Our Economy Our Jobs Our Future. Labour College of Canada. Intensive. Program

Transcription

1 Our Economy Our Jobs Our Future Labour College of Canada Intensive Program 2010

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3 Labour College of Canada Intensive Program 2010

4 Board of Governors Canadian Labour Congress Officers Kenneth V. Georgetti President Hassan Yussuff Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Byers Executive Vice-President Marie Clarke Walker Executive Vice-President General Vice-Presidents Michel Arsenault Quebec Federation of Labour Robert Bouvier Teamsters Canada Dermot Cain International Union of Operating Engineers James Clancy National Union of Public and General Employees Dave Coles Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Anouk Collet United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Phil Flemming International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers John Gordon Public Service Alliance of Canada Wayne Hanley United Food and Commercial Workers International Union ~ 2 ~

5 Joan Jessome National Union of Public and General Employees Ken Lewenza National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada Paul Moist Canadian Union of Public Employees Kenneth G. Neumann United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied-Industrial and Service Workers International Union Sonia Reynolds Service Employees International Union (Canada) Linda Silas Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions Sharleen Stewart Service Employees International Union (Canada) Cindy Wiggins Registrar, Labour College of Canada The Labour College of Canada is governed by a Board of 21 members. The Board consists of the four (4) Executive Officers and the Executive Committee of the Canadian Labour Congress, and the Registrar of the College. On a day-to-day basis, the College is under the direction of the Registrar. The College reflects the commitment of the labour movement to providing education and leadership opportunities to union members. ~ 3 ~

6 A College for Workers The Labour College opened its doors to workers in Union leaders recognized the importance of using education to foster activists, promote an understanding of the need to be political in our work and nurture the next generation of leadership. Since then, the College has provided a unique education program to union activists, and local and regional leaders who desired to enhance their capacity to provide effective leadership in the labour movement and in their communities. Attending the College provides a unique opportunity to meet union activists from across Canada. New friends are made for life and valuable networks are formed on which students can draw in their work at home. Education builds leaders and leaders build the union. Every activist who attends the College leaves empowered and better equipped to continue the struggle for social and economic justice. The learning experience offers a variety of readings, lectures, discussions, plenary sessions, research, and an examination of the role of activists in the union. Students bring their life and union experiences to each other in and beyond the classroom during the session. The combination of practical experience and new learning results in a valuable learning experience for everyone. ~ 4 ~

7 Who Should Apply? If you are an experienced union activist with a demonstrated commitment to playing a leadership role in your union, this College is for you. If you are committed to building a strengthened labour movement and a broader social justice movement, this College is for you. If you want to be part of a national activist network, develop research and strategic planning skills, this College is for you. If you think you need a better understanding of the forces that shape your lives, this College is for you. If you want to expand your leadership and strategic planning skills and you just love learning, this College is for you. The New Labour College Intensive Program The College has undergone an extensive review resulting in a new design and curriculum to better meet the needs of today s activists and unions. The Labour College Intensive Program consists of two weeks in a national, in-residence session, followed by a three-month interim in which students will conduct a project in conjunction with their union. Having completed this project, participants will reconvene for a final two week, in-residence session. The location of one of the in-residence sessions will be in Ottawa, while the location of the other national in-residence session will be held in a region other than Ottawa. ~ 5 ~

8 Course Descriptions All courses provide an equality and anti-racism analysis and perspective in accordance with the priority the labour movement places on equality. Week 1 History of Work and Labour In Canada An examination of the history of work and the economy, the emergence of class and working class communities, and the evolution of organized labour in Canada. The course focuses on transformative moments and the forces that drove these turning points. Skills: how to find and analyze historical documents; do historical analysis, draw lessons from the past; preserve labour and working class history; apply history to present and placing unions in historical context. Canadian Political Economy An introduction to Canadian political economy. This course provides an overview of the forces that drove how the Canadian state developed. It focuses specifically on the linkages between the economic and political processes. Skills: political and economic literacy; placing an argument within a political tradition; building familiarity with legislative process; critical analysis; summarizing and synthesizing; articulating a labour point of view, and articulating other side of issues. ~ 6 ~

9 Week 2 Theory and Practice of Unionism A two-part course that examines both the theory and practice of trade unionism. Special emphasis will be placed on new and innovative approaches. This class will utilize the case method to explore innovation. Skills: understand different traditions of unionism; place union practice within a tradition; comparative (international) analysis; use of case method; familiarity with emerging trends in union practice, and the ability to analyze union practice. Introduction to Labour Research An overview of the various methods and techniques used for research in the labour movement. The course is designed to provide the tools for students to conduct an inter-session project and provide the opportunity to develop a proposal for their project. Skills: numeracy; reading and writing; where to find information; library/internet skills; survey research; interviewing/oral history; corporate/employer research; industry analysis; corporate finance and participatory action research. ~ 7 ~

10 Week 3 Canadian Society: Changing Lives and Work An overview of how the economic and social changes that have occurred since the mid-1970s shaped Canadian society today. Skills: critical analysis of current issues; summarizing and synthesizing; articulating a labour point of view; responding to technology/work process, and responding to the changing nature of the workforce. Workers In A Global World This course provides an introduction to globalization. It examines how Canada, its workers and the labour movement are part of and shape their involvement in a global process. Skills: literacy on globalization issues; engagement in current debates and framing a labour perspective on globalization. ~ 8 ~

11 Week 4 Theory and Practice of Unionism II This course provides students with the opportunity to present, discuss, and sharpen the final report of the inter-session project. Skills: analytic skills; writing skills; presentation skills and evaluation and feedback skills. My Changing Role in the Union This course runs over both two week sessions. Its goal is to provide a space to explore the development of the individual skills necessary to become a labour leader. This class will be conducted in a popular education format to maximize engagement with these issues. Inter-session Learning Project During the three month interim between Session 1 and Session 2, each student will carry out a learning project in conjunction with their union. The project could take several forms. Some examples are listed below. keeping a journal of your activist work with your union arranging meetings with a social justice organization in your community and preparing a report on their mandate, goals, actions and potential for your union to collaborate with this group. designing a survey of your union on a topic your union wants information on ~ 9 ~

12 conducting a research project related to issues having an impact on your union taking some oral histories of members of your union participating in the planning of an activity your union is undertaking creating a lunch hour workshop for use in your workplace or at a union meeting on something you learned in Session 1 creating a small piece of theatre on an issue researching the labour history of your union meeting with and reporting on a labour arts and heritage group in your community designing a labour history walk You may wish to have an initial discussion with your union before coming to the College. However, it may be the case that you get an idea for a project during the first session. Someone from your union will work with you during the interim. The project should take no less than 15 hours of work for you and no more than 24 hours. ~ 10 ~

13 Labour Law Course The Labour Law course is part of the Intensive Program and is delivered in a week-long school in each of the four (4) CLC regions. Registration for this course is handled by the CLC Regional Offices. (Contact information on page 8). Participants in the Intensive Program must complete this course five years before or after the Intensive Program in order to receive their Labour College certificate. The course is open to any activist an affiliate is willing to sponsor whether or not they intend to take the Intensive Program. Upon successful completion, a Letter of Accreditation will be issued. Completion of the Labour Law course does not mean automatic acceptance into the Intensive Program. This course presents an overview of labour legislation and its impact on the strategies and actions of unions. Topics explored include certification and dispute settlement procedures; unfair labour practices; the duty to bargain in good faith; strikes, lockouts and picketing; the duty of fair representation; management and union rights, and grievance arbitration law. Participants will gain a solid understanding of the principles underlying Canadian labour law and the specifics of labour legislation in their own jurisdiction and region. ~ 11 ~

14 Individual Learning Outcomes The goal of the Labour College Intensive Program is to ensure that students obtain the following learning outcomes: 1. improved analytical skills through social, economic, historical and political research and analysis 2. increased capacity and confidence to be active and engaged in the movement 3. increased awareness of and commitment to diversity and equality 4. strengthened leadership and communications (oral, written, interpersonal) skills 5. enhanced ability to set goals, reflect and assess progress ~ 12 ~

15 The Learning Environment The Labour College provides a healthy learning and living environment for students, faculty and administrative staff. The cornerstones of this positive environment are respect, equality, dignity and the full enjoyment of human rights. At the beginning of College all students take a mandatory workshop on developing a healthy and respectful learning environment given the labour movement s commitment to equality. The Student Learning Contract The Student Learning Contract, signed by each student prior to attending College, sets the tone for a positive, healthy and comfortable learning and living environment for all students, staff and faculty at the College. Student Evaluation A student s attendance, participation and effort, readings and assignments are part of the evaluation criteria used to determine successful completion of the program. Students are required to complete assignments in a timely manner in a way that reflects this level of education. Demonstrated effort is required and expected in every subject. While there are no final exams, some testing for knowledge and understanding may be done during the session. ~ 13 ~

16 Admission Requirements Admission to the Labour College is based on the premise that practical experience in the labour movement, combined with high motivation, will enable workers to meet the challenge of the Labour College Intensive Program. Your application gives the College insight into your strengths. Each application will be assessed by the College according to the following national criteria: a history of activist engagement and leadership in the union and the labour movement considerable experience in union education the ability to think and write in a logical and coherent manner as evidenced by the two short essay questions in the application a commitment to using your experience at the College within your union basic computer skills In addition, the College and affiliates of the CLC are committed to ensuring that the student body is representative of the diversity in the labour movement, with attention to regional and equality seeking representation. Session Dates Dates for the 2010 session are as follows: Session 1: January 3-15, 2010 Session 2: May 3-15, 2010 Application deadline: June 30, 2009 Late applications will not be accepted. ~ 14 ~

17 Application Process Prospective participants apply directly to the Labour College where their application will be assessed with respect to the national criteria outlined above. The College will send the assessment to each candidate s union. In turn, each union will select the candidates they will sponsor at the 2010 session of the College, and will notify the College. Unions may have different internal approaches for selecting participants but all are committed to regional and equalityseeking representation. To Request an Application Form Telephone: Ext labourcollege@clc-ctc.ca Web: and follow the link to the Labour college website Accommodation Students stay in residence for the four week program. On-site accommodation is an important aspect of the Graduate Program as it provides students with an opportunity to be involved in the learning process beyond the classroom. ~ 15 ~

18 CLC Regional Offices CLC Pacific Region 2 nd Floor, 5118 Joyce Street Vancouver, British Columbia, V5R 4H1 Telephone: (604) pacific@clc-ctc.ca CLC Atlantic Region 2282 Mountain Road Moncton, New Brunswick, E1G 1B4 Telephone: (506) atlantic@clc-ctc.ca CLC Prairie Region 1888 Angus Street Regina, Saskatchewan, S4T 1Z4 Telephone: (306) prairie@clc-ctc.ca CLC Ontario Region Gervais Drive Don Mills, Ontario, M3C 1Y8 Telephone: (416) ontario@clc-ctc.ca ~ 16 ~

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