The Pacific Region has announced that the next 5-day Education Seminars will be held in conjunction with the Prairie Region in Gimli, Manitoba from September 18 to 23, 2016. These are Paid Education Leave (PEL) courses so we are limited to twenty (20) participants in total or ten (10) in each class per Region.
The courses being offered are as follows:
1. Advanced Shop Steward
This 5-day course is designed for experienced Shop Stewards. Participants will look at their strengths and areas they want to improve. They will practice face-to-face communications, including dealing with management. They will collectively examine strategies for shop floor mobilization and recruiting new stewards. They will also review grievance investigation skills and Short Term Disability Plan do’s and don’ts. You know your members and they trust you. This course will give you the tools you need to better defend the membership, inform them about Union campaigns and principles, and build solidarity in the workplace.
Consideration for attendance will be limited to members who have completed the Basic Shop Steward course or equivalent.
1. Turtle Island
The Turtle Island course gives an overview of the history of the indigenous people of Turtle Island (North America) as told by Aboriginal workers, who also facilitate it.
Participants will begin the process of understanding the shared struggles of Aboriginal People and Unions. They will deepen their understanding of the general concepts of partnerships and representative workforce. Providing factual information will dispel the current myths and misconceptions that surround Aboriginal People. In a positive environment, participants will examine the barriers to diversity in the workplace. By exploring their personal attitudes towards an inclusive work environment they will build their capacity to become instruments of changes. For solidarity to occur, organized labour and Aboriginal people must work together for both to achieve their goals.
As these courses are offered under the PEL provision of our collective agreement, all costs including loss of wages, transportation and meals will be paid by the National Union.
Interested members should be made aware that all sessions of the courses offered are mandatory and that there will be some evening sessions.
The deadline for registration is 5:00 p.m. on August 8, 2016 and must be received at the Vancouver local office. Please ensure your applications are in by that date, any application received after the deadline will not be considered. All applications must be approved by our Local Executive and the registration form must be signed by our Local President or designate. You can download an application form HERE.