Freedom of Association in the Networked Workplace

There is a workplace taking place in Brussels on 26 January that will look at issues important to understanding the effects of new technologies on workplace organisation and trade unions. There is a particular focus on the surveillance of workers, and what this means for union organising.

Details below:

Freedom of Association in the Networked Workplace: discussion workshop

Thursday 26th January 2012
1pm – 7pm
Rue Gallait – Gallaitstraat 80
1030 Brussels
Belgium

Participation is free, but places may be limited. Please contact us to reserve a place.

Contact for more information or enquiries.

Website

Ongoing developments in IT and social media are changing the boundaries and structure of the workplace, causing a blurring of distinctions between private and work-related activities. This is raising new issues in regard to the extent of surveillance applied by businesses towards their employees. Attempts to control workplace communications are however conflicting with a number of basic employment rights. This workshop seeks to address these issues with a specific focus on the potential impacts of emerging surveillance cultures on the rights of Freedom of Association in the networked workplace. It aims to bring together a range of researchers and union activists with a view to building a more substantial network for investigation, analysis and intervention.

The workshop follows from a panel presented at the CPDP (Computers, Privacy and Data Protection) conference 2012 and will expand upon and explore issues raised at that panel in greater depth. A summary of the panel discussion will be presented as part of the workshop and attendance at CPDP is not essential to participation.

Participants include: Gabriella Alberti, Queen Mary University of London, researching migrant workers organising and social movement unionism; Kirstie Ball, Open University and Surveillance Studies Network; Leigh French, Variant magazine and Strickland Distribution; Christian Fuchs, Uppsala University, researching the political economy of social media and its development as a new workplace; Seda Guerses, K.
U. Leuven, researching on workplace surveillance and online social networks; Dave Hollis, NetzwerkIT, developing online systems for workplace activists; Owen J. Logan, University of Aberdeen and Flammable Societies network; Tonia Novitz, University of Bristol, research on Freedom of Association and workers’ rights; Simon Yuill, Strickland Distribution, researching software culture and politics.

The workshop will take the format of short presentations and facilitated discussion. Open slots are available for proposed presentations or outlines of existing projects and organisations. Please contact us if you are interested in speaking.

The workshop is organized by The Strickland Distribution and hosted by Constant VZW.