V. Cooperative Work Program

Over the past two years, an extensive program of trinational cooperative activities has been undertaken by the National Administrative Offices (NAOs) of Canada, Mexico and the United States. These activities began on a trinational basis during the negotiation of the NAFTA, with the purpose of improving the administration of labor laws and promoting greater understanding of each country's laws, policies and practices, and to facilitate the sharing and exchange of information related to labor issues. Article 11 of the NAALC provides the framework for cooperative activities among the three countries.

The 1994 Cooperative Work Program included extensive meetings between labor officials of the three countries; exchange of professional and technical delegations; exchange of information on standards and procedures; joint sponsorship of public conferences and seminars; and specific agreements for sharing technical assistance and training. The 1995 Cooperative Work Program continued along these lines, with staff support of the Secretariat when required. 

A. Occupational Safety and Health 

The United States and Mexico were invited to send observers to the meeting of the Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation - Occupational Safety and Health, which was held in Vancouver on June 5-8, 1995. A representative from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Division of Audit participated in the meeting. 

The purpose of this meeting of senior federal and provincial officials responsible for OSH in Canada, was to exchange information about key OSH issues among Canada's 13 labor jurisdictions and emerging OSH trends and issues. Topics discussed included enforcement, inspections and promoting compliance in occupational safety and health in Canada. 

Canadian OSH Centre Seminar
July 13, 1995
Mexico City, Mexico 

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) organized a Familiarization Seminar in Mexico City. The mandate of the Centre is to promote health and safety in the workplace and to enhance the physical and mental health of working people. The occupational health and safety information services of CCOHS include technical publications, a worldwide electronic information service (CCINFO) of over 50 occupational health and safety databases available on-line or on CD-ROM, an inquiries service, a computerized bulletin board and customized services. 

The Seminar was attended by 25 participants from the United States and Mexico. It included representatives from the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) and the Secretariat for Labor and Social Welfare. 

The purpose of the Seminar was to highlight CCOHS information systems, products and expertise which would be of particular use to researchers, officials and inspectors in the area of health and safety in the three countries. Participants also discussed ways in which this information could reach the workplace and the prospects for CCOHS to work cooperatively with appropriate organizations in Mexico. Some participants indicated their intention to follow-up with further discussions. 

Construction Study Tour
November 7-10, 1995
Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. 

An invitation was extended to Canada and Mexico to participate in a tripartite, trinational information-sharing forum and to conduct a NAFTA Construction Study Tour on safety and health programs in cooperation with the National Safety Congress (NSC) during its 1995 Congress and Exhibition. The NSC hosted its Congress on November 5-10 in Dallas, Texas. 

The NSC is a nonprofit safety and health organization that provides domestic and international education and training services. The Congress is a forum to promote dialogue among technical personnel, professionals and policy makers from government, industry, academia and labor on the use of safety and health best practices in industries such as construction. 

The Construction Study Tour was an OSHA proposed program and a follow-up to the 1994 Trinational Construction Seminar, and was sponsored by the U.S. National Administrative Office in coordination with the NSC. The theme for the study tour was "Moving Forward Toward Promoting a Safe and Healthful Workplace Culture in the Construction Industry." The tour fostered an exchange of best practices on ways to reduce fatalities and injuries occurring at construction work sites. 

B. Employment and Job Training 

Equality in the Workplace
June 21-22, 1995
Mexico City, Mexico 

A "Workshop on Equality Issues in the Workplace" was held on June 21-22, 1995, in Mexico City, under the Employment and Job Training Activities section of the 1995 Cooperative Work Program. 

This tripartite and trinational activity provided an opportunity to exchange information and share experiences on "improving equality conditions in the workplace, with a special focus on women workers." The two-day workshop included a series of presentations and discussions regarding legislation and program initiatives in eliminating discrimination in hiring and promoting (employment equity), pay discrimination (pay equity) and sexual harassment (including human rights, labor standards legislation and legal recourse). The workshop was attended by 24 participants. Union and business representatives complemented the presentations made by government participants. 

In addition, there was a preliminary exploration of issues which could be the basis of follow-up activities in the 1996 Cooperative Work Program. The key themes proposed were: work and family, economic restructuring and its impact on women workers and occupational safety and health. 

This workshop opened avenues for integrating equality questions into other program activities organized under the NAALC, and in the research activities of the Secretariat. 

Labor Law and Freedom of Association
March 27-28, 1995
Washington, DC, U.S.A. 

A government-to-government "Workshop on the Right to Organize and Freedom of Association" was held on March 27-28, 1995, in Washington, D.C., under the Laws/Worker Rights section of the 1995 Cooperative Work Program pursuant to the NAALC. 

This workshop was designed to address issues of industrial relations raised in the first two submissions received by the U.S. NAO. The goal was to commence an open discussion between the countries and provide an opportunity to exchange information on the application and implementation of each country's labor laws in the areas of freedom of association and the right to organize. A small group of experts from each country engaged in a two-day series of presentations and open discussions of labor issues including: (1) organizing of employees and union representation elections; (2) protection against anti-union discrimination; (3) remedies/procedural guarantees; and (4) union democracy issues. 

Labor Law and Freedom of Association
September 20-21, 1995
Washington, DC, U.S.A

A follow-up to the March 1995 "Workshop on the Right to Organize and Freedom of Association" was held on September 20-21, 1995, in Washington, D.C. 

The workshop allowed government experts to further develop their understanding of the information exchanged during the earlier workshop. Discussions focused on: (1) the role of government in the administration and enforcement of labor laws and the establishment of unions, (2) strategies by unions and employers regarding union organizing campaigns, (3) current issues involving labor unions and labor management relations, and (4) the present condition of collective bargaining in the trade area. 

The panelists discussed the general scheme and methods of labor law enforcement within the U.S., Mexico and some of the Canadian provinces, as well as the Canadian federal system. A more comprehensive approach was taken in the discussions of the Mexican enforcement system, which included requirements for registration of unions. 

Additionally, there was a general discussion on how organizing is conducted and its level of success in the three countries. Other key issues and problems in each country were discussed, such as permanent striker replacement, use of employee-employer cooperative committees, and the state of collective bargaining in the three countries. 

Small government-to-government workshops allowed government experts to make specific presentations and academics to provide a more general commentary, as well as the economic backdrop upon which the labor institutions and laws should be considered.