The Region 5 Education Committee is pleased to offer this educational opportunity. We would like to invite all members of Region 5 to participate in this Weekend Educational.
- Saturday, November 4, 2023 – 9:00AM to 5:00PM
- Sunday, November 5, 2023 – 9:00AM to 1:00PM (approx.)
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen St West, Toronto ON, M5H 2M9Childcare will be available Saturday from 8:30AM to 5:00PM and Sunday from 8:30AM to the end of classes.
Parent/Guardians MUST be on site at all times when utilizing childcare provided by OPSEU/SEFPOThe deadline to register is Oct 9, 2023 at 4:00PMThe following seven courses will be offered:
Dismantling Anti-Black Racism
Prerequisites: NoneThe 1.5 day Dismantling Anti-Black Racism course will raise awareness, provide a better understanding, and include strategies to dismantle anti-Black racism (ABR). 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 (ABR) 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.
As per Constitutional amendments made at the 2022 Convention, there will be mandatory Systemic Anti-Racism training for all elected Union activists that will be rolled out in the near future. We encourage participation in this DABR course as a core OPSEU/SEFPO educational component supporting this important initiative.Stewards 1: Making a Difference in the Workplace
Prerequisites: NoneThis updated version (March 2015) of Stewards 1 includes a more detailed description and history of OPSEU’s equity-seeking groups. The course continues to support stewards through a range of tools and practical activities. The key aims are to strengthen steward skills to orient a new employee to the union, have effective one-on-one conversations with a cross-section of members, develop a communications strategy to enlist diverse member involvement, and develop approaches to everyday workplace problems.Throughout the course, participants are supported as they develop a profile of their members, clarify the tasks of the steward, find the resources and information in OPSEU, and understand the grievance process and their role in it. Stewards 1 is a prerequisite to Stewards 2 and must be completed before taking Stewards 2.
Participants should bring their collective agreements.Stewards 2: Facing the Employer, Building Member Involvement
Prerequisites: 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.Advancing Union Issues through Labour Management Committees
Prerequisites: NoneOften union-side members become cynical about labour management committee work because the employer refuses to meet or follow through on action. This course aims to strengthen skills of labour management committees to solve workplace problems and build the union, whether management is cooperating or not.A variety of activities are used to clarify the union-building potential of LMC’s, to assess the effectiveness of a labour management committee, and to strengthen skills to move a workplace complaint to resolution at the LMC. Attention is paid to a) arguing an issue; b) addressing management tactics; c) using the LMC to communicate with members; d) strategies to mobilize members to back LMC work; e) connecting LMC work to bargaining and mobilizing work in the Local.
Bring Your Collective Agreement to this course.
Advanced Grievance Handling for Union Building
Prerequisites: Basic Grievance HandlingDoes 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.
Local Treasurer’s Course
Prerequisites: NoneThis course is aimed at Local Treasurers and Trustees who are either NEW to the role or experienced members who are seeking a “refresher course”. The goal is to give the necessary tools and education to Local Treasurers and Trustees in order for them to fulfill their roles in the Local. It will also draw on members’ experiences to solve problems occurring with the administration of Local funds.
Mental Health: Challenging Stigma in the Workplace
Prerequisites: NoneAs workers and labour activists, we are faced with economic, social, and political changes in our workplaces that impact our mental wellbeing on a daily basis. We all respond differently to situations that impact our lives and subsequently, our mental health.This introductory course explores mental health, mental health concerns, and stigma in the workplace. Some of the topics covered in this course include: demystifying mental health; individual, union, and employer responsibilities; member-to-member issues; and some strategies to challenge stigma and build inclusion.
Important information
- The Participant and Course Selection Process will be carried out in accordance with OPSEU/SEFPO Education Policy.
- Confirmation will only be sent to applicants who are accepted.
- Lost Wages will not be provided for this Educational.
- OPSEU/SEFPO’s 60km rule will be waived on Saturday – this means that if you live further than 60km from the hotel you are entitled to single accommodations on Friday and Saturday; if you live within 60km of the hotel you are entitled to single accommodations on Saturday night only. Single accommodation will be approved for this Educational.
- You are responsible for booking your own accommodations directly with the hotel, if required. An online direct booking link for rooms in the Event Group Block will be issued to successful applicants at the following rates: Single $289.00, Double $340.00 (taxes not included).
- 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.
- Persons 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.
- All applications must be approved/signed by a Local Executive Committee member from the applicants Local, per OPSEU/SEFPO Policy 6.2.2. Applications without the required signatures will not be processed.
The deadline to register is Oct 9, 2023 at 4:00PMForms
- Advance Request Form
- On-Site Childcare Registration Form
- HR Accommodation Form
