The Weekend Educational will run Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sunday, September 21, 2025 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.The deadline to complete the application form is
4 pm on Friday, August 8, 2025.In-person-only courses- Basic Grievance Handling for Union Building
- Dismantling Anti-Black Racism
- Human Rights, Union Rights and Global Solidarity
- Labour History: Strategies for Today Through the Lens of the Past
- Workplace Surveillance: Know Your Rights
Event details
Location:- OPSEU/SEFPO London Membership Centre 1092 Dearness Dr., London N6E 1N9
Dates:- Saturday, September 20, 2025 – 9 am to 5 pm
- Sunday, September 21, 2025 – 9 am to 1 pm
Application deadline:In-person-only course descriptions
We are pleased to offer the following in-person courses:
Basic Grievance Handling for Union Building
Prerequisites: NoneThis course is designed to examine the grievance process from a workplace organizing perspective. Grievances are opportunities to build the union. This hands-on course helps members analyze situations to decide whether a grievance is the best approach.Participants will learn about different types of grievances and the remedies available through the grievance/arbitration process. They will develop technical skills in writing and processing grievances, and practice communication to assess whether a member’s rights have been violated. Participants should bring their Collective Agreements to the course.
Dismantling Anti-Black Racism
Prerequisites: None(This is a ‘Regional Educational Course’, i.e. not the DSRP Training Course as required in the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution.)The Dismantling Anti-Black Racism course will raise awareness, provide a better understanding, and include strategies to dismantle anti-Black racism. It explores the topics of what anti-Black racism is and provides Black history highlights for a deeper understanding of the history of slavery and its impacts today. The course addresses the need to confront white supremacy. Participants will understand how colonization and the socially constructed concept of race has affected Black people. Additionally, the course highlights past, present, and future efforts to address anti-Black racism in the workplace and in OPSEU/SEFPO.In this introductory course, participants will develop skills and strategies in order to identify and intervene in situations of anti-Black racism. They will use case studies, videos, and real life scenarios to navigate difficult conversations. Participants will also have access to current terminology and be provided with tools to have discussions that are important to engage in, especially with family members, fellow union members, neighbours, and co-workers. This course will equip participants with the knowledge and ability to take action against anti-Black racism in our Union. This course is a core OPSEU/SEFPO educational component that is valuable for all Union activists to attend.
Human Rights, Union Rights and Global Solidarity
Prerequisites: NoneFaced with governments pushing austerity around the world, global solidarity is more important than ever. Why do we find ourselves fighting the same fights fought more than 30, 50, or even 100 years ago? This course explores what our roles are as individuals, union members, and community citizens, in the ongoing fight for fairness, equality, and justice.Participants will draw critical links between human rights, union rights, and global solidarity, and will be asked to commit to collective action to build solidarity locally and globally. By the end of the course, participants will be able to recognize and challenge privilege and oppression, know the differences between charity and solidarity, and will be better able to challenge the current austerity agenda.
Labour History: Strategies for Today Through the Lens of the Past
Prerequisites: NoneThis is an introductory course examining the issues facing members in their union, locals, and workplaces today. The course will explore how these issues have been approached in the past and the outcomes. Potential topics include; health and safety, working conditions, bargaining, equity, globalization and the environment. By examining the actions of OPSEU/SEFPO, the labour movement and individual workers, participants will devise strategies and skills to address current and future challenges. This course replaces Labour History Parts One and Two.
Workplace Surveillance: Know Your Rights
Prerequisites: NoneDevelop an understanding of workers’ rights regarding workplace surveillance so that you can be informed, strategic and proactive in a technologically changing workplace. Through shared experiences, hands-on mapping of your workplace surveillance systems, insights into the future of work, and an exploration of case studies, you will return to your local with tools, tips, best practices, sample contract language, and more.
Important Information
Accommodation
- A block of rooms has been reserved at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel & Suites London, 1150 Wellington Road South, London N6E 1M3. Please be sure to advise you are attending the OPSEU/SEFPO Weekend Educational.
- OPSEU/SEFPO Policy states that members are responsible for reserving their own rooms AND paying for same, you are also responsible for any cancellation. Failing cancellation, you are responsible for the room charges.
- OPSEU/SEFPO’s 60 km rule will be enforced – members living outside 60 kms of the hotel will be entitled to room accommodation for both Friday and Saturday nights of the weekend educational per OPSEU/SEFPO policy. Members living within 60 kms of the hotel will be entitled to room accommodation for Saturday night only as required. Members will be reimbursed for the cost of a single room.
- Hotel: Four Points by Sheraton Hotel & Suites London, 1150 Wellington Road South, London N6E 1M3
- Room rates: King room at $249 + tx/night; 2 Queen Beds $259 + tx/ night.
- Reservations: 519-681-0600 866-994-7073 (request ‘OPSEU/SEFPO Group’)
- Notes: – Friday night, September 19, 2025, is only covered if you live more than 60 kms from the hotel.
- Once you have submitted your application, please book your hotel reservation if required. – You are responsible for reserving and paying for your own room, as well as cancelling within the limits provided by the hotel. Failing cancellation, you are responsible for the room charges.
- Reservation Deadline: August 8, 2025
Expense Claims
- The Member Portal (opseu.org//members-login) is the quickest way to have your expenses processed. Please see the E-Claim tutorial in your Members Profile under the Documents menu. If you choose to use a paper expense claim – only one event is allowed on each form and can be submitted to [email protected]. Multiple events on one form will be returned to the member for correction.
Meal Rates:
- Breakfast $22.00, Lunch, $30.00 & Dinner, $39.00 (meals provided at the Event cannot be claimed)
Mileage:
- Current Kms Rates: $0.60/km (1 – Member travelling alone); $0.65/km (2 – Members); $0.70/km (3 – Members); $0.75/0 km (4 -Members); $0.80/km (5 – Members).
Time Off:
- Wages ARE NOT covered for this Educational.
- If you require a time-off letter, please fill out the Time-Off request information.
- LBED members must submit a RUL for time-off.
Advance Request:
Direct Deposit:
Human Rights Accommodation:
Family Care (Child/Elder/Dependant)
- Childcare will be available at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, while the Educational is in session, i.e. Sat. Sept. 20, 8:30-5:00, and Sun. Sept. 21, 8:30-1:00.
- If childcare is requested through OPSEU/SEFPO at the Educational, all paperwork must be completed and submitted, and the child must be in attendance with the program. If the child is not in attendance, you will be responsible for the full cost of their accommodation and meals.
- Members are entitled to reimbursement of reasonable costs of family/dependant care provided by someone other than their partners /spouses as a result of absences from home arising from the conduct of union business. Such allowances are not intended to reimburse the claimant for dependant/family expenses that they would have normally incurred as a result of employment except where the absence exceeds the normal work day or week.
- Family/Attendant care will be reimbursed at the rate of $15.00 per hour to a maximum of $220.00 per 24 hour period and the claim must be signed by the care provider(s). Please specify hours claimed for each day. Members who bring children to union events will be entitled to single accommodation and meal expenses. Claims for these expenses should also be included in the family care column of the expense form and described appropriately
Participation
- As a reminder, in accordance with OPSEU/SEFPO policy, full attendance is mandatory for participants at the educational. If you are unable to attend with full attendance without an acceptable reason, you will not receive credit for the course and your expenses (if any) may not be paid.
Scent, Peanut and Nut-Free Policy; No Bottled Water or Coca Cola Products
- People attending OPSEU/SEFPO meetings are requested to refrain from using perfume, cologne and other fragrances for the comfort of other participants.
- Participants are also to refrain from bringing nut products, bottled water and Coca Cola products to OPSEU/SEFPO Events.
Advance
Application
To apply for this event, please download and complete the appropriate fillable forms. Please email the completed forms by
Friday, August 8, 2025 at 4:00 pm to
[email protected].
