Breaking Barriers Linking Struggles video, Labour Council video on the anti-racist and equity work within the labour movement in greater Toronto. ABORIGINAL/WORKERS OF COLOUR CONFERENCE The ninth annual Labour Council Aboriginal/Workers of Colour Conference took place last Saturday, focusing on the new political reality of Rob Ford's Toronto. Keynote speaker Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam outlined a number of challenges facing racialized communities as well as the push to de-fund Toronto's massive Pride Parade. Workshops dealt with the impact of the expected service cuts and privatization, as well as exploring the difficult question of why workers give their votes to right wing candidates like Ford. The 2011 Bromley Armstrong Award was presented to Janice Gairey, Human Rights Director of the OFL and President of the Ontario chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. A special recognition award was also given to Barry Stevens who has just retired as President of the IBEW Local 353. He helped that local break new ground on equity, including partnering with the Chinese Canadian community to provide qualification training for electricians to work in construction. For photos of the day check www.labourcouncil.ca 8th ANNUAL WORKERS OF COLOUR CONFERENCE - Workers Connect Globally Nearly 200 people attended the 8th annual Aboriginal / Workers of Colour conference on Saturday May 8th, 2010 in Toronto. Under the slogan of Workers in a Global Economy the conference explored how globalization impacts migration and precarious workers, as well as ways workers can organize for economic and racial justice. The conference ' s plenary panel was led by Deena Ladd from the Workers Action Centre, Chris Ramsaroop from Justicia, Aboriginal union leader Terri Monture, and Joel Charles, a migrant farm worker who has worked in Canada for 19 years. In keeping with the conference ' s theme, long-time leader in the fight to win rights for migrant live-in caregivers, Pura Velasco, was awarded the Bromley L. Armstrong Award. A recognition award was awarded posthumously to labour activist and Aboriginal leader, Tim Brown (WUT-TUN-NEE), who passed away on April 25, 2010. 7th Annual Workers of Colour/Aboriginal Workers Conference THE ECONOMIC RECESSION THROUGH THE LENS OF EQUITY: Organizing for Economic and Racial Justice The 7th Aboriginal/Workers of Colour Conference proved to be an inspirational and dynamic day for nearly 250 labour and community activists on May 2nd. Starting with the presentation of the Bromley Armstrong Award to Sister Marie Clarke-Walker, and ending with the unique “Fightback Theatre”, the entire day was devoted to looking at the economic recession through the lens of equity. For pictures of the day click here Conference