Workshops and Training Opportunities

Check the HEU calendar for dates and locations of all workshops currently scheduled.

Union Activism

HEU members who are interested in becoming active in the union are invited to apply for this one-day Union Activism workshop.

The goals of the workshop are to introduce new activists to the union and union rights, and to encourage members to become involved in HEU.

Participants will learn about HEU and union rights; the history of HEU and the labour movement; why unions are important and relevant in today’s political climate; privatization and how HEU is defending public health and social services; equity and human rights in the union; and participating in HEU and making changes where needed.

Shop Steward - Introduction

Held annually in all regions, this two-day course gives participants the skills and confidence they need to become shop stewards. It also teaches new stewards how to foster union solidarity and motivate our members and supporters into action when needed.

Participants learn the most effective ways to handle grievances and complaints, the responsibilities they accept as shop stewards, guidelines for interpreting and defending collective agreement provisions, and basic health and safety concepts.

Members need to take Union Activism to get into this course. Sometimes, the Introduction to Shop Steward training is three days and includes Union Activism on Day One.

Shop Steward - Advanced

Held every second year in all regions, HEU’s three-day Advanced Shop Steward course provides participants with in-depth training on more complex types of grievances, including discipline and duty-to-accommodate.

Members must complete the Introduction to Shop Steward course before taking this advanced level workshop.

Know and Enforce Your Rights

This three-day workshop is offered to HEU members currently dealing with grievances and contract enforcement, and who have already taken the HEU Introductory Shop Steward workshop.

The primary goals of this workshop are to build upon knowledge of the facilities, community health or community social services collective agreements, and to foster confidence in enforcing members’ rights.

Demystifying Classifications

This two-day workshop includes:

an introduction to job classification;
information and strategies for navigating through classification processes and Job Review Requests (JRR), and
Maintenance Agreement and Classification Manual demystified.

Women Breaking Barriers

This one-day workshop for women members is an opportunity for those attending:

to look at women members’ real situations at work, at home with their families, and in the union;
to identify common issues and barriers to participation in the union, and
to discuss suggestions and recommendations for change.

Introductory course on Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S)

HEU offers an annual, employer-paid, two-day workshop for occupational health and safety stewards.

Participants learn how to apply the WCB Act and the Occupational Health & Safety Regulation to protect workers’ rights and ensure safe workplaces. They also learn about the responsibilities and duties and responsibilities carried out by local health and safety committees.

Member Facilitator Workshop

In 2004, HEU launched the Member Facilitator program. During this three-day workshop, members learn how to facilitate the union’s one-day Union Activism course. Everyone who takes the facilitator training course must agree to be available, over an 18-month period, to participate as a facilitator when requested by the union. Advanced facilitator training is also offered on an as-needed basis.

LPN Professional Responsibility Advocacy (Steward) Training

This one-day course will help LPNs better understand how they can use the Professional Responsibility language to advocate for themselves, and the patients, residents and clients they care for.

The training is intended for LPNs who are shop stewards, and/or activists, and who are willing to make a minimum 12-month commitment to working with, representing and supporting LPNs at the local and regional level.

Table Officers

Workshops for Table Officers provide newly elected local officers with information on how to fulfill their duties as a chair or secretary-treasurer. These workshops are arranged at the request of the local.

HEU Summer School

HEU’s biennial Summer School is a week-long, “in residence” program which provides skills and leadership development for new and experienced activists.

The school features practical training in areas that support union activism in the workplace as well as information about historic and current struggles for equality, justice and workers’ rights, both here and around the world.

Summer School 2007 was divided into two parts: grassroots leadership and Saving Medicare.

Check out webcast highlights of Summer School 2007. And watch for information on our next Summer School (note: 2009 Summer School did not take place due to the Occupational and Wage Policy Conferences in the fall).

Equity Education

In recognition of the union’s multicultural and diverse membership, HEU offers equity education. Locals can ask an HEU equity officer to do a workshop – during a local or special meeting – on issues such as homophobia or racism. Check our Human Rights section for more information on the union’s equity committees and human rights issues.