Activists from UFCW Canada Locals 1869 and 227W recently brought their energy and enthusiasm to an empowering workshop in Winnipeg to improve their skills to better represent members in the workplace.

National representatives Chris O’Halloran and Lily Olson led the Shop Stewards Level 1 training session held May 13-14 at the Local 1869 office.  The two-day curriculum included: Myths About Unions; the Role and Structure of UFCW Canada; The Importance of Member Participation; The Role and Responsibilities of Stewards; Collective Bargaining; and Handling Grievances.

Through a number of engaging exercises and brain storming sessions, workshop participants dedicated two days to learning new strategies and techniques in membership representation and in dealing with employers.

“Our stewards were very impressed with this course and the instructors’ way of teaching, and they also had a lot of fun while learning,” says Aline Audette, president of UFCW Canada Local 1869. The newly trained stewards from Local 1869 work at St. Boniface General Hospital, while members of UFCW Canada Local 227W work at ADM Malting Canada Ltd. in Winnipeg.

As an option or complement to on-site steward workshop training, this September the National Office will also be introducing an online course through webCampus — UFCW Canada’s state-of-the-art online learning resource.

Introduction to the Union and Stewardship will be launched on September 8, joining several other courses that will be added in the fall to the 70 courses already available through webCampus.

To find out more, go to webcampus.ufcw.ca


Vol. X No. 30 • August 3, 2010