Course Descriptions
Thinking Leadership: Theory and Practice for Union Leaders NEW COURSE
This advanced course is aimed at CMG leaders – volunteers, committee members and elected officers – interested in furthering their knowledge of leadership theories and practices, specifically in the context of building union solidarity. It covers both personal and organizational skills and includes lots of practical hands-on work. This course is based on the premise that leadership is not only about having a vision for any group, committee or organization. Leadership is also about recognizing the importance of identifying and supporting others to take on leadership roles at various levels to develop an inclusive, leadership-rich organization. Participants will examine:
- the cross-currents of union culture
- leadership styles
- the role of emotional intelligence in leadership
- understanding trust and betrayal in leadership
- understanding organizational change
- the challenges of leadership in living systems
- participatory leadership and decision-making theory and processes
This intensive 3 ½ -day course will culminate with the development of group action plans to build solidarity. As with all CMG courses, this course will be participatory in nature and will engage participants using a variety of teaching techniques and processes.
Although there is no pre-requisite for this course, it assumes that participants have already engaged in union activity and have taken on leadership roles in some form.
Dispute Resolution – Level I
Participants will learn the basic skills required for solving problems both in and out of the workplace. This course is open to any Guild member interested in being more effective in finding creative and effective solutions for problems and disputes. You’ll learn how to clearly identify the problem, how to determine the needs of each side in a dispute, how to develop a solution that is fair and realistic and how to bring each side to a mutually acceptable agreement.
Dispute Resolution – Level II: facilitation and mediation
(Prerequisite: Dispute Resolution I or previous workplace experience in problem-solving)
This course is designed to build on skills learned in Dispute Resolution. Where the first course focused on solving individual problems, this one will focus on helping others find solutions. Participants will learn effective facilitation tools and techniques dealing with behaviour and process. You’ll learn how to define the problem, how to ask questions effectively, the language of facilitation, the importance of neutrality, best and worst practices and practical strategies for dealing with difficult problems.
Leadership in Action
This course is aimed at all union volunteers and leaders, regardless of experience. The goal is to provide you with the skills you need to effectively represent your colleagues and to run and administer your branch or location. It’s a great refresher for those of you already active in the Guild and an opportunity for your less-experienced colleagues to benefit from your experience and knowledge. The course includes leadership skills, dispute resolution and case handling techniques, mobilization strategies, tips on meeting new members, running better meetings, how to meet with management and an introduction to grievance handling and keeping good records.
The Art of Negotiation
Participants learn the basic skills required for negotiating individual contracts, overtime buyouts and additional remuneration, as well as skills for negotiating collective agreements. This course is open to any Guild member interested in being more effective in any negotiation with management. You’ll learn how to establish your own wants and needs, how to identify what’s realistic and saleable, and how to achieve a mutually satisfactory agreement.
Contract Enforcement – Level I
This course deals with interpretation and administration of the collective agreement, grievance procedures and conflict resolution. Participants will be guided through their own collective agreements, focusing on frequently applied articles. They will also participate in exercises that develop skills for investigating and resolving problems and drafting and resolving grievances. Participants will also take part in activities aimed at analysing problems using brainstorming techniques.
Contract Enforcement – Level II: labour law
This course will explore a range of perspectives on labour relations and employment. Participants will be guided through relevant sections of the Labour Code including the duty to represent, basic worker rights, rules on collective bargaining, etc. They will also be receive instruction on the application of Human Rights legislation, Health and Safety rules, the Privacy Act and the role of case law in grievance arbitration.
Train the Trainer
This course is open to any Guild member interested in teaching and facilitating Guild education courses. It is based on principles of popular adult education and is designed to give you the skills to teach and/or design courses and workshops. You will learn how adults learn, what makes a good course or workshop, presentation techniques and how to develop and apply course goals. You will also design and present a module for a Guild workshop. And you will return to your home location with designs ready for use.
Available in 2010
ONE-DAY WORKSHOPS – available in your location/branch on demand. Contact the CMG’s National Director of Education, Barbara Saxberg (bsaxberg-nec@cmg.ca), for details.
But What Does it Mean? (How To Interpret Your Collective Agreement)
Aimed at activists, stewards, grievance committee members: how to read your collective agreement; how to use a four-step process for interpretation; how to apply the process to prepare to meet with management. The content of this workshop can apply to any collective agreement.
Enough Already! (Strategies For Coping With Bullies At Work)
Aimed at anyone who has been bullied, has seen someone bullied or has been asked to help someone bullied: understanding bullying (definitions, types); what motivates a bully; who is the likely target; what’s the impact; where’s the law; what to do about it
Mobilizing Your Branch/Location
Aimed at location and branch activists and executive members: reaching out to new members; reaching out to potential activists; building networks; mobilizing around issues; develop a campaign plan; communication
Help! I’ve been elected… now what? (Training For New Executive Members)
Aimed at anyone newly elected to a CMG executive committee/council; Guild history and structure; your role and responsibilities as an e-board member; what/who makes a good leader; how to communicate and debate effectively.
Taking Action on Workload
Aimed at anyone dealing with workload issues: what is it? What are the causes, consequences, examples of workload issues? What are your rights? How to say no. What do other unions do? Planning a strategy.
Attention Branch/Location Executives:
Guild Activists Toolkit …basic tools for running a location or branch.
Organize a lunch session in your workplace! The modules below are designed specifically for members of local or branch executives. They can be delivered independently or in combination at a one- or two-day course. Each module has practical, easy-to-read handouts and forms. Instruction on each module takes one to two hours. The Guild will provide a trainer.
Modules:
Branch/Location administration:
* Leadership Skills – what makes a good leader, analyzing your strengths, learning to delegate and recruit others to share the load
* Mobilizing the membership – building a structure, mobilizing around issues, keeping the structure going
* Meeting New Members – introducing new members to the Guild, what and whom they need to know, using member kits
* Running a meeting – setting an agenda, time limits, rules of order, letting participants have their say, reaching decisions
* Meeting with management – deciding who to meet, maintaining focus, developing a pre-meeting strategy, setting deadlines for action/resolution, follow-up correspondence
Case handling:
* Dealing with members – understanding issues/problems, determining resources, when to bring someone else in, getting the facts, dealing with member-to-member conflict, documenting a case, developing an appropriate strategy
* Focusing on Issues – avoiding distractions, understanding the facts and deciding on an outcome, avoiding personality disputes, brainstorming ideas
* Effective letter writing – staying with the facts, who to write, intros/extros and that pesky middle part
* Grievance writing – step-by-step instructions on filing a grievance, selection of appropriate contract articles, defining the grievance, identifying remedies, timeline
* Keeping the record – what forms to use, how to fill out investigative forms, when to write e-mails and other correspondence, interviewing potential witnesses, research and documentation
