The Weekend Educational will run Saturday, October 18, 2025 and Sunday, October 19, 2025.The deadline to complete the application form is
Friday, August 8, 2025.In-person-only courses- Intro to Grievance Handling: legal rights enforcement in the organizing toolbox
- Stewards 2: Facing the Employer, Building Member Involvement
- Union Skills for Workplace Investigations
- Women in Activism: Staying Connected
- Public Speaking: Finding your voice, connecting with your audience
Event details
Dates:- Saturday, October 18, 2025
- Sunday, October 19, 2025
Application deadline:Course descriptions
We are pleased to offer the following courses:
Intro to Grievance Handling: legal rights enforcement in the organizing toolbox
Prerequisites: NoneIntro to Grievance Handling establishes the fundamental skills required for a steward to contribute leadership to handling grievances. This course teaches up-to-date legal best practices around how to analyze workplace issues, identify legal contraventions, interview witnesses, manage documentation and evidence, draft grievance statements, and deal with management – and support the Grievor throughout the process.Participants learn about grievances as a legal tool that members use together to enforce existing rights –including how to address complex real-life situations, such as systemic human rights and equity issues. Participants explore actively combining grievances with broader organizing tools to maximize worker participation, build power over the employer, and win new rights. This course prepares a Steward to represent the Union in grievances and lays the foundation for more advanced grievance handling courses.
Stewards 2: Facing the Employer, Building Member Involvement
Prerequisites: Stewards 1This 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 a 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.
Union Skills for Workplace Investigations
Prerequisites: NoneHave 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.
Women in Activism: Staying Connected
Prerequisites: NoneAre you a woman who wants to get involved in your Union but you are uncertain as to where and how to begin? Have you wondered how activists got into the position they are in and why they got involved? Do you have the energy and interest but lack the confidence in getting yourself elected to a position? Then this is a course for you.This course will take you through the journey of successful women in unions and the political arena, how they got there and what they have achieved. You will understand your role as an activist, gain confidence in taking the first steps, and feel motivated in encouraging others to do the same. You will review your own time management strategies and work out a schedule for yourself.Through scenarios, role-play, interactive videos, and checklists, you will understand the issues women have faced over the years; some of which still continue today. You will learn how to build on these wins to make further inroads for women.
Public Speaking: Finding your voice, connecting with your audience
Prerequisites: NoneHave 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.
Important Information
Selection Process – Education Policy Section 7 (Policy Manual)
- The selection process will be in accordance with the Education Policy – Section 7 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 August 18, 2025 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 Dryden Office by August 8, 2025.
Lost Wages/Time Off
- Per past practice, lost wages will be paid for those members who are shift workers and are scheduled to work nightshift or are travelling on Friday, October 17 and/or Saturday, October 18 and/or Sunday, October 19. 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 honoured for the time that is required to travel.
Accommodation and Meals
- Accommodation will be provided for those members who must travel 60 kilometres or more. Reservations may be made by contacting the Superior Inn at (807) 577- 8481 Please tell them you are booking with OPSEU or block # 251017
- Members who bring children to the Educational will be entitled to single accommodation. The meal allowance for children under 13 years of age should be 50% of OPSEU/SEFPO’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.
Application
To apply for this event, please download and complete the appropriate fillable forms. Please email the completed forms by
Friday, August 8, 2025 to
[email protected].Applications must reach the Dryden Regional Office by:
Friday, August 8, 2025**Applications received after this date will not be accepted.
