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Course Descriptions

Basic Courses

Advocating and Representing Against Workplace Racism

Participants will examine how to identify workplace racial discrimination and to advocate and represent when dealing with these situations; how to support racialized members and Indigenous members who are victims of racism and identify appropriate means of resolving workplace racial discrimination. Members should have some knowledge of grievance representation or human rights advocacy. (Two day course)

Bullying Prevention

Bullying is an increasing problem at workplaces across the country. Dealing with workplace bullying is a complex issue and can’t be fully addressed in a 1-day workshop. However, in this time frame participants should be able to get some clarity about the problem, possible solutions, and understand the union’s role in addressing workplace bullying. (One day course)

Caring for Labour Activists

Members will examine the role of activism in their lives and explore the particular challenges of activism. Members will discuss how to balance activism with other areas of their life and share how activists can support one another. (One day course)

Duty to Accommodate, Basic

This course will examine what is the duty to accommodate and examine the roles of employers, unions and individuals in implementing accommodation measures. You will spend time reviewing the legal and collective agreement provisions that support accommodation, examine accommodation strategies and identify ways of supporting the duty to accommodate. (Two day course)

Effective Union Communications

This gathering will focus on the communications skills and knowledge needed to engage members; speak in public; influence others; rally support for current unions or social justice campaigns; foster collaboration and make effective use of social media. Space will be limited to 60 participants. (Three day course)

Employment Equity

This course will provide participants with an overview of Employment Equity, what it is and its purpose, the legislation involved and the roles and responsibilities of all parties in the workplace. Together we will look at why we need employment equity and its benefits, examine some of the myths surrounding this issue and look at the process for consultation and collaboration between the union and the employer. We will gain new skills and tools for promoting and coordinating Employment Equity/Human Rights issues within our union, our workplaces and the larger labour movement. (Two day course)

Grievance Handling

Attention all stewards! (Or members who are thinking of becoming one…). This course will develop your knowledge, skills and confidence in effectively handling grievances at the workplace. You will spend time on the technical aspects of grievance handling such as identifying, investigating, drafting, and presenting grievances. Members must have the TUB or equivalent union experience. (Two day course)

Harassment Affects Us All

Participants will examine the causes of harassment, explore workplace behaviours which are harassing and develop skills to recognize harassment in the workplace. Participants will also examine the impact of workplace harassment and explore ways to take action, either individually or collectively to deal with workplace harassment. (Two day course)

Health and Safety, Basic

Participants will examine why workplace health and safety is a union issue and explore the historical efforts made by unions for healthy and safe workplaces. Members will also be able to familiarize themselves with union perspectives on healthy and safe workplaces, with the internal responsibility system and increase their knowledge on the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers. (Two day course)

PSAC Convention Preparation

This course focuses on some basics of how convention works, writing and supporting resolutions, and how delegates and observers get to convention. (One day course)

PSAC Convention Procedures

This training is for members who are delegates at the NCR Regional Triennial Convention or at the PSAC Triennial Convention. It will focus on the what, why and how of conventions. Members will explore the convention procedures and increase their familiarity with rules of order used at conventions. It incorporates a mock convention so that participants can experience the politics and debate that takes place at convention. (Two day course)

Preventing Violence in the Workplace

This course is reserved for stewards, members of Health and Safety Committees and of Local Executive. To provide information and better enforcement tools to PSAC Locals, and Health and Safety Committees on the Canada Labour Code Part II requirements on violence prevention as well as its applicable regulations. (Two day course)

Health and Safety Committee Member Training

This course is geared specifically for PSAC members appointed to workplace health & safety committees or who are workplace safety and health representatives under Part II of the Canada Labour Code. Members will explore how they can reduce and eliminate workplace hazards and learn about the committee functions and roles. (Two day course)

Our Communities, Our Union, Our Rights: An Introduction to the PSAC for Indigenous Members

This course is an introduction to the PSAC specifically for Indigenous members. It will help these members better understand how their union works and the tools they need to advance their issues within PSAC. (Two day course)

Intervening in Racist Attacks

Allies will learn to counteract the bystander effect and will learn safe and effective ways of discouraging and stopping these acts. We will learn to intervene, record and report these incidents. We will also learn ways of supporting victims of racist assaults. We will use role plays to prepare for various situations. This course is for non-racialized members. (One day course)

Mobilization 101

Participants will learn specific information about the challenges facing PSAC members and prepare to engage them in conversations to stand together in solidarity with the Union’s efforts. (One day course)

Retirement Planning with CLC & CURC

Are you thinking of retiring in the next 10 years? If so, this course is a must for you. Can you afford to retire? Are you concerned about health issues? Wonder what you will do with your free time? Do you wonder how leaving your workplace will affect your family and friends? This course is presented by retirees who have tackled those questions and a lot more in their lives. (Two day course)

Talking Union Basics

The TUB is the “cornerstone” of our PSAC Education Program and a prerequisite for most of our other courses. This two-day course will introduce you to the PSAC, its structure, how to become involved and the fundamentals of trade union action. Emphasis is put on members’ rights in the workplace and in the union; on understanding and using the collective agreement and on union mechanisms to obtain and protect rights. The virtual version of the TUB will cover the same topics but will be offered in two formats: the seven modules spread over three weeks or over three days.

Understanding and Interpreting the Collective Agreement

This course will help members better understand what a collective agreement is and what it contains. We examine some of the key provisions and examine how to interpret these. We will apply the collective agreement to real situations in the workplace by using cases that have been subject to arbitration. This course demystifies the collective agreement and gives you the basic skills necessary to enforce your agreement in your workplace. (Two day course)

Webinars

Amendments to Part II of the Canada Labour Code regarding the prevention of harassment and violence in the workplace

Significant changes will be made to the Canada Labour Code starting in January 2021, changes that will impact all federally regulated workers, including the federally regulated private sector (Canada Post), government agencies, the federal public service, and employees on Parliament Hill, the House of Commons, the Senate, the Library of Parliament and the Parliamentary Protective Service.

How to organize a virtual meeting in your local

While a significant number of their members have not returned to their workplaces, several Locals are looking at best practices and tools to use to organize virtual meetings with their members. What tools are available to organise virtual meetings at little or no cost? How can these meetings be prepared to reach a majority of members?

How to write a good resolution

This webinar is designed to equip participants to write resolutions that clearly express what they want the membership to adopt at the convention.

Return to the workplace: what to consider

In this webinar, an updated version of the one offered last June, we will address health and safety considerations related to the return to the workplace. We will also discuss the fear that surrounds the return to the workplace and what a return-to-work plan should look like.

Talking Union Basics - Virtual

Welcome to newly elected Local union officials

Despite the pandemic, the life of our Locals has continued. Presidents have retired, treasurers have left their positions after accepting employment with another employer, new shop stewards have taken over; in short, many members have taken on new responsibilities. How can the PSAC support these new leaders so that they can effectively represent their members?

Your rights regarding the use of special leave (code 699) – Treasury Board and Agencies

Whether you are back in the workplace or teleworking, health authorities' instructions could affect you if they result in closing or restricting access to schools or daycare services. They may force you to request special leave ("other paid leave" code 699) to care for your children. You may also request this leave to care for a parent or relative affected by COVID.

Online Courses on the EdX platform

Welcome to Your Union, PSAC

This course is available on our new online course platform (EdX) and aims to introduce new members to the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Stewards: The Role They Play

In this online course on our new platform EdX, we will explore the roles of stewards in our union. Stewards are the bedrock of the PSAC and are fundamental to a union local’s mission. Their many hands lighten the load of your union's work – and they are supported along the way. The course presents the steward as an organizer who leads collaboratively and discusses the ways in which stewards may act as communicators, educators, representatives, and mobilizers.

Evening Modules

Evening modules are offered week nights from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. A light meal is offered to participants.

ATIP: What Locals Need to Know

Locals may need to make use of the Access to Information Act when offering representation to members. This module will orient participants to the information you can obtain and will explain the steps to obtain it.

Classification Grievances

This module is intended to help members working in the Federal public service understand whether they can file grievances regarding the classification of their job and how to proceed if they feel that their position is poorly classified or that recent classification measures have a negative impact on their compensation.

Connecting with Members with Disabilities

By the end of this workshop, participants will know what a disability is; better understand the range of visible and invisible disabilities that exist; what ableism is and how it operates in our workplaces and; the role of stewards in making workplaces accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities.

Creating Committee Pizzazz

The purpose of this module is to work with committee members to: increase their awareness of NCR Committee roles; know processes they can use to work efficiently and effectively; be able to identify ways of involving members in Committee work; and feel equipped to plan and follow-through on a strategy or a plan of action. This module is reserved for active NCR Committee members.

Disability Insurance: How to Help Members

This workshop will give participants an overview on how they can assist members who want to fill a disability claim.

Duty of Fair Representation

Participants will examine what the duty of fair representation means; examine important aspects of DFR legislation; be able to clearly define the meaning of arbitrary, discriminatory and bad faith.

Facebook and Twitter for Locals

This module is designed to equip Locals who are present on social media to ensure constant communication with their members.

Grievances: An Overview

By the end of this module, participants will be able to identify what a grievance is and the types of grievances; understand the roles in the grievance process; understand how PSAC represents on grievances and; understand some of the challenges inherent in the grievance process.

Introduction of Mental Health in the Workplace

By the end of this workshop participants will have more understanding about mental health disabilities and mental health in the workplace; will be able to acknowledge and dispel myths and stigmas on mental health; be better able to engage/represent members with mental health disabilities and recognize the importance of mental health as a workplace health & safety issue and; have tools to assist them taking action in their workplaces.

Organizing a Virtual Activity

Our members have a busy life. They cannot always find the time to travel to take a course, participate in committee discussions, or attend a union event. We will review some online tools that allow members to participate in union life from their homes.

Phoenix

The goal of this presentation is to provide members with practical information if they have difficulty getting a full pay due to Phoenix mistakes.

Resolution Writing

This module aims to introduce the role of resolutions in the union's decision-making process, explain the formal role of resolutions, review the various union bodies and learn how to structure a resolution so that it is adopted and can resolve an identified problem.

Rules of Order

This module is for members who will be attending the NCR Triennial Convention or the PSAC Triennial Convention but who will not be able to attend the two-day training. Members will explore the convention procedures and increase their familiarity with rules of order used at conventions.

Strategic Thinking Concepts

Participants will review different models of strategic thinking; examine how these models can assist in analyzing situations that are challenging their members and learn how to apply strategic concepts in their workplace.

The Art of Argument

The session will provide an overview of techniques and skills in preparing and providing argument. Participants will review how to present an issue to the employer, how to state and present facts and how to seek redress.

The Steward as a Problem Solver

Participants will be able to recognize when conflict emerges; to develop an understanding of how to strategically deal with conflict as a Steward and; to practice dealing with conflict as a Steward.

Women and Municipal Politics

In preparation of the Ottawa municipal election, this workshop developed by the City for All Women Initiative (CAWI), will explore the issues of importance for creating a gender inclusive city, will identify women candidates who support those issues and work with the participants to consider action they can take.

Working Through Conflict

This course will allow members to examine conflict, increase their comfort level in dealing with various forms of conflict and develop strategies to work through conflict situations.

Advanced Courses and Conferences

Directly Chartered Locals Officers' Conference

This conference is reserved for members of the union executives of the Directly Chartered Locals in the National Capital Region. Participants will develop the knowledge, skills and the confidence in order to provide an effective union leadership in their workplace. Participants will learn more about the responsibilities and the work of the Local; know how to implement strategies to increase member participation in the life of their union and increase their familiarity to union structures, decision-making and how these connect to the Local. (Three day course)

Duty to Accommodate, Advanced

This advanced course will examine what is the duty to accommodate and examine the roles of employers, unions and individuals in implementing accommodation measures. You will spend time reviewing the legal and collective agreement provisions that support accommodation, examine accommodation strategies and identify ways of supporting the duty to accommodate. (Two day course) *This course has pre-requisites, it is intended for Stewards or Local Officers who have had Steward Training (i.e. Grievance Handling Course or Advanced Steward Training), experience with representation, and exposure to issues related to the duty to accommodate; including the Duty to Accommodate Basic course.

Duty to Accommodate for Members with Disabilities

This course is designed to increase the capacity of Locals to effectively represent members with disabilities with respect to the duty to accommodate. (Two day course)

Health and Safety, Advanced

Participants will examine why workplace health and safety continues to be an important issue. Members will also be able to increase their knowledge on the rights and responsibilities of workers. Participants must have completed the Basic Health & Safety course in order to apply. (Four day course)

New Local Officers' Conference

New Local Officers - who have been an executive officer for less than one year - will develop the knowledge, skills and the confidence in order to provide an effective union leadership in their workplace. Participants will learn more about the responsibilities and the work of the Local; know how to implement strategies to increase member participation in the life of their union and increase their familiarity to union structures, decision-making and how these connect to the Local. (Three day course)

Separate Employers Conference

Event for members from NCR Separate Employers locals (DCLs and component locals) to address workplace rights, current and common issues, and the importance of union activity and a mobilized membership. (One day course)

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Course Descriptions

Public Service Alliance of Canada - NCR.

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Course Descriptions

Public Service Alliance of Canada - NCR.

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