Dialogues
Essential Work, but Disposable Workers?
Saturday, May 1, 6:00-8:00PM
Long before the pandemic hit, essential workers and labour organisers were denouncing the inadequate, if not deplorable, working conditions in their sectors, stemming from a lack of funding, resources and planning, as well as social inequalities arising from systemic racism and gender disparities. A year into the COVID-19 public-health crisis, these problems have been worsened by a neoliberal response that prioritises private interests and profit over the health, safety and wellbeing of frontline workers. This panel brings together workers and organisers from the long-term care, education, temporary and migrant labour sectors to discuss the impact the pandemic has had on them.
Money Moves: 超时工作, A conversation
Thursday May 13, 7:30-9:00PM
Workers are organizing to win better conditions for themselves and their colleagues, but this can only happen if workers feel they have community support. Given the upsurge in anti-Asian racism and the importance of grocery workers in the context of COVID-19, supporting this work is increasingly important. Edward Hon-Sing Wong, the Chair of the Chinese Canadian National Council - Toronto, describes Money Moves as one such show of support; solidarity expressed through a collaborative art performance. Taking up space in grocery stores without permission from the owners, the making of Money Moves was perhaps equally subversive.
Join the makers of the film as well as members of the Chinese Canadian National Council to discuss the filmmaking process and further ways we can support new migrant grocery store workers.
Illustration by Michael DeForge. Originally commissioned by Briarpatch Magazine