"This is a list of my labour and Union related education that I have taken over the years. After reading the course outlines, I hope you will agree that the education I have obtained will serve me well as one of your Operations Representatives."
Mike Parkinson |
A.T.U. = Amalgamated Transit Union
C.L.C. = Canadian Labour Congress O.F.L. = Ontario Federation of Labour W.H.S.C. = Worker's Health and Safety Centre |
C.L.C. Shop Steward Level 1
The steward is often the main point of contact between the union, its members, management, and the larger labour movement. This course builds the skills, confidence, and knowledge a steward needs to represent their members. Participants will learn the roles and responsibilities of their position as stewards, the handling of grievances and complaints, problem-solving skills, protecting contractual provisions in the collective agreement, and current issues for stewards.
C.L.C. Shop Steward Level 2
This course is for chief stewards, business and assistant business managers, local officers, and stewards with considerable experience handling grievances. You will practice more advanced grievance handling skills using real life case studies and role plays. Participants will discuss discipline grievances, harassment, drug and alcohol issues, and different styles of management. The course will deal with procedures before the process of arbitration. Knowledge of the first stages of the grievance process will be assumed.
C.L.C. Collective Bargaining
This course develops a solid understanding of the bargaining process and the factors that affect collective bargaining. The course provides opportunities to practice preparing for and negotiating parts of a collective agreement. The course covers a working knowledge of the laws and rules that structure the bargaining process. It will be of interest to new bargaining committee members and local union officers.
O.F.L. WSIB Levels 1, 2, 3
Level 1: This course provides a review of the Workers Compensation Act, how the Board functions, procedures for filing claims, WCB policies for adjudicating claims, and the appeals process. This is a basic course and will interest those union members just starting to handle WCB claims and appeals. This class will observe a hearing presentation to a panel of the Review Division.
Level 2: This course is for WCB advocates wanting to improve their technical skills for the appeal process. This course includes a review of evidence gathering and preparing submissions. Participants will prepare a case study appeal and mock present to a panel of the Review Division.
Level 3: This course is designed to build on the knowledge of the previous 2 levels and provide the skills necessary to enable participants to become effective representatives in various dispute resolution schemes. Participants will be provided with an in-depth analysis of different dispute resolution strategies including Mediation, the Appeals Resolution model and at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT) level. Fundamental legal questions will be discussed. Experience working with evidence will be gained by preparing and presenting mock appeals at the Appeals Resolution Officer (ARO) and WSIAT level. Participants discuss the use of researching tools, gathering evidence, preparing witnesses, examinations, cross-questioning, preliminary issues and formal objections. Facilitators will provide a detailed and useful critique of each participant’s preparation and presentation skills. Pre-requisites are Level 1 and Level 2 ODRT courses or equivalency.
A.T.U. Facing Management
This course deals with the evolving corporate agenda and management styles that are used to implement new programs in the workplace. You will learn about management’s hard-line and soft-line approaches and various workplace strategies. This course is designed to teach a critical awareness of the latest management tactics so the union can protect and advance its agenda. We hope to better equip participants with some of the necessary skills to deal with management and win the hearts and minds of your membership at the same time.
A.T.U. Secretary-Treasurer
This course gives the recipient the necessary tools to properly handle and report the Union Local's finances. It also gives the recipient the ability to report the necessary information regarding per capita and membership to the International office.
A.T.U. Membership Information System
This information system is the current way for the Union Local to give the complete monthly record regarding the Local's membership and per capita dues to the International office.
A.T.U. Shop Steward Level 1
This course builds the skills, confidence, and knowledge a steward needs to represent their members. Participants will learn the roles and responsibilities of their position as stewards, the handling of grievances and complaints, problem-solving skills, protecting contractual provisions in the collective agreement, and current issues for stewards. This course a transit specific curriculum.
Simply Accounting Basics
This course is provided by Simply Accounting for it's new purchasers. This seminar style course is intended for Sage Simply Accounting users who are looking for a comprehensive "how to" approach to Sage Simply Accounting. You will learn how to pay suppliers, invoice customers, pay employees, look up reports, prepare bank reconciliations, make general journal entries and so much more! For bookkeepers & accountants, ideal training to lay the foundation to provide Sage Simply Accounting consulting services to their clients. This in-depth one day course is designed for busy people who want to get Up & Running on Sage Simply Accounting.
A.T.U. Labour Law
This course is designed to make a clear connection between labour commitment to our members and to our communities. Participants are provided with information about some of the social issues faced by working people and the resources available in their community. As well, participants are provided with training about communicating and interacting with those who are facing difficult issues. This is a course for shop stewards, health and safety reps and those who wish to strengthen the links between labour and community activism.
A.T.U. Contract Costing
This course gives the participant the abilities and electronic tools to be able to deceminate the actual cost of your current contract provisions and the effect of the proposed changes to those provisions. The ability to properly cost out contractual items is essential to obtaining the most cost effective and beneficial improvements to your next collective agreement.
A.T.U. Benefits Costing
The ability to understand what the benefit provisions in your collective agreement cost is essential in being able to negotiate improvements to best benefit your members. This course gives the participant the necessary understanding of the cost of many different benefit provisions and how one benefit interacts with others within your agreement.
C.L.C. Labour Council Leadership Level 1
The ability to lead is essential in being able to attain the progress for your Labour Council and your own Union Local. The ability to understand the broader scope of the labour movement and how it effects your Labour Council area will allow you to engage the public and communicate what the labour movement is seeking to accomplish. The participant in this course will obtain the becessary skills to communicate with their fellows council members, affiliates and the community at large. Communication with media outlets and the art of interviews is also practised.
C.L.C. Labour Council Leadership Level 2
The world of work is changing rapidly. But is the labour movement keeping pace? Workers of colour and aboriginal workers are growing in numbers. Aboriginal youth are joining the workforce earlier than others; and workers of colour make up the majority of new Canadians entering the workforce. For the labour movement to grow, labour leadership needs to understand and better reflect our changing workforce. Which course is designed to advance leadership skills in the following areas: governance & leadership; advancing equity at the bargaining table; campaign organizing; lobbying and communications; improve presentation skills; campaign organizing; health & safety issues; an overview of grievances and arbitration; and emerging issues affecting the labour movement.
W.H.S.C. Health & Safety Level 1
This program is essential training for workers health & safety activists who want to exercise their legal rights & responsibilities fully. The program covers health & safety legislation for every jurisdiction in Canada as needed. It introduces the need for continuous bargaining, namely every conversation or meeting with the employer must be viewed as an opportunity to meet the union’s health and safety goals. Finally, the program debunks the myth of the careless worker and the latest expression of this myth, Behaviour Based Safety Programs, by focusing on a hazard-based approach to healthy and safe workplaces. Prerequisite to Level II Law & Committees programs and OHS Instructor Training.
A.T.U. Union Local Organizing
This course gives the participant the general skills and knowledge to successfully carry out an organizing drive. The ability to communicate with the members of an unorganised transit property and explain the benefits of a unionized workplace verses the non-unionized working environment is essential to a successful drive. The participants of this course will obtain the knowledge to identify an unorganized workplace, seek out employees who are willing to help and the methods to get your Local's message across to the workers of that transit property.
C.L.C. Website Design
Have you been given the task of developing a website for your local union? Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry! This course will assist you in designing and maintaining a website that is user-friendly, accessible to the public, and worker-driven. Words like youtube, blogs, and flickr will become part of your everyday vocabulary. Join us as
we take intimidation out of the internet and make it a tool to mobilize and change the world.
C.L.C. Labour Education Instructor Training
This course gives participants the skills, knowledge and background to participate in Adult Education. The course gives participants a background in understanding how adults learn and what type of techniques are most effective within an adult learning environment. It also provides practical presentation skills for use in everyday union life. This course is a prerequisite to facilitating trade union education within the CLC and affiliated unions.
C.L.C. Labour Law (Private and Public)
This course presents an overview of labour legislation and its impact on the strategies and actions of unions. Among the topics to be explored are: certification and dispute settlement procedures; unfair labour practices; the duty to bargain in good faith; strikes, lockouts and picketing; the duty of fair representation; management and union rights; and grievance arbitration law.
The steward is often the main point of contact between the union, its members, management, and the larger labour movement. This course builds the skills, confidence, and knowledge a steward needs to represent their members. Participants will learn the roles and responsibilities of their position as stewards, the handling of grievances and complaints, problem-solving skills, protecting contractual provisions in the collective agreement, and current issues for stewards.
C.L.C. Shop Steward Level 2
This course is for chief stewards, business and assistant business managers, local officers, and stewards with considerable experience handling grievances. You will practice more advanced grievance handling skills using real life case studies and role plays. Participants will discuss discipline grievances, harassment, drug and alcohol issues, and different styles of management. The course will deal with procedures before the process of arbitration. Knowledge of the first stages of the grievance process will be assumed.
C.L.C. Collective Bargaining
This course develops a solid understanding of the bargaining process and the factors that affect collective bargaining. The course provides opportunities to practice preparing for and negotiating parts of a collective agreement. The course covers a working knowledge of the laws and rules that structure the bargaining process. It will be of interest to new bargaining committee members and local union officers.
O.F.L. WSIB Levels 1, 2, 3
Level 1: This course provides a review of the Workers Compensation Act, how the Board functions, procedures for filing claims, WCB policies for adjudicating claims, and the appeals process. This is a basic course and will interest those union members just starting to handle WCB claims and appeals. This class will observe a hearing presentation to a panel of the Review Division.
Level 2: This course is for WCB advocates wanting to improve their technical skills for the appeal process. This course includes a review of evidence gathering and preparing submissions. Participants will prepare a case study appeal and mock present to a panel of the Review Division.
Level 3: This course is designed to build on the knowledge of the previous 2 levels and provide the skills necessary to enable participants to become effective representatives in various dispute resolution schemes. Participants will be provided with an in-depth analysis of different dispute resolution strategies including Mediation, the Appeals Resolution model and at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT) level. Fundamental legal questions will be discussed. Experience working with evidence will be gained by preparing and presenting mock appeals at the Appeals Resolution Officer (ARO) and WSIAT level. Participants discuss the use of researching tools, gathering evidence, preparing witnesses, examinations, cross-questioning, preliminary issues and formal objections. Facilitators will provide a detailed and useful critique of each participant’s preparation and presentation skills. Pre-requisites are Level 1 and Level 2 ODRT courses or equivalency.
A.T.U. Facing Management
This course deals with the evolving corporate agenda and management styles that are used to implement new programs in the workplace. You will learn about management’s hard-line and soft-line approaches and various workplace strategies. This course is designed to teach a critical awareness of the latest management tactics so the union can protect and advance its agenda. We hope to better equip participants with some of the necessary skills to deal with management and win the hearts and minds of your membership at the same time.
A.T.U. Secretary-Treasurer
This course gives the recipient the necessary tools to properly handle and report the Union Local's finances. It also gives the recipient the ability to report the necessary information regarding per capita and membership to the International office.
A.T.U. Membership Information System
This information system is the current way for the Union Local to give the complete monthly record regarding the Local's membership and per capita dues to the International office.
A.T.U. Shop Steward Level 1
This course builds the skills, confidence, and knowledge a steward needs to represent their members. Participants will learn the roles and responsibilities of their position as stewards, the handling of grievances and complaints, problem-solving skills, protecting contractual provisions in the collective agreement, and current issues for stewards. This course a transit specific curriculum.
Simply Accounting Basics
This course is provided by Simply Accounting for it's new purchasers. This seminar style course is intended for Sage Simply Accounting users who are looking for a comprehensive "how to" approach to Sage Simply Accounting. You will learn how to pay suppliers, invoice customers, pay employees, look up reports, prepare bank reconciliations, make general journal entries and so much more! For bookkeepers & accountants, ideal training to lay the foundation to provide Sage Simply Accounting consulting services to their clients. This in-depth one day course is designed for busy people who want to get Up & Running on Sage Simply Accounting.
A.T.U. Labour Law
This course is designed to make a clear connection between labour commitment to our members and to our communities. Participants are provided with information about some of the social issues faced by working people and the resources available in their community. As well, participants are provided with training about communicating and interacting with those who are facing difficult issues. This is a course for shop stewards, health and safety reps and those who wish to strengthen the links between labour and community activism.
A.T.U. Contract Costing
This course gives the participant the abilities and electronic tools to be able to deceminate the actual cost of your current contract provisions and the effect of the proposed changes to those provisions. The ability to properly cost out contractual items is essential to obtaining the most cost effective and beneficial improvements to your next collective agreement.
A.T.U. Benefits Costing
The ability to understand what the benefit provisions in your collective agreement cost is essential in being able to negotiate improvements to best benefit your members. This course gives the participant the necessary understanding of the cost of many different benefit provisions and how one benefit interacts with others within your agreement.
C.L.C. Labour Council Leadership Level 1
The ability to lead is essential in being able to attain the progress for your Labour Council and your own Union Local. The ability to understand the broader scope of the labour movement and how it effects your Labour Council area will allow you to engage the public and communicate what the labour movement is seeking to accomplish. The participant in this course will obtain the becessary skills to communicate with their fellows council members, affiliates and the community at large. Communication with media outlets and the art of interviews is also practised.
C.L.C. Labour Council Leadership Level 2
The world of work is changing rapidly. But is the labour movement keeping pace? Workers of colour and aboriginal workers are growing in numbers. Aboriginal youth are joining the workforce earlier than others; and workers of colour make up the majority of new Canadians entering the workforce. For the labour movement to grow, labour leadership needs to understand and better reflect our changing workforce. Which course is designed to advance leadership skills in the following areas: governance & leadership; advancing equity at the bargaining table; campaign organizing; lobbying and communications; improve presentation skills; campaign organizing; health & safety issues; an overview of grievances and arbitration; and emerging issues affecting the labour movement.
W.H.S.C. Health & Safety Level 1
This program is essential training for workers health & safety activists who want to exercise their legal rights & responsibilities fully. The program covers health & safety legislation for every jurisdiction in Canada as needed. It introduces the need for continuous bargaining, namely every conversation or meeting with the employer must be viewed as an opportunity to meet the union’s health and safety goals. Finally, the program debunks the myth of the careless worker and the latest expression of this myth, Behaviour Based Safety Programs, by focusing on a hazard-based approach to healthy and safe workplaces. Prerequisite to Level II Law & Committees programs and OHS Instructor Training.
A.T.U. Union Local Organizing
This course gives the participant the general skills and knowledge to successfully carry out an organizing drive. The ability to communicate with the members of an unorganised transit property and explain the benefits of a unionized workplace verses the non-unionized working environment is essential to a successful drive. The participants of this course will obtain the knowledge to identify an unorganized workplace, seek out employees who are willing to help and the methods to get your Local's message across to the workers of that transit property.
C.L.C. Website Design
Have you been given the task of developing a website for your local union? Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry! This course will assist you in designing and maintaining a website that is user-friendly, accessible to the public, and worker-driven. Words like youtube, blogs, and flickr will become part of your everyday vocabulary. Join us as
we take intimidation out of the internet and make it a tool to mobilize and change the world.
C.L.C. Labour Education Instructor Training
This course gives participants the skills, knowledge and background to participate in Adult Education. The course gives participants a background in understanding how adults learn and what type of techniques are most effective within an adult learning environment. It also provides practical presentation skills for use in everyday union life. This course is a prerequisite to facilitating trade union education within the CLC and affiliated unions.
C.L.C. Labour Law (Private and Public)
This course presents an overview of labour legislation and its impact on the strategies and actions of unions. Among the topics to be explored are: certification and dispute settlement procedures; unfair labour practices; the duty to bargain in good faith; strikes, lockouts and picketing; the duty of fair representation; management and union rights; and grievance arbitration law.