Leading South African trade unionist Tony Ehrenreich is the keynote speaker at Cornell University's Union Days 2005. "Unions in the Global Economy" is the overall theme of the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) events, April 6-8, in Ives Hall.

Ehrenreich's talk is Wednesday, April 6, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in 305 Ives Hall. Along with other Union Days events, it is free and open to the public.

Ehrenreich is the regional secretary, Western Cape, of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the coalition of unions that helped defeat apartheid. COSATU was launched in December 1985 after four years of unity talks between South African unions opposed to apartheid. Dedicated to non-racialism and worker control, the group currently represents more than 2 million workers and is among the fastest growing trade union movements in the world.

"We want to highlight ways the labor movement is making connections across borders and show the strong role trade unions can play in bringing about political, social and economic justice," said ILR Associate Professor Risa Lieberwitz, head of Union Days planning.

Also as part of Union Days, there will be a panel discussion on international union campaigns, "Unions in the Global Economy," Thursday, April 7, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., in the Doherty Lounge, 280 Ives Hall. Panelists include Ehrenreich; Eric Dirnbach, UNITE HERE; Neil Falcone, United Auto Workers; and Jim Blau, Service Employees International Union.

On the morning of April 7, students interested in careers in the labor movement can talk with a range of potential employers, including representatives of nonprofit organizations, at the Social Justice Career Fair in the lobbies of Ives Hall.

In a related event on Friday, April 8, Cornell Cinema will show "The Take," at 7 p.m. in Willard Straight Theatre. The film is about autoworkers in Buenos Aires who occupy bankrupt businesses and create jobs. There will be a ticket charge for the film, which will be followed by a discussion led by ILR faculty members Maria L. Cook and Mark S. Anner.

For more information on Union Days, contact Lieberwitz at (607) 255-3289 or Rhonda Clouse at (607) 255-6693.