[Fsfe-uk] Freedom of Association in the Networked Workplace

[Rob Myers]

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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:
    http://foa.strickdistro.org/contact/

Website: http://foa.strickdistro.org

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.

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