2004 first half summary of activities As of the end of June, the UFCW Canada National Training and Education Department has compiled a detailed report on programs delivered by the national office through the first six months of 2004. More than 200 UFCW Canada members have received training in areas such as union stewardship, health and safety, facing management, collective bargaining, and instructor training. Local unions involved in the programs include UFCW Canada Local 401 in Calgary and Edmonton, Alta.; Local 1000A in Woodbridge, Ont.; Local 1118 in Red Deer, Alta.; Local 1230 in Cobourg, Ont.; and Local 1869 in Winnipeg, Man. A total of 218 certificates were awarded through the programs. National training and education staff also made UFCW Canada presentations on a number of issues ranging from Wal-Mart to the plight of migrant agricultural workers at various universities and colleges, including Brock and Ryerson Universities, as well as George Brown College. In addition, UFCW Canada conducted a pilot distance-learning program on Safe Food Handling (this page), with 38 members from four locals participating. UFCW Canada’s youth-to-youth Talking Union program has proved popular in the first half of the year, with 37 separate presentations to students at secondary schools in the greater Toronto region, reaching nearly 1,000 students. Student interns working with the department this summer are assisting in the preparation of a series of provincial “Know Your Rights” booklets that will assist in the expansion of the Talking Union program across the country. In addition to the training and education conference featured above and right, the department is also conducting the annual Youth Internship Program and planning further conferences and training later this year. The UFCW Canada Training and Education Department is also looking forward to working with locals of TUAC Québec in delivering French-language training once the CFACQ opens in Montréal later this year. SFH course available online Following a highly successful national pilot program run last April, the National Training and Education Department has finished tweaking UFCW Canada’s innovative online course in Safe Food Handling, titled SFH to Go!, making it available to all members on the UFCW Canada national website. “SFH to Go! will now be available to any member who needs it,” says national director Michael Fraser. “This UFCW Canada designed and developed course gives our members all the fundamentals of safe food handling, and it will be a tremendous resource for members preparing for the Food Handler certification test.” A total of 38 members involved in food preparation – including hospitality, retail food, and institutional kitchens – from UFCW Canada Locals 175 (Ontario), 247 (British Columbia), 832 (Manitoba), and 1000A (Ontario) took part in the month long trial run of SFH to Go!. “The convenience of this course is a big plus,” says training and education coordinator Bryan Neath. “Students can connect to it any time of day to suit their own schedule, and learn at their own pace. And for members in remote areas, SFH to Go! gives them equal access to great training about a subject concerning everyone these days.” The SFH to Go! interactive course combines two earlier National Training and Education initiatives – a classroom-delivered Safe Food Handling course developed in 2001, and a smaller-scale distance-learning course tested with UFCW Canada members in Ontario in 2002. SFH to Go!, incorporating aspects of UFCW Canada’s clear language initiatives, received funding assistance from the National Literacy Secretariat. SFH to Go! is also available for UFCW Canada local unions to download and customize to meet local union needs. For more information, contact Bryan Neath in the National Training and Education Department. Educating the educators: Kempenfelt 2004 More than 40 UFCW Canada trainers and educators got together at the Kempenfelt Centre near Barrie, Ont. in June to compare notes and bring each other up to date on developments in their local unions (photos this page and opposite). “UFCW Canada has always been in the forefront of member training and education,” says UFCW Canada national director Michael Fraser. “Our National Training and Education Department has been mandated to work more closely with all levels of member education in order to ensure we are bringing members the programs they want and need.” Participants heard from various guest speakers, including Canadian Food Industry Council director Bill Dawson (bottom right) on sectoral initiatives in which UFCW Canada is participating, but most of the conference was spent in workshop and panel discussion modes. “This was the first conference of this type on a national basis that we have held, and it was a big success,” says UFCW Canada training and education coordinator Bryan Neath. “With the assistance of the National Literacy Secretariat, we were able to bring together both full-time and member trainers from across the country to share their experiences and discuss what they are doing in their locals to tailor UFCW Canada training and education programs to their requirements.” One conference highlight was a panel discussion on innovative developments at the local union level. Panelists were Victor Carrozzino of UFCW Canada Locals 175 & 633, Ontario (Distance Computer Education); Marv Funk of Local 1977, Ontario (New Skills Training); Sandy Labermeyer of Local 247, British Columbia (Essential Skills Training); Tammy Sigurdur of Local 832, Manitoba (High School Diploma); and Glenn Toombs of Local 1518, British Columbia (Training Stewards). In workshops, participants worked on three main themes, each incorporating the use of clear language and literacy, based on program development and the special needs of members in particular situations. Conference evaluations from participants were overwhelmingly positive, with most hoping for similar events in the near future. “We had an excellent, comfortable atmosphere where we networked with other UFCW Canada educators. It was a good refresher – being a student again!” one said. |