ANTI-GLOBALIZATION

The world is shrinking and the need for understanding and co-operation on a world scale is increasingly felt by the labour movement and social justice groups. We need to link our local and national struggles with what’s happening all over the world. As we develop a better understanding of the work and the struggles we share with all workers, our solidarity will strengthen and our strength will grow

ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING

This course examines the difference between passive, aggressive and assertive behaviour; stereotyping and what to do about it; how to deal with criticism, put-downs, manipulation and compliments.

WEB PAGE DESIGN LEVEL I

This session will be an introduction to web page creation. Participants will create web pages that contain both text and graphics. Text will be formatted for position on the page, size and color. Graphic formats will be discussed and pictures taken with digital cameras or scanner will be included. The pages will have links to each other and to external sites on the Internet. A webpage creation tool called “Dreamweaver” will be used. The mechanics of publishing your pages on the Internet will also be discussed.

ERGONOMICS

Injuries, Risk Factors and Design Principles (6 hours):

An introduction to the musculoskeletal system is covered, including typical MS injuries, with a focus on causes and risk factors. The course includes an overview of ergonomic principles and workplace design/redesign and it incorporates the Ont. MSD Guidelines.

Ergonomic Design Tools and Resources (3 hours):

The program provides an orientation to the new Ergonomic Toolbox, which accompanies the Ont. MSD Guideline. Exercises familiarize participants with various tools used to assess risk factors, and their proper use and value for reducing MSDs are discussed.

HEALTH & SAFETY HAZARD AWARENESS TRAINING

Workplace Violence (3 hrs.)

Workplace violence including verbal and physical abuse and harassment are discussed. Risk factors are examined and potential emotional and physical effects identified. Relevant legislation is reviewed and components of an effective prevention program are discussed.

Workplace Stress (3 hrs.)

This program examines many sources of workplace stress and it discusses the affects these have on physical health and well-being. Participants also explore methods of recognizing, assessing and controlling workplace stress.

Biological Hazards (3 hrs.)

This program introduces specific characteristics of biological hazards and the circumstances where worker exposure can occur. A wide range of health risks, including hepatitis and respiratory disorders, are discussed. Participants also discuss relevant legislation, assessment tools and control measures.

X, Y OR BOOMER? TALKING BETWEEN GENERATIONS IN THE UNION

This course will increase your awareness of the needs and realities of the members of different generations in the union and workplace. It will build your level of comfort and skills for engaging in meaningful cross-generational dialogue. We invite you to explore how the union might respond to the values of the different generations in our midst, and share perspectives on how union culture can continue to adapt to meet the needs of each generation. This course requires the participation of both young workers, and workers of other generations who are young at heart in order to run successfully.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

Communicating ideas requires preparation and practice. This course introduces participants to the principles of media relations and how they work within a broad overview of the history of relations between unions and the media. It will include understanding what makes news “news”, how to deal with journalists, preparing a press release, media advisory, letter to the editor and other tools of communication. Confidence will be gained through practice.

CANDIDATE TRAINING

Ever considered being a candidate? Ever considered representing workers in the workplace, city hall, city council or legislature? We need progressive candidates to take the plunge into electoral politics. This workshop, based on the new CLC Candidate’s Toolbox, will start you down the road to deciding how to be a candidate, the pre-election phase, into the election campaign itself and beyond it to describe how one deals with victory or survives defeat.

CAMPAIGN ORGANIZER TRAINING

Campaigns need organizers. Organizers learn through training. This weekend training will focus on the importance of organizing at a variety of levels. We will cover some of the fundamentals: how governments work and their structures; hands-on election campaign development, organizing and running; building alliances with community allies and ethno-cultural communities. We will cover key components such as messaging and the role of the media. The skills acquired in this course are transferable and key to mounting, running, building and volunteering for any campaign.

JOB LOSS AND ECONOMICS

The purpose of this course is to demystify the economy and reinforce that it exists to meet human needs, (not the other way around). What is the economy? How is it measured? The origins of capitalism and neoliberalism and the links between economics and politics will be touched upon. And what happens when jobs are lost? Where can people turn for help? The many emotions and issues surrounding job loss are important to recognize and then know where to find help.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING I

In preparation for bargaining, you must understand the legal and economic factors affecting negotiations. The function of the bargaining committee, its size and work in setting demands are part of your role. Course includes an introduction to costing and COLA.