** This document is adapted from convention discussion papers on education.


UNION EDUCATION

The union movement grew out of the struggle of working people to improve their lives.

Union education is, or should be, based in that struggle.

It's about developing the knowledge, will and confidence of the membership to defend their rights and the rights of others.

It's about recognizing shop floor, picket line and community activism as significant educational experiences.

It's about developing the awareness and confidence that can change the world.

Union education is a collective - as opposed to competitive - experience.


THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF CUPW EDUCATION

We must provide basic education to new members on their rights and obligations and on their union's history and structure.

We must train local activists to effectively represent the membership in the workplace, handle the day-to-day administration of their locals and organize local activities.

In addition to being aware of their collective agreement and their union, activists should be able to view the world from an informed worker's perspective, with an understanding of history and solidarity.

We must train our own educators and increase the number of workers advocates trained to defend the membership at arbitration and at workers' compensation boards.


NEW EDUCATION PROGRAM

The possibility of realizing these goals was limited until recently.

Although the CUPW Constitution has a lengthy section on education, with a long list of courses, the union was restricted two three-day sessions a year in the spring and fall - the regional seminars.

These seminars had to be all things to all members. CUPW has long-time activists, newly active members and people in between, with quite different needs - but virtually all the needs had to be met through the three-day program.

Over the years, there were many good courses that developed skills and awareness. But the fact that the three-day seminars were different events from region to region (sometimes bearing little resemblance to the national agenda) and the fact that delegates were often selected on the basis of political rather than training considerations, meant that there was never a consistent or comprehensive program geared to the needs of the membership.


THE EDUCATION FUND

In July 1992, the CUPW became the second union in North America (after the CAW) to sign a collective agreement with an employer-paid, worker-controlled education fund.

The union receives three cents per hour for each hour worked by CUPW members. Canada Post hands over this money; we control the education program.

The Union Education Fund now generates around $2.5 million a year. The fund is a trust administered by the union that is separate from the regular operations of the union. It's solely for trade union education of CUPW members who work for Canada Post.
These additional funds have made it possible to offer this four-week program as well as five-day residential courses. The education fund has also been used to produce videos.


A THREE-PART EDUCATION PLAN

At the 1993 CUPW convention, delegates approved a three-part education plan.


1.A residential four-week union education program

The CUPW's four-week residential four-week union education program is called the "Union Education Program", in contrast to the CAW, which calls theirs "Paid Education Leave (PEL) program".

The four Monday-to-Friday courses are held over several months, either in the spring or the fall. There is also a pre-session weekend to orient participants to the Union Education Program.

Attendance at all sessions is mandatory and the 40 hours or more of class per week include evening sessions. The program takes place in a very attractive setting (the CAW Education Centre in Port Elgin), but it's no holiday!

There are 80 participants in the UEP each year - 40 in the spring and 40 in the fall. The annual entitlement, based on membership size, is as follows: Atlantic (5), Quebec (6), Metro Montreal (12), Central (8), Metro-Toronto (14), Ontario (12), Prairie (12) and Pacific (11).

Here is a rough outline of the topics covered each session (updated fall/00):

Level 1poverty, wealth, capitalism, media, equal pay, unemployment, privatization

Level 2racism, sexism, homophobia and heterosexism, aboriginal issues

Level 3globalization, free trade, the deficit, unfair taxes, immigrants and refugees, Québec self-determination
Level 4post office debates, quality of worklife, building solidarity, political action, mock convention, graduation

The UEP utilizes a mix of videos, speakers and class discussion. There are sessions on the post office, society and CUPW, public speaking and workers' history pretty much every week. Also, a performance by the Justice! Group of labour musicians.

The CAW was very helpful when we developed our program and we based much of our course material on theirs. In 1999, we made major changes to the program - updating sections, adding new material, trying some new techniques.


2.Five-Day Education Sessions Developed in Conjunction with the Regions

These courses are geared to specific regional needs and will be delivered in the field. These five-day residential courses could be "tool" courses - skills building courses such as stewards' training, collective agreement, health and safety, workers compensation advocacy, letter carrier route measurement system, and arbitration. Or they could be seminars on other issues of importance to the membership such as technological change and equality issues.

Both the four-week "Union Education Program" and the five day seminars will be paid for out of the Paid Education Fund. The twice-yearly regional seminars will continue to be paid for out of the General Fund (education budget).


3.The Regional or Sub-Regional Seminar System

This system will continue to be used to deliver the sort of courses best suited to this forum, such as examining employer programs, developing union fight-back programs, short sessions on equality, orientation, etc. These two or three-day seminars would be given in the spring and fall.