Toronto – February 3, 2014 – UFCW Canada’s groundbreaking online education program, webCampus, has launched two new courses for the month of February. The free online courses are being offered from February 3rd to 28th and are available to all UFCW Canada members and their families, as well as our community partners. The new courses are:

Influencing Democracy: Make Your Voice Heard – English ONLY

February 3 – 28, 2014

One way that UFCW Canada represents the interests of members and their families is through active involvement in politics. Our union is constantly on the front lines fighting for laws that provide better employment insurance coverage, health and safety regulations, workers' compensation, health care, education, and social services to working men, women, and their families. We also fight in the political arena to demand that corporations pay their fair share of taxes and to ensure that workers' labour rights are protected.

Politics, therefore, is not a waste of time. By the end of this course, participants will have an understanding of what lobbying is; the importance of exercising our right to lobby; why lobbying is necessary and how it is done successfully; and why citizens need to become more involved in the political process.

LGBTQ: Being Inclusive – New in French and Returning in English

February 3 – 28, 2014

Standing up for human rights and the rights of workers is fundamental to who we are and what we do as a union. UFCW Canada belongs to its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) members as much as it belongs to any member, and all of our brothers and sisters need to realize that diversity makes us stronger, more creative, and better able to challenge employers and governments together.

By the end of this course, participants will have an understanding of what the term "LGBTQ" means; the challenges that LGBTQ citizens face; the different laws that prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity; how the union movement is creating "safe spaces" at work; and how to support LGBTQ friends, family, and co-workers as an ally.

Registration for all three courses is now open. To register, visit the webCampus website today.