How to challenge discrimination in the workplace. The best way to file a grievance. Making your work safer.As an OPSEU/SEFPO member, these are just a few of the
free educational workshops you can take during the union’s Region 5 Weekend Educational taking place on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, 2025.The deadline to complete the application form was
4 pm on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.In-person-only courses- Stewards 1: Making a Difference in the Workplace
- Stewards 2: Facing the Employer, Building Member Involvement
- Stewards 3: Dealing with Discipline
- Challenging Bullying and Non-Code-Based Harassment in the Workplace
- Duty to Accommodate: A Tool for Inclusive Workspaces
- Local Treasurers Course
- Public Speaking: Finding your voice, connecting with your audience
- Taking Action on Workplace Stress
If you’d like to take any of these courses, your union provides a variety of supports that can help, including family and child care and human rights accommodations. If you take part in the in-person event, you are also eligible for cash advances, and potentially the full reimbursement if you need to travel and stay in a hotel.
Event details
Location:- Courses take place at the Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St W, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z4
Dates:- Saturday, May 24, 2025 – 9 am to 5 pm
- Sunday, May 25, 2025 – 9 am to 1 pm
Application deadline:- Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 4 pm – Apply now
Hotel booking deadline:
On-site child care:
Eligible expenses:- Lost wages will not be reimbursed
- Travel, hotel, meal and family care expenses will be reimbursed per OPSEU/SEFPO Policy – more expense details
In-person-only course descriptions
We are pleased to offer the following in-person courses:
Stewards 1: Making a Difference in the Workplace
Prerequisites: NoneThis updated version of Stewards 1 includes a more detailed description and history of OPSEU/SEFPO’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/SEFPO, 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 to the course.
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 to the course.
Stewards 3: Dealing with Discipline
Prerequisites: Stewards 1 & Stewards 2This is an advanced level steward course. It is suggested that participants take Stewards 1 and Stewards 2 prior to signing up for this program. Dealing with Discipline is a skills and knowledge focused workshop that will assist union activists in their duties representing members that are facing discipline up to and including dismissal.The course bridges concepts from Stewards 1 and 2, Basic and Advanced Grievance Handling and Workplace Investigations. Participants should bring their Collective Agreements to the course.
Challenging Bullying and Non-Code-Based Harassment in the Workplace
Prerequisites: NoneIs bullying and psychological harassment an issue in your workplace? This course will help you recognize the signs of bullying and a toxic workplace. We’ll look at case law and other tools helpful in understanding the impact of workplace bullying. And we’ll strengthen individual and collective capacity to respond to co-workers, and pressure employers to tackle this issue.
Duty to Accommodate: A Tool for Inclusive Workspaces
Prerequisites: NoneProvincial legislation and existing case law require employers and unions to provide accommodation short of undue hardship.This interactive course examines the roles and responsibilities of the employer, the union, and the member in accommodating members with disabilities and all other protected groups under the Ontario Human Rights Code. It builds activists’ skills to support members requiring an accommodation, and to deal with employer resistance to accommodation in the workplace.
Local Treasurers 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.
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.
Taking Action on Workplace Stress
Prerequisites: NoneIs your work stressing you out? If so, you’re not alone. In Canada, one in four workers report feeling highly stressed at work. Factors such as excessive demands, lack of control, precarious work, inadequate resources and support, and workplace bullying and harassment can all take their toll on the well-being of workers.Participants will be able to identify workplace factors that negatively affect workers’ health and wellbeing and gain familiarity with terminology associated with workplace stress. The course will help to develop strategies for influencing change in the workplace as well as examine ways to work with your Union to address and resolve workplace stress issues.
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.
- 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.
- OPSEU/SEFPO will cover many of your travel, meal, and family expenses.
- Lost Wages will not be provided for this Educational.
- Application forms must be signed by one (1) Local Executive Officer (OPSEU/ SEFPO Policy 6.2.2) and received by [email protected] no later than April 23, 2025 by 4:00PM.
- Late applications may not be acknowledged.
Expenses information and forms
If you’re attending in-person
- Single accommodation is approved for this Educational.
- OPSEU/SEFPO’s 60km rule will be enforced – this means that if you live further than 60km from the hotel you are entitled to single accommodations. For this event, members living outside 60 kms of the hotel will be entitled to room accommodation for both Friday and Saturday nights of the weekend educationals 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.
- Valet parking will not be covered.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Hotel
- A block of rooms has been reserved at the Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St W, Toronto, ON M5G1Z4
- 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 $279.00 (taxes not included). Individuals may also call the hotel directly, toll free 1-800-CHELSEA (243-5732) or 416-595-1975. You must identify yourself as part of OPSEU/SEFPO May Educationals to take advantage of the discounted group rate.
- Members are responsible for making their own hotel and payment arrangements. Accommodations must be booked no later than May 1, 2025.
- All unreserved rooms will be released for re-sale after this date. OPSEU/SEFPO Policy states that members are responsible for their own rooms and paying for same, you are also responsible for any cancellation. Failing cancellation, you are responsible for the room charges.
- An online direct booking link, and telephone instructions for reserving a hotel room will be issued to successful Educational applicants prior to the hotel-booking deadline of May 1, 2025.
- For this event, members living outside 60 kms of the hotel will be entitled to room accommodation. Members will be reimbursed for the cost of a single room.
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 prior to the Weekend Educational (no later than 9:00 A.M. on the Thursday prior to the Educational). When a member does not attend and the Regional Office has not been notified forty-eight (48) hours prior to the Weekend Educational, the member will be assessed a Fifty Dollar ($50.00) penalty. Extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration.
- A member cancelling participation must notify [email protected] and their local president on or before 9:00AM on May 21, 2025.
- All hotel reservations must be cancelled by 4 pm EST 48 hours (2 days) prior to the day of arrival. Late cancellations will result in a charge of a 1-night stay plus taxes. A valid credit card is required at time of booking.
Child / elder/ dependant care
- Use of OPSEU/SEFPO’s on-site child care is encouraged – please complete this child-care registration form for each child who needs care.
- Members who arrange their own child care will be reimbursed at $15 an hour to a maximum of $220 per 24-hour period, per OPSEU/SEFPO Policy 4.2.2.
- Child care claims will be honoured for children up to and including age 16, for whom the member is the parent/guardian.
- Friends, family, or professional or Commercial Services or any other arrangement satisfactory may provide care to the member making the claim. Claims may be verified and must be signed by the service provider.
- Members seeking childcare through OPSEU/SEFPO for this educational must include the completed Childcare Registration paperwork with their Application.
- If child care is requested, the child/dependant must be in attendance with the program.
- Off-site 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 must be signed by the care provider(s). Please complete this Family/Attendant Care form and specify hours claimed for each day. This policy covers the expenses for persons over the age of 16, permanently residing with, and under the care of a member, who are differently abled and/or aged.
Transportation
- If you are participating in person, you will be reimbursed for the actual cost incurred for travel by public transportation. As per the policy of the Union, the most economical means of transportation should be used.
- Where a member is required to use their private vehicle, they may claim for such travel at the current The total distance travelled, and destination points are to be indicated on the expense form.
- Members must arrange their own travel and are encouraged to
- Transportation/ Kilometric Rate will be as follows:
- One (1) OPSEU/SEFPO member travelling alone $0.55/km.
- Two (2) OPSEU/SEFPO members, $0.60/km.
- Three (3) OPSEU/SEFPO members $0.65/km.
- Any transportation/kilometric expense claim form involving OPSEU/SEFPO members as passengers must have the members name and address on the expense form.
- All expenses must be submitted on proper Expense Claim Forms or via the Member Portal.
Lost wages
- Lost Wages will not be provided for this Educational as per OPSEU/SEFPO Policy; this means that time-off letters are not being issued for this Educational.
Meals
- Breakfast: Members who stay at the hotel or had to be present for an OPSEU/SEFPO event before 0800 hours (8:00 a.m.) are eligible to claim twenty- two dollars ($22.00).
- Lunch: Members attending this educational may claim thirty dollars ($30.00) lunch on both Saturday and Sunday.
- Dinner: Members who stay at the hotel or had to be present for an OPSEU/SEFPO event past 1700 hours (5:00 m.) are eligible to claim thirty-nine dollars ($39.00).
Expense advance
