Toronto (27 March 2013) – More than 160 people gathered in Toronto to discuss the critical role labour rights and unions play in reducing income inequality, advancing democracy, and promoting the social well-being of all Canadians.
The three-day conference, "Labour Rights and Their Impact on Democracy, Economic Equality and Social Justice," was organized by the Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights (CFLR) and sponsored by the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada) and the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF).
The keynote speaker was acclaimed U.K. author and social epidemiologistRichard Wilkinson. He is Professor Emeritus of Social Epidemiology at University of Nottingham, Honorary Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London and Visiting Professor at University of York. He is the co-author of the award-winning book, The Spirit Level.
The conference foundation paper entitled Union Matters is a comprehensive report reviewing international literature showing the critical role unions play in reducing income inequality. It is an excellent resource for those doing research on the societal-wide value of unions.