The Spring education seminars for the Pacific Region will be held at the Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites, 1763 Comox Street, Vancouver, B. C.(telephone: 604-688-7711). The courses will run Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12, 2015. The following courses are being offered:
BASIC SHOP STEWARD COURSE
Stewards are the backbone of the union. The aim of this course is to provide new stewards with knowledge and confidence. Topics covered include: the roles of the steward, tips for dealing with management and speaking with members, the steward as organizer/mobilizer, how to investigate and file a grievance, and key provisions of the urban operations, RSMC and private sector bargaining unit collective agreements. This course is for members wanting to become a shop steward, or to have a better understanding of the rights and duties of a shop steward. Participants will also learn how to represent members in disciplinary interviews, health and safety, the importance of meeting new members and our rights under federal legislation. This course will give participants the tools they need to better defend and inform the members, and build solidarity in the workplace.
POLITICAL ACTION
Have a more effective impact on your elected representative – through a meeting, strategic direct action, or removing a hostile MP at the ballot box.
During this course participants work on lobbying, canvassing, outreach and campaign skills, with a focus on municipal and federal politics.
They also explore ways to gain community and membership support on an issue, at the same time.
TEMPORARY WORKERS AND THEIR RIGHTS
This course is designed for temporary workers. It includes some CUPW history, emphasizing the story of the long struggle for better working conditions and more secure employment for “casual” and temporary workers in the post office.
The course contains sections on basic rights and benefits and how to defend them. It also looks at the union’s orientation and constitution, and examines the pressures facing today’s public postal service.
At the end of this course participants should be able to understand their basic rights under the collective agreement and understand the union’s history and know how to get involved.
LETTER CARRIER ROUTE MEASUREMENT COURSE FOR OBSERVERS*
Participants will gain knowledge of route measurement so they can make the letter carrier route measurement system work to their best advantage; learn the role of a Union observer and preparing the membership for the volume count and restructuring exercises.
Priority will be given to members who will be observing upcoming restructures in their Locals and who had applied for but had not been selected to attend the 5-day course held March 18 to 22, 2015.
*This course will be held over 5 days from April 10 to April 14, 2015*
The deadline for applications is February 23 at 3:00 p.m. All applications must be approved by the Vancouver Local Executive and signed off by the President or her designate.