The following courses are being offered:
Stewards 2: Facing the Employer, Building Member Involvement
Prerequisite: Stewards 1This revised follow-up to Stewards 1 focuses on investigating and writing a grievance, facing management, and involving members in worksite action. Participants will use their own collective agreements to identify grievances. They will become immersed in an evolving case study in order to interview a grievor, write up a grievance, face the employer at a step 1 and make a presentation on safety issues to the union side of the Joint Health and Safety Committee. They will examine the elements of effective mobilization and develop a campaign strategy for a local. Participants should bring their collective agreements.
Advanced Grievance Handling for Union Building
Does your local have a grievance committee? Can your experience in handling a grievance help to build the local? Can you use your knowledge of common grievance issues to raise awareness at demand setting meetings? Have you ever thought of what it is like to be on the Employer side of the table? These are some of the topics that will be explored in the NEW Advanced Grievance Handling for Union Building course.You will also get the opportunity to practice being on the Union’s team and the Employer’s Team as you work through some scenarios. Building on the Basic Grievance Handling for Union Building course, this course focuses on expanding both the steward’s and Local’s ability to process grievances from start to finish.Through active interviewing process, participants will explore how to identify grievances, practice negotiating settlements and draft realistic, enforceable grievance settlements. Participants should bring their Collective Agreements to the course.
Public Speaking – Finding your voice, connecting with your audience
Have you ever felt intimidated when you are a speaker in front of a large group? Have you ever wondered what you need to consider when planning and preparing a short presentation for the public? Whether you”d like to strengthen your presentation skills, look more confident and credible, define your core message, organize your thoughts, or find new and effective ways to collaborate with your team, this course will give you practical skills you need to communicate successfully. You will have an opportunity to practice and hone your presentation skills in a small group setting while concentrating on your message and target audience.
Union Skills for Workplace Investigations
Have you ever been called, at the last minute, to the employer’s office to “represent” a member who is being accused of serious wrong-doings? Have you wondered what to do and how best to represent this person, particularly if you suspect that they may have broken a rule or two?This hands-on course takes you step by step, through a workplace investigations process. It starts with the first contact with the member through to the response to the investigation findings, with lots of practice in between. Through case studies and a variety of active exercises, you’ll practice interviewing the member, anticipating the investigator’s questions, preparing the member for meeting the investigator, taking good notes at the meeting, and working with the member to respond to the findings. The Resource Toolkit has additional information about investigations in different sectors, use of surveillance and other issues.
The Indigenous Journey: Walking Together: Part One
Would you like to learn more about Indigenous peoples? Do you know that the First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples have differences in their traditions, beliefs, communities and cultural identities as well as some commonalities?Through activities, inspired by the teachings and traditions of Indigenous peoples, we will take you through an overview of the lives of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples as well as allow you an opportunity to share in some of their stories.You will take a journey of examining both historical and current relationships between Indigenous people and governments within Canada and the world today. If you would like to share in the rich history of Indigenous peoples and spend time understanding why being an ally is important, this course will offer that opportunity.
APPLICATIONS
Completed application forms must include the signed recommendation or an approval email from a Local Executive Officer and be received by the Thunder Bay Regional Office no later than
Friday, September 8, 2023. Please note applications will not be accepted after this date. SELECTION PROCESS – EDUCATION POLICY SECTION 6 (POLICY MANUAL)
The selection process will be in accordance with the Education Policy – Section 6 of the Policy Manual. All Local Presidents have an OPSEU/SEFPO Policy Manual. Please contact your Local President to review this policy. Applicants will be notified after September 12, 2023 of their acceptance for the educational.
CANCELLATIONS
Notification by a member to cancel course attendance should be received by both the Local President and the Regional Office no later than 48 hours before commencement of the Regional school (no later than 4:30 P.M. on the Wednesday prior to the weekend school).When a member does not attend and the Regional Office has not been notified 48 hours prior to the school’s commencement, the member will be assessed a $50.00 penalty. Extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration.
FAMILY/ATTENDANT CARE
Family/Attendant Care will be reimbursed as per OPSEU/SEFPO policy as outlined on the back of the expense claim. If you have any questions, please check the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy Manual. Members seeking childcare onsite must make their request through the Thunder Bay Regional Office by
September 8, 2023.LOST WAGES/TIME OFF
Per past practice, lost wages will be paid for those members who are shift workers and are scheduled to work on Friday, October 27 and/or Saturday, October 28 and/or Sunday, October 29. Any claim for lost wages must be substantiated by proof from your employer.
TRAVEL TIME
Lost wage claims will also be accepted for those members who are not shift workers and who have to take time off to travel to the educational. Claims will only be honored for the time that is required to travel.
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
Accommodation will be provided for those members who must travel 60 kilometers or more. Reservations may be made by contacting the Delta Hotels Thunder Bay by clicking on the link below:
LINK: Book your group rate for OPSEU Educational ConferenceThe meal allowance for children under 13 years of age should be 50% of OPSEU’s standard meal allowance. If you require special assistance at the hotel, please notify the hotel at the time of making your reservations.Lunch will be provided on Saturday. If you have any food allergies or special dietary requirements, please ensure a Human Rights Accommodation Request Form is submitted.APPLICATIONS MUST REACH THE THUNDER BAY REGIONAL OFFICE BY:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2023***APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED***Educational Information PackageAttendance FormAdvance FormChildcare Registration FormHuman Rights Accommodation Request FormScent Free Nut Free Policy 