues faced by transnational workers, organizers Reuben Saramugam and Qara Clemente from the Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance (UKPC/FCYA-ON) and the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario, along with Tania Das Gupta, professor of Equity Studies and Sociology at York University, and Evelyn Encalada from Justicia for Migrant Workers, will share their research and their experiences as workers and community organizers. Their presentations will be part of three other panels for the weekend conference taking place on August 11 and 12 at United [...]

For Immediate Release August 6, 2012 Toronto, ON--Preparations are underway for the upcoming national conference entitled “Workers’ Struggles amidst Neoliberal Globalization” where Pete Pinlac, chairperson of leading Philippine labour union central, MAKABAYAN/ Workers for Peoples’ Liberation and internationally-acclaimed novelist Ninotchka Rosca of AF3IRM (Association of Filipinas, Feminist, Fighting Imperialism, Re-feudalization, and Marginalization) are set to speak.  They will bring forth their knowledge and experience in organizing, and highlighting the necessity to connect local and international struggles faced by working peoples worldwide. The conference will bring together progressive academics, community organizers, and other members of different communities across Canada to deepen local and global understanding of the economic crisis under neoliberal globalization. “Workers’ Struggles amidst Neoliberal Globalization” will be held at the United Steel Workers’ Hall of Toronto, on August 11th and 12th 2012. The crisis of neoliberal globalization is now apparent both within countries of the Global North and the Global South. Aggressive neo-liberal policies and Structural Adjustment Programs have left countries of the Global South, such as the Philippines, underdeveloped, agrarian, and without national industries to absorb [...]

Philippine Women Centre of Ontario with the support of Dr. Roland Sintos Coloma, Sociology and Equity Studies at OISE proudly present: BOOK LAUNCH: ASIAN IMMIGRANTS IN “TWO CANADAS:” RACIALIZATION, MARGINALIZATION AND DEREGULATED WORK Latest publication by Dr. Habiba Zaman, Simon Fraser University Friday, August 10th, 2012, 5:00 - 7:00 PM OISE Room 5230 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education 252 Bloor St. West (above St. George subway station) Venue is wheelchair accessible Canada is experiencing a major demographic shift, with two-thirds of the population in major cities predicted to belong to racialized groups, particularly Asian newcomers, by 2031. But how are these immigrants faring in this new Canada? Employing the International Labour Organization’s concept of “basic security” and the voices of immigrants themselves, Asian Immigrants in “Two Canadas” demonstrates that their security–such as work, job, employment and voice and representation–has been compromised in multi-dimensional ways. Changes to immigration policy and the neoliberal restructuring of the Employment Standards Act in British Columbia have led to further marginalization within the labour market and the creation of deregulated and hazardous workplaces–resulting [...]

Roots, Rhymes & Resistance: Laying Tracks Against Cutbacks, a set on Flickr. For immediate release August 1, 2012 Toronto, ON—Filipino Canadian youth once again prove that their spirit of cultural resistance is alive and thriving through the successful cultural fundraiser show, “Roots, Rhymes and Resistance: Laying Tracks Against Cutbacks” (RRR), presented at the University of Toronto’s Hart House Music Hall on July 28th to a crowd of over 140 participants. Organized by Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance–Ontario (UKPC/FCYA–ON), RRR laid a creative platform for youth, women, and workers to voice their struggles against the current storm of cutbacks and austerity measures set forth by neoliberal policies in Canada. The event showcased many performers who shared their music, dance, and theatre talents. They portrayed the commitment of Filipino Canadian youth to depicting our histories and current realities–particularly our struggle for genuine settlement and integration in Canada. Especially present was the message of resistance against the impacts of cutbacks and neoliberal policies that continue to marginalize the community. “RRR provided a platform for many talents to [...]

For immediate release July 28, 2012 Toronto, ON—This year’s “Roots Rhymes and Resistance: Laying Tracks Against Cutbacks” cultural fundraising show will mark the final and most important phase of putting education into practice as this summer’s critical and popular education series “Balik Ugat Balik Komunidad (Back to the Roots, Back to the Community) (BUBK)” reaches its end. The stage is finally set for this year’s Roots, Rhymes and Resistance (RRR) to continue and heighten the community’s progressive culture. Titled “Laying Tracks against Cutbacks,” this year’s RRR will showcase the Filipino Canadian community’s dynamism through performances while tackling the struggles we face under the neoliberal agenda of globalization. Organized by UKPC/FCYA-ON (Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance—Ontario), RRR will be an exciting evening infused with assertions and expressions of resistance. The concert will be held on July 28th at the University of Toronto’s Hart House in the Music Room from 7:00 PM to 9:00PM. This 15th annual concert will include a lineup of young artists experienced in musical fields, as well as youth ready to embrace [...]

For immediate release July 23, 2012 Toronto, ON—A nationwide conference invites everyone to participate in a weekend gathering that will share critical perspectives on the current situation of workers under the current crisis of capitalism. Groundbreaking in content and analysis, the conference “Workers Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization” will highlight the role of workers as central to the building of a truly progressive movement to confront this crisis. Organized by the Counterspin secretariat (Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians and allies), the weekend conference will take place on the 11th and 12th of August at the United Steel Workers Hall in Toronto. Panel speakers for this historic conference, coming from the United States, the Philippines and Canada will include human rights activists, community organizers, labour leaders and progressive academics, all of whom will speak about the struggles and resistance of workers against neoliberalism’s all-out attacks on their lives and conditions. Providing the overall picture of where we stand under the present crisis of neoliberal globalization, speakers in “The Global and Canadian situation” will provide an update of the current global [...]