PSAC Union School - Protecting Workers’ Rights, Building Solidarity

What is the Union School?

Union training at its best! It is an opportunity for active PSAC members to gain more specialized knowledge and skills. You will network with other members from BC and return to your workplaces and locals energized and educated to work on behalf of the membership.

“We are confident. We have ourselves. We know how to sacrifice. We know how to work. We know how to combat the forces that oppose us. But even more than that, we are true believers in the whole idea of justice. Justice is so much on our side, that that is going to see us through.” -Cesar Chavez, United Farmworkers Union

The theme of this year’s school is “Protecting Workers Rights, Building Solidarity”.  Building on the success of the 2004 Union School, this year’s theme will bring together active PSAC members from across the region to mobilize and strategize on how to protect our rights while building solidarity with other organized and unorganized workers both locally and globally.

This theme reflects the critical struggle that is being waged by locals, in the PSAC and around the world by other unions and communities fighting for their basic rights and for justice. From our recent acts of resistance on the picket lines to the battles being fought by hospital workers, telecommunications workers and others to the continued erosion of rights for unorganized workers and members of our communities,  these experiences have shown us that we must work together to protect our rights.

By building a union and a labour movement that works in solidarity with organized and unorganized workers as well as marginalized peoples, we can indeed realize the words of one of the greatest union leaders of our time, Cesar Chavez: “Justice is so much on our side that that is going to see us through.”

Plenary sessions and guest speakers will focus on this theme and it will be woven throughout all five of our courses.

Fill out an on-line application form here.

What Courses are being offered?

Selected applicants will attend one of the following courses:

Public Service Modernization Act (PSMA) – Protecting Our Rights

This course will explore key aspects of the Public Service Modernization Act (PSMA) while providing members with the tools necessary to deal with its implementation. Participants will also develop an understanding of how to ensure our members rights are respected under this act. There will be 2 courses offered on the PSMA (same content).

Please note: Priority for seats on the PSMA course will be given to Local Presidents and Regional Vice-Presidents. The new legislation provides for a devolution of authority, and RVPs and Local Presidents may be called upon by the employer to negotiate some terms and conditions of employment at the Local or Regional level. While the PSAC is  challenging this aspect of the legislation, we feel it is critical for Local Presidents and RVPs to be fully aware of these provisions as well as the particular responsibilities and liabilities that are unique to their positions. Additional training will be offered to other members following the union school.

Health and Safety Activism – Empowering and mobilizing members

A safe and healthy workplace is a basic union worker right.  This course will re-empower members to ensure we have secure workplaces.  Participants will start with their own knowledge of their work, and workplaces, and will critically examine the risks and responsibilities of workers and employers, including the notion of “worker carelessness”.

Participants will develop action plans to mobilize members and to ensure the employer provides the necessary tools, training and funding to support a healthy and safe workplace.

Creating Respectful Workplaces - A Recipe for Success

This fast paced and interactive course will take you through the basic steps of creating and maintaining respectful work environments.  Together we will identify the signs of an unhealthy workplace, look at underlying factors, gain an understanding of different forms of harassment and identify concrete solutions for creating healthier working relationships.

We will examine what is meant by diversity and what measures can be used to make our workplaces more inclusive.

Advanced Steward Training  - Effectively Representing Members

This course will be of interest to members who have taken the TUB and Grievance Handling and who have some experience representing members on workplace problems. The focus of this course will be on the attitudes, knowledge, and skills required by the effective Union Representative.

Topics will include the Duty of Fair Representation; building a case file; communicating with complainants and grievors; case analysis and preparation; and making effective presentations to management.

Download the Union School brochure below.

union_school_brochure.pdf