July 11, 2017
TO: ALL LOCALS – PACIFIC REGION
RE: Pacific & Prairie Regions – PEL 5-day Education Seminar
“Turtle Island” Course & “Fighting Back/Media Training” Course
The Pacific Region is pleased to announce that the next 5-day Education Seminars will be held in conjunction with the Prairie Region in Whistler, B.C. from October 1 to 6, 2017. These are Paid Education Leave (PEL) courses so we are limited to twenty (20) participants in total or ten (10) in each class per Region.
The courses being offered are as follows:
- Turtle Island
The Turtle Island course aims to build meaningful, long-term relationships with Indigenous peoples inside and outside our workplaces.
The course identifies key moments in indigenous peoples’ history in Canada, connects these historical events to the current context, and debunks myths and stereotypes.
It concludes with participants identifying ways to act as effective and respectful allies to Indigenous peoples in their struggle for decolonization.
- Fighting Back: A Primer in Local Postal Worker Power & Media Training
This course is about building alliances in the community, labour movement and workplace. It will increase participants’ awareness of their power and explores how to forge community/labour movement/workplace alliances. Members find the roles they can play to strengthen their individual parts, and as a whole.
With the Media Training component, participants enhance their understanding of the media, and learn how to create and deliver a clear, effective message. They also look at the use of social and community media. A CUPW media specialist delivers some of this course and assists with media role-plays.
Note: This course is recommended for local executive members who interact with the media, or members who may do so in the future.
As these courses are offered under the PEL provision of our collective agreement, all costs including loss of wages, transportation and meals will be paid by the National Union. As bus transportation will be supplied, those choosing to take their personal vehicle will not be compensated for mileage or parking and bus fare will be provided to the Vancouver Bus Depot only.
Interested members should be made aware that all sessions of the courses offered are mandatory and that there will be some evening sessions. Please instruct participants to inform the REOO of any medical conditions that must be considered and ask all participants to refrain from wearing any fragrances during the sessions to protect those with fragrance sensitivity allergies.
The deadline for registration is 5:00 p.m. on August 18, 2017. Please ensure your applications are in by that date, any application received after the deadline will not be considered. All applications must be approved by your Local Executive and the registration form must be signed by the Local President or designate.
In solidarity,
Tom Jackson
Education & Organization Officer
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