Unions have led the charge for shorter work weeks, health and safety legislation, collective bargaining rights, benefit and pension programs, paid sick leaves, workers’ compensation, and much more. Now unions are under attack… We will explore the history of unions in Canada and key moments in CUPE’s 50 year history to understand:

• Why are unions under attack?
• Who benefits when workers’ rights are weakened?
• What can we learn from our history to help us move forward and build our power at the bargaining table and in the political arena?

Health & Safety Learning Series Modules

H&S: Law & Orders

This module covers the basic origins of health & safety law, how to find, read and interpret relevant sections of law and highlights some of the more important aspects of the specific health & safety law that applies to you.

H&S: Preventing Mental Injury at Work

New forms of work, job insecurity, work intensification, high demands, violence and a resulting poor work-life balance are resulting in psychosocial and mental health problems in CUPE workplaces.  This module focuses on the workplace as the cause of mental health issues, and not the individual.  Discuss strategies and actions that actually help make workplaces psychologically healthier and safer.

H&S: Violence Prevention in the Workplace

This module examines the risk factors that lead to violence in the workplace, and the employer’s obligations to prevent workers from being exposed to and injured by violence while at work.  We examine relevant health and safety law, and start to develop strategies to make our workplaces safer.