New book documents abuses of freedom of association

National study, book launch and campaign for reform planned March 24 in Ottawa Updated: changing time of news conference Ottawa - Two of Canada's largest unions will be releasing a major study on March 24 documenting how the basic human right to freedom of association has been abused and eroded by Canadian governments at all levels over the past two decades. Published in a book called Collective Bargaining in Canada: Human Right or Canadian Illusion, the study also shows that abuses are rampant in the agriculture industry and among private sector employers like Wal-Mart. The book is co-published by the 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), and the 230,000-member United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada.) The findings of the national study will be jointly released by James Clancy, NUPGE national president, and Michael J. Fraser, UFCW Canada's national director, at a news conference on March 24, at 12:30 p.m. in the Centre Block on Parliament Hill. Also attending will be Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), to add his support on behalf of Canada's 3-million member central labour body.
	News Conference 12:30 p.m., Thursday March 24, 2005 Room 130S, Centre Block Parliament Hill Ottawa
	Book launch & Panel Discussion  7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Thursday March 24, 2005 National Press Club 165 Sparks St. Ottawa

In releasing the study, the unions will announce a national labour movement campaign to restore the right to freedom of association. The campaign will include a national lobbying effort to persuade legislators that the time has come to change direction and make progressive labour law reform a top priority.

On the same day, there will also be a formal book launch and panel discussion (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.) at the National Press Club of Canada (Nellie McClung Library on the Second Floor) at 165 Sparks St. in Ottawa.

Along with the union leaders, participants will include Elaine Bernard, executive director of the Labour and Worklife Program at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., and Roy J. Adams, emeritus professor of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University in Hamilton.

More information:
• Mike Luff, NUPGE, (613) 228-9800, mluff@nupge.ca
• Bob Linton, UFCW Canada, (416) 675-1104, blinton@UFCW.ca
• Jeff Atkinson, CLC, (613) 521-3400 ext. 425, jatkinson@clc-ctc.ca

Web posted by NUPGE: 17 March 2005

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