United Food & Commercial Workers Union
Local 1400

Education and Training Report Archives

Education and Training 2007 Reports

Spring 2007 Report

Congratulations to all of our new Shop Stewards! In February and March 2007, a total of 46 new Stewards received their Level I training (pictured in three pictures below). These newly trained members bring the local’s Steward body to an impressive 282. The local thanks all of our new Stewards for stepping forward to become leaders in your workplaces. Shop Stewards are the backbone of the union; because you are there to help your fellow workers and police the Collective Agreement, you have already made your work environment a better place. If you are interested in becoming a Shop Steward at your workplace, please contact the Education Centre or your Representative.

 

 

This winter and early spring has been a busy time for the Education Centre. Along with the three classes of Level I Steward training, there was a Level II Steward class held in January (pictured below) with nine stewards completing the training. For anyone who has taken Level II training prior to March 2005, we remind you that you are invited to take the new version of this course. It has been totally redesigned to ensure that you find it interesting, relevant and meaningful in your workplace.

The local also held the week-long Union Counsellor training course, facilitated by Lily Olson of United Way of Saskatoon and Area for our members. This year seven members completed the week-long course (class pictured below on graduation) and one member completed the evening course (pictured below second on graduation) which was held over a ten week period. Congratulations to those who completed their training this spring, taking their Shop Steward knowledge to the next level and adding an important aspect of care into your workplaces.

 

There have been a number of computer courses held around the province, with more courses scheduled. Participants completing the various courses are asking for further training to be scheduled in their areas. The Education Centre is also very pleased to now be providing computer training to members of the Saskatchewan Federation of Union Retirees.

Red Cross Standard First Aid and CPR/AED training was completely revised as of January of this year and the Education Centre is proud to now offer the most up to date training with all new equipment. All of the First Aid classes held to date this year have received an excellent response by all who have taken this newly redesigned course. Once participants have completed this Red Cross training, they are certified for three years in all aspects of Standard First Aid, the new CPR protocol and in the use of AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators), an important new aspect of lifesaving.

Due to changes that took effect January 2007 in the standards of both First Aid and CPR/AED training, we will not be offering a recertification class within the present two- day full course.  Changes are significant enough that we request all participants take the full course to ensure that they are fully skilled.

If you took your First Aid training prior to January 2007, your present certification is still valid until the expiry date noted on your certificate.  However, we are offering a four- hour CPR/AED Upgrade course for those who presently have a valid certificate but wish to become apprised of the new procedures. Those who complete this course will receive a wallet certificate verifying they have completed these new skills.

The very popular course Unionism on Turtle Island will be held this spring from May 28th to June 1st. This five-day course is designed for all Shop Stewards and members (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) who want to learn more about Aboriginal issues and who want to work in solidarity with all of their union Brothers and Sisters. This course begins the process of providing a basic awareness of Aboriginal people’s history and culture in a positive environment as well as the contemporary issues faced today. It will provide factual information, dispelling the current myths and misconceptions that surround Aboriginal people. The course will provide a comfortable and supportive environment in which to explore your attitudes, ideas and questions. There are a few spots still available in this class, please call the office if you are interested in attending.

Our newest course, Workplace Violence Prevention Program, has been rescheduled to June 14th and 15th. In this course, participants will learn about the different types of violence that may happen in their workplace and discuss strategies to improve their personal and workplace safety. You will identify and assess possible risk factors in your workplace then develop an action plan to reduce the possibility of a violent incident occurring. This class is open to any member of the local, and is of particular interest for members who are on their workplace Occupational Health & Safety Committee or are Shop Stewards.

For more information, or to sign up for any of the courses offered by the Education Centre, please contact Kathryn at 384.5787 within Saskatoon, 1.800.274.4036 toll free or by email to kathryn@ufcw1400.ca.

Education and Training 2006 Reports

Fall, 2006

Please visit the Shop Steward Page under the menu heading of Education for a full report on the 2006 Shop Steward Conference.

Our First Aid facilitators completed their upgrade training in late November for Red Cross First Aid course changes that are being implemented. As the changes have entailed extensive changes to the course content, the Education Centre is in the process of exploring all of the necessary equipment and other materials that are needed to implement the updated courses.

Although some of the changes do not have to be implemented immediately, the design of the course includes all new aspects and we do not feel it would be prudent to deliver the course without all aspects being included. As such, we have postponed the scheduled class for Saskatoon in January and will reschedule it and other dates and locations as soon as possible.

Spring, 2006

Unionism on Turtle Island is a new course for Local 1400. It was presented for the first time on March 13 to 17, 2006, in our Education Centre for a group of Executive Board and rank and file members as well as some staff members. Aboriginal Committee Chair, Marjorie Huard and a member from CUPE, Bill Anderson, facilitated for us (pictured to the left). The course was originally developed by the SFL Aboriginal Committee in 2001 and is currently offered by the SFL and CLC at Spring School and Prairie School for Union Women.

UFCW recognizes that misconceptions are often the source of prejudice and stereotyping and feel that this is an important course for all workers (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) who want to learn more about Aboriginal issues and who want to work in solidarity with their First Nations and Métis Brothers and Sisters. The course provides a comfortable and supportive environment in which to explore attitudes, ideas and questions.

Historically, relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people have developed along separate and negative experiences. Although advances toward building more positive relationships have occurred in recent years, we need to continue to build awareness and understanding of the historical events that form the basis of the present negative stereo types and racist attitudes.

 

This course begins the process of providing a basic awareness of Aboriginal people’s history and culture in a positive environment as well as the contemporary issues they are facing today. It provides factual information, dispels the current myths and misconceptions that surround Aboriginal people and, through analyzing the current political and social Aboriginal experience and learning about the uniqueness of the Aboriginal population, creates a better understanding of the shared struggles of Aboriginal people and unions.

  

The following are some comments from those who participated in this course:

  • I would highly recommend this course for everyone.
  • I enjoyed the personal stories of the Elders and facilitators; they brought a sense of reality to the course by sharing very personal memories in a companionate way.
  • The Time Line gave me a better understanding of Aboriginal history.
  • The Oka video, to see whole story was incredible and disturbing.
  • The facilitators made everything come together and made everyone comfortable.

    • “Let us learn to walk together on Turtle Island.”

    Education and Training 2005 Reports

    July, 2005

    The Education Centre wrapped up its Spring Schedule in April and May with numerous classes taking place.

    Along with very successful First Aid/CPR courses in Moose Jaw and Saskatoon and varied computer courses taking place in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Regina, there was a Shop Steward Level I course held at the Education Centre in Saskatoon on April 11th and 12th, and an Occupational Health and Safety course the week of May 2nd to 6th.

    Eleven new Shop Stewards took part in the Level I course (left) which was facilitated by Kathy Erickson.  Members described the course as being very helpful in being able to understand and know more about the union; to prepare you for being in the position of a Steward and conducting yourself well in the position.

    The Occupational Health and Safety course, which is a five day course, also had eleven members attend from workplaces across Saskatchewan, from all sectors the local represents, making it very interesting (pictured below).  With such a variance of workplaces represented, group discussions covered many aspects of Heath and Safety that those who thought that some aspects didn’t really have to do with them or their workplace could then identify with more easily because of the first hand accounts from their fellow members.  The instructors for this course were Local 1400’s Cory Cozart and Kathy Erickson and National Office instructor Cam Sherk (pictured lower right).

       

       

    In June, three youth committee members, Brandi Tracksell, Jackie Houben and Craig Thebaud presented the National Talking Union program to Bedford Road Collegiate to two classes there.  This is the first time in Saskatchewan that this program has been presented and it was very well received by the students and teachers that took part. 

    To allow the facilitators and all of you, time to spend with your families and on vacation, the Education & Training Centre does not have any classes scheduled for the summer.  We will however, be working on some new courses and ideas for the next year. 

    Watch for the Fall Course Schedule in the next issue of Focus or on the Education page of this website.  Have a good summer.

    April, 2005

    Since last reported, the Education Centre has been a busy place; instructors have received extensive training and courses offered have been completely upgraded.

    Four First Aid Instructors have been certified to teach Level “C” First Aid and CPR that is recognized by the Red Cross, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety and the Computer Courses offered are also off to a good start with two trained instructors holding classes in the Saskatoon computer lab and with the portable lab in locations around the Province. 

    The Centre’s first Occupational Health and Safety class (pictured to the right) filled up fast, OH&S committee members from workplaces across the Province took part in this informative course and went back to their workplaces with the skills and knowledge needed to be an even more effective committee member.  Members who took part in this course commented that it was useful “to find out that the employer is under law, bound to comply with certain things and/or circumstances”, “investigating and reporting was very important, I wouldn’t have had a clue if a situation would have arisen in my workplace before this training”,  “interaction and group discussions were very useful”, “the tools we have at our disposal to solve disputes or problems as they arise and the rights that employees have were very important to find out”.

    The Union Counsellor course offered, also for the first time, as a week long school to our members was a full house.  As workplace counsellors, these members will have the tools and information needed to refer fellow members to agencies in a confidential, professional manner no matter what the concern may be.  Pictured to the left are the recent graduates.

    The most recent Shop Steward Level II course, that took place in March, was also well attended.   This class, pictured to the right and down,  had a great mix of stewards, some that  had completed Level I training in the fall, some that had completed it years ago, which made for interesting class discussions and role plays.  This was also the first presentation of the newly revised Level II training; members said that they found it to be very interesting and relevant.

    Congratulations to all our members who have recently completed courses offered by the Education Centre.

    This spring will be an even busier time for education with more dates available for all classes, Shop Steward and OH&S schools, SFL Spring School, Prairie School for Union Women and the UFCW Provincial Council Convention upcoming, as well as the kick off of the UFCW Youth presenting the Talking Union program in area high schools (see the Course Schedule section for full details).

    Lifelong learning for our members is the goal of this Education Centre; we look forward to seeing you at a course of interest to you.  Please see the course listings, under training programs (above), for the Spring 2005 schedule of courses available.

    Pictured receiving their First Aid certification, Harry Multon and Bonnie Boechler with the instructor trainer Chris Becker;

    and Lance Abbott and Dave Lozowchuk with Chris receiving their certification.

     

    The Centre’s first Occupational Health and Safety class;

    Graduates from the spring Union Counsellor course.

    The most recent class of Level II Shop Stewards, they took part in the newly revised Level II class.