PSAC Steward Series

You can view our Introductory Courses here or our Advanced Courses here.

Tier One courses are broad-based, while Tier Two courses offer more specific learning for stewards who want to develop areas of expertise.

Tier One and Tier Two courses are also available on-line here:
http://vubiz.com/shop-stewards

Online courses take 45-60 minutes to complete.

Tier One Courses are a Pre-requisite for the Advanced Representation Training for Steward (ARTS).

PSAC Steward Series – Tier One Modules

BUIILDING OUR UNION

Objectives:

Strengthen communication skills focusing on listening, speaking and planning a one-to-one conversation with a member;
Practice strategic approaches to communicating with members;
Explore ways to recruit members to get involved in our union through communication.

Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

GRIEVANCES, AN OVERVIEW

Objectives:

Identify what a grievance is and the types of grievances;
Understand the roles in the grievance process;
Understand how the PSAC represents on grievances;
Understand some of the challenges inherent in the grievance process.

Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes

HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE

Objectives:

Understand the definition of human rights, discrimination, and harassment;
Understand the importance of defending and advancing human rights issues in the workplace;
Understand a union representative’s role in advancing human rights in the workplace;
Examine available tools, recourses and resources for defending and advocating for human rights in the workplace.

Time: 3 hours

ROLE OF THE STEWARD

Objectives:

Determine what the role of the shop steward is and is not;
List the legal protections and rights that shop stewards have;
Understand where shop stewards fit, structurally, in our union;
Identify ways a shop steward can help build a strong worksite.

Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

STEWARDS AS PROBLEM SOLVERS

Objectives:

Explore conflict resolution tips that can be used in the workplace;
Practice holding meetings, interviewing complainants and documenting important facts;
Brainstorm ways to deal with workplace problems outside the grievance procedure.

Time: 3 hours

WHY UNIONS

Objectives:

Talk about how unions are good for workers;
Know a little more about the labour movement and PSAC history;
Identify current challenges for the labour movement.

Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes

PSAC Steward Series – Tier Two: Group A Modules

CONNECTING WITH ABORIGINAL MEMBERS

Objectives:

Know the history of colonialism and oppression of Aboriginal peoples in Canada;
Know examples of how Aboriginal peoples in Canada have resisted and continue to resist oppression and colonialism;
Know the role of stewards in promoting justice for Aboriginal members in the workplace;
Feel greater confidence in their skills and knowledge as stewards;
Feel determined to help bring about justice for Aboriginal peoples;
Be able to debunk common misconceptions about Aboriginal peoples;
Be able to demonstrate solidarity with Aboriginal members;
Be able to help their Local better connect with Aboriginal members.

Time: 3 hours

CONNECTING WITH MEMBERS WITH DISABILITIES

Objectives:

Know what a disability is;
Know the range of visible and invisible disabilities that exist;
Know what ableism and how it operates in our workplaces;
Know the role of stewards in making workplaces accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities
Feel increased confidence in their skills and knowledge as stewards;
Feel solidarity with members with disabilities;
Be able to be allies to members with disabilities in the workplace;
Be able to notice and challenge ableist attitudes – in ourselves and others;
Be able to evaluate how accessible their workplace currently is and determine what needs to change.

Time: 3 hours

CREATING GENDER EQUALITY

Objectives:

To better understand sexism;
To recognize sexism when it happens;
To be able to intervene when sexism occurs;
To identify what the union is doing to affect change to address sexism in the workplace and in the union.

Time: 3 hours

DEFENDING GLB MEMBERS AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA IN THE WORKPLACE

Objectives:

Define homophobia and heterosexism;
Explore homophobia as a social construct, not just a “fear” or a “phobia”;
Review the history of GLB struggles;
Explore the use of language to empower and disempower;
Identify gains made by unions for GLB members/communities;
Identify the legal protections for GLB individuals and members;
Establish the role of the steward in addressing GLB issues in the workplace/union.

Time: 3 hours

DEFENDING TRANS MEMBERS IN THE WORKPLACE

Objectives:

Define Trans, Gender Identity, Gender Expression;
Build our understanding of the trans experience to foster compassion as a steward;
Understand the steward’s role when a member transitions from one gender to another;
Understand the employer’s responsibilities during worker transitions;
Review collective agreement language that protects trans members;
Understand the laws that protect trans workers;
Have the basic knowledge and tools to properly represent a transitioning member.

Time: 3 hours, 45 minutes

DUTY TO ACCOMMODATE

Objectives:

Define the duty to accommodate and recognize when accommodation is needed;
Develop an understanding of the responsibilities of the parties with regards to workplace accommodation;
Identify where a steward can go for assistance and resources when dealing with workplace accommodation issues;
Be able to assist members, as a steward, in dealing with accommodation issues.

Time: 3 hours

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY IN THE WORKPLACE

Objectives:

Be able to articulate what employment equity is and why it is important;
Know the basic legal framework;
Have a sense of the employer and union roles with respect to employment equity and where stewards fit into the picture;
Be equipped to dispel commonly held myths about employment equity;
Be ready to take action in the workplace to make employment equity a priority.

Time: 3 hours

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

Objectives:

Have more understanding about mental health disabilities and mental health in the workplace;
Be able to acknowledge and dispel myths and stigmas around mental health;
Be better able to engage/represent members with mental health disabilities;
Recognize the importance of mental health as a workplace health and safety issue;
Have tools to assist with taking action in the workplace.

Time: 3 hours

STEWARDS AS ALLIES FOR RACIAL JUSTICE

Objectives:

Be able to talk about racism with increased ease and confidence;
Have a deeper understanding of racism, how it operates, and its impact;
Be able to recognize obvious and subtle expressions of racism;
Be clear on the role of stewards as allies for racial justice;
Be equipped with tools and strategies to address racism and promote racial justice;
Know how to intervene when racism occurs.

Time: 3 hours

PSAC Steward Series – Tier Two: Group B Modules

CREATING HARASSMENT-FREE WORKPLACES

Objectives:

Know what harassment is and what it isn’t;
Understand the role of the steward in the intervention and prevention of harassment;
Know the ways that workers are protected from harassment;
Be able to recognize harassment and effectively intervene when it happens;
Be able to articulate the impact of harassment on all the players involved: the target, the witnesses, the union, the employer, and the harasser;
Feel hope and optimism that harassment-free workplaces are achievable.

Time: 3 hours

THE OBLIGATION TO REPRESENT MEMBERS FAIRLY

Objectives:

Understand what the duty of fair representation (DFR) means to stewards and the union;
Have a better understanding of the important aspects of DFR legislation;
Be able to clearly define the meaning of arbitrary, discriminatory and bad faith.

Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes

ECONOMICS FOR STEWARDS IN THE WORKPLACE

Objectives:

Have an enhanced understanding of economics;
Know how the current economic and political agenda is impacting workplaces, families and communities;
Be able to view current economic and political agendas with a critical lens;
Be equipped to counter commonly held myths about our economy;
Be able to approach workplace problems in a way that takes in to account the broader economic and political context.

Time: 3 hours

PLANNING FOR ACTION

Objectives:

Build an understanding of the importance of collective action and mobilization to the Union;
Examine the factors that lead to member participation in actions;
Know the steward’s role in mobilizing members;
Explore tools to plan for successful actions;
Identify possible actions;
Practice mobilizing around a specific action.

Time: 3 hours

WHAT STEWARDS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY

Objectives:

Know more about the roles and responsibilities of workers, employers and unions regarding healthy and safe workplaces;
Feel increased confidence talking with other members about their health and safety rights;
Be able to describe ways to build healthy and safe workplaces.

Time: 3 hours

WORKING THROUGH CONFLICT

Objectives:

Recognize when conflict emerges;
Develop an understanding of how to strategically deal with conflict as a steward;
Practice dealing with conflict as a steward

Time: 3 hours

You can view our Introductory Courses here or our Advanced Courses here.