Education

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Courses

On this page, you will find information for current educational opportunities with SEIU-West.

Click on a course below to get a description or print the course descriptions.

Please note: we do not post every upcoming course on this page due to course prerequisites (i.e. some courses are designed for Shop Stewards only).

If you would like to be a Shop Steward, please contact your Unit Chair and Union Representative, or use the contact form.

(the level 1 course is retired)

The Next Step

Investigations and Progressive Discipline

Investigations & Grievance Process

Investigations and Formal Documentation

Activist Training Camp

The goal of this one day course is for participants to learn, understand and engage on:

Anti-oppression and building an inclusive front
Skills-share opportunities with other activists around the Union
Strategic thinking/planning about your activism
A series of workshops designed to enhance your organizing, communication, and leadership skills to stop funding cuts and strengthen public services

This course is designed for any member who is interested in expanding their activism in the social justice community.

Advanced Leadership Development

Objectives for this one day course are for participants to learn, understand and engage on:

The key practices of union building leadership
Possible barriers to leadership development
Modes of conflict
Teamwork and group dynamics
How to run an effective meeting
How to engage members
Different styles of leadership and how to apply them
How to choose the way to respond to conflict in any given situation
The importance of note taking and utilizing the Investigation Sheet throughout all
steps of the grievance.

This course is designed for Unit Executive Officers and Senior Shop Stewards.

Anti-Harassment and Workplace Bullying

Through participatory theater, participants will learn, understand and engage on:

The definitions of inappropriate behaviour that constitute harassment as defined in legislation
The difference between harassment and bullying
The effect of workplace bullying
The role of the Union in these situations
The importance of note taking throughout all steps of the Complaint process

This course is designed for Unit Executive Officers and Shop Stewards.

Complete Stewards in Action Training

Objectives for this three day course are for participants to learn, understand and be better prepared to fulfill their import role and includes:

Introduction to the structure and history of SEIU-West
The roles and responsibilities of the Shop Steward
How to handle grievances and complaints
How to represent members in meetings
How to identify concerns and grievances
Steps of the grievance process
The importance of note taking and utilizing the Investigation Sheet throughout all steps of the grievance
How to fill out the grievance report
Communication strategies with members on Union issues
The bigger picture (political action and why it is important)
Meeting with Management Tips and role plays
Practice with the collective agreement

This course is designed for any Unit Executive Officer or Shop Steward who represents members, meets with management on behalf of the Union.

Domestic Violence at Work Training

Objectives for this two-day course are for participants to learn, understand and be better prepared to address Domestic Violence at work. Participants will:

gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence at work and the role of the union and employer in addressing it;
learn ways to best support members who may be experiencing domestic violence, including how to recognize and respond to the warning signs and risk factors;
start the conversation to build awareness about domestic violence at work among your membership;
develop strategies that build support for collective bargaining and legislative initiatives;
Learn about referrals and pathways to community resources.

This course is designed to train union representatives in our workplaces to be able to respond
to members who may be experiencing domestic violence. This may include stewards, health
and safety representatives, member education facilitators, or staff.

Duty to Accommodate (DTA)/Attendance Management Training

Objectives for this one day course are for participants to learn, understand and engage on:

The role of the steward in the DTA process and Attendance Support Programs
The tools necessary to provide Union Representation to members
The importance of note taking and utilizing the form throughout all steps of the Attendance Management process.

This course is designed for any active Unit Executive Officer or Shop Steward who has taken
Stewards in Action Level I or Complete Stewards in Action Training.

Facing Management Level II

(the level 1 course is retired)

Objectives for this one day course are for participants to learn, understand and engage on:

Strategies for meeting with management
How to represent members at investigation/disciplinary meetings.
The importance of record-keeping, proper investigations, note-taking, grievance reports and utilizing the Investigation Sheet throughout all steps of the grievance

Facing Management Level II is designed for any active Unit Executive Officer or Shop Steward
who has taken Stewards in Action Level I or Complete Stewards in Action Training.

Occupational Health & Safety- Knowledge to Action

Objectives for this one-day course are for participants to learn, understand and engage on Workplace Health and Safety. Participants will leave with a better understanding of their role on the OHC and will be prepared to address issues at the OH&S Committee level such as:

Workload pressure
Stress in the workplace
Harassment and Bullying
Mental Health
The Right to Refuse
Best practices for effective OH&S Committees

This course is designed for SEIU-West Occupational Health Committee (OHC) members and alternates.

Stewards in Action
Level I

Objectives for this two-day course are for participants to learn, understand and be better prepared to fulfill their import role and includes:

Introduction to the structure and history of SEIU-West
The roles and responsibilities of the Shop Steward
How to handle grievances and complaints
How to represent members in meetings and meeting with management tips
How to identify concerns and grievances
Steps of the grievance process and how to fill out the grievance report
The importance of note-taking and utilizing the Investigation Sheet throughout all
steps of the grievance
Communication strategies with members on Union issues
The bigger picture (political action and why it is important)
Practice with the collective agreement

This course is designed for any Unit Executive Officer or Shop Steward who represents
members, meets with management on behalf of the Union.

Stewards in Action
Level II

The Next Step

Objectives for this one day course are for participants to learn, understand and engage on:

The roles and responsibilities of the Shop Steward
How to handle grievances and complaints
The steps of the grievance process
How to write a grievance report.
The importance of note-taking and utilizing the Investigation Sheet throughout all steps of the grievance

This one-day course is designed for any Unit Executive Officer or Shop Steward who represent members, meet with management on behalf of the Union, and have previously taken the Stewards in Action, Level I course.

Technical Course
Level I

Investigations and Progressive Discipline

Objectives for this one day course are for participants to learn, understand and engage on:

The expectations and responsibilities of the Steward’s role with respect to member representation and their interactions with the Member Resource Centre (MRC) and their Union Representative
The significance and technical requirements of a proper investigation and how that will either win or lose a grievance
The principles of Progressive Discipline
The importance of note taking and utilizing the Investigation Sheet throughout all steps of the grievance

This course is designed for Shop Stewards and Unit Executive Officers.

Technical Course
Level II

Investigations & Grievance Process

Objectives for this one day course are for participants through a comprehensive review of advanced case studies will learn, understand and engage on:

The expectations and responsibilities of the Steward’s role with respect to member representation
The complexities of the grievance process from step one through to arbitration
The significance and technical requirements of the Duty of Fair Representation
The importance of note taking and utilizing the Investigation Sheet throughout all steps of the grievance

This course is designed for Shop Stewards and Unit Executive Officers.

Technical Course
Level III

Investigations and Formal Documentation

Objectives for this one day course are for participants to learn, understand and engage on:

The steps to a successful investigation and the documentation that supports that success
Hands-on instruction in ‘what to do vs. what not to do’ in the use of the applicable documents
In-depth understanding of the link between documentation and investigations
Preparedness to investigate, record, and to advise members of the investigation and documentation process at the shop-floor level

This course is designed for Shop Stewards and Unit Executive Officers.

Turtle Island

Objectives for this two day course are for participants to learn, understand and engage on:

Indigenous history, spirituality, and societal injustices including the history and legacy of residential schools and the sixties scoop
Working in solidarity with Indigenous, First Nations and Métis Brothers and Sisters
Working in a comfortable and supportive environment in which to explore attitudes, ideas and questions
Treaties and aboriginal rights

This course is available to SEIU-West members, stewards, union leaders or activists.

Unionism 101

This new course is designed for any member who has not taken any other union training and objectives for this one day course are for participants to learn, understand and engage on:

The basics of unions
How to Connect with SEIU-West to stay current on union activities; the virtual bulletin board; social media
Union Myths and facts
Political action – how and why we use it
Collective Bargaining Basics
Anti-harassment, bullying and Domestic Violence at work.
Union principles, Inclusiveness, Diversity
Truth and Reconciliation and where we fit
Impact of climate change and what we can do about it

The goal is to reach everyday members and create an understanding of SEIU-West and
what makes our union special.

This is a beginner course for rank and file members who are not already Shop Stewards or
Unit Executive officers.

Unionism in Practice

Objectives for this one day course are for participants to learn, understand and engage on:

Understanding union principles
Learning grievance handling and strategies for meeting with management
Understanding and learning healthy workplaces and mental health issues
The importance of note-taking and utilizing the Investigation Sheet throughout all steps of the grievance

This course is designed for any Steward or Unit Executive Officer who has completed a
minimum of Stewards in Action – Level 1.

Unit Leadership - Building Strength and Solidarity

The goal of this one day course is for participants to learn, understand and engage on:

The role of each of the Unit Officer positions and how to work as a team
The structure of SEIU-West and the organizational chart
Communications strategies including social media
Skills for facing management and the importance
The importance of note-taking and utilizing the Investigation Sheet throughout all steps of the grievance

This course is designed for newly elected Unit Executive Officers