Work Shop: "Weather and Work: How Climate Change Relates to Workers' Rights"/Mëtéo et Travail: Comment le Changement climatique se rapporte aux droits des travailleurs" Osgoode Hall 8 December 2022

 

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I am delighted to pass along information about an upcoming workshop, Weather and Work: How Climate Change Relates to Workers' Rights"/Mëtéo et Travail: Comment le Changement climatique se rapporte aux droits des travailleurs, hosted at Osgoode Hall 8 December 2022 and presented by ILA-Canada  in partnership with the Nathanson Centre at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University.  Great thanks as well to VanishaSukdeo for organizing the Workshop.  The format is hybrid and interested individuals are encouraged to register. 

Weather and work: how climate change relates to workers' rights
December 8, 2022, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. EST
Nathanson Centre, Osgoode Hall Law School

The fight against climate change is multifaceted as it involves transcending borders and involves many different stakeholders. Workers who complete their work obligations in the outdoors will be impacted by climate change in a more severe manner as the increase in extreme weather will make dangerous work even more so. The tragic death of a 24-year-old UPS driver from suspected heat stroke [Esteban Chavez Jr., California, June 25, 2022] makes this issue more urgent and dire. Workers are not just facing the usual threats and dangers of outside work but now also face an increased chance of death on the job due to heat and heat-related issues. Workers who work outdoors are not the only ones impacted, as office workers will face the consequences of climate change as well but likely less so. As weather will bring more heat domes, flooding, and wildfires to Canada there must be government action taken that recognizes the unique position workers face in relation to climate change. These issues are not limited by national borders as climate change is an international issue. Women are particularly impacted by these issues and climate refugees tend to be along gender and racial lines. Poverty is another factor in the creation and continuation of climate migration while recognizing that those least able to afford to move are likely the very ones who need to move. New worker protections must be codified into law and extralegal mechanisms before climate change makes work life even more hazardous.

Here is the registration link: https://machformext.osgoode.yorku.ca/machform/view.php?id=247558 

 The Workshop Schedule follows below. 

 

Workshop schedule

10 - 10:30 a.m. Opening Remarks

Konstantia Koutouki (UMontreal)
Vanisha Sukdeo (Osgoode)



10:30 - 11:45 a.m. Environmental Focus

Konstantia Koutouki (UMontreal)
Jason MacLean (UNB Law) (not confirmed)
Asma Atique (Osgoode)
Harpreet Kaur (UNDP) (not confirmed)

11:45 - 12 p.m. BREAK


12 - 1:15 p.m. Panel of practising lawyers (mix of labour & employment and environmental law)

Justine Lindner (Partner, McCarthy Tetrault)
Paula Boutis (Aird & Berlis)
Daria (Dasha) Peregoudova (Aird & Berlis)


1:15 - 2:15 p.m. Lunch

2:15 - 3:30 p.m. Labour and governance
Ravi Malhotra (Ottawa Law)
Larry Cata Backer (Penn State)
PM Vasudev (Ottawa Law)

3:30 Closing remarks