National Union of Public and General Employees, September 5, 2007, Wednesday

National Union of Public and General Employees, September 5, 2007, Wednesday
http://www.nupge.ca/news_2007/n05se07b.htm

NUPGE leadership development school enriching experience

Leadership, organizational change and strategic choices for union leaders

Ottawa (5 Sept. 2007) - For the ninth year in a row, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) held its annual Leadership Development School and, like previous years, the feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive.

The school took place from Aug. 25th to 31st at the Elmhirst Resort, which is located on the north shore of Rice Lake, about 90 minutes northeast of Toronto.

Twenty senior elected officers and staff from the Components of the National Union participated in the School this year. Two international participants, from sister unions, UNISON (UK) and Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU, Australia), also attended the School enriching the content and contributing additional experience to the many discussions.
Front row (sitting left to right): Tanya Burnside (MAHCP),Lorene Oikawa (BCGEU), Claire Rowett (OPSEU), Rick Janson (OPSEU); First row (standing left to right): Sandra Snider (OPSEU), Brenda Clapp (OPSEU), Betty Reid (BCGEU), Derek Fudge (NUPGE), Jason Rattray (SGEU); Second row (left to right): Shelley Ward (PEIUPSE), Andrew Thomas (RTBU, Australia), Karen Hawley (NUPGE), Mike Eso (BCGEU), John Baert (MGEU); Third row (left to right): Darcie Johnson (MGEU), Heather Senchuk (HSAA), David Lundy (OPSEU), Candice Owley (WFNHP, Wisconsin), Myles Ellis (CTF); Fourth row (2 on right): Art Shostak (Philadelphia, PA),Sylvia Melanson (NBU); Back row (left to right): Darrell Tidd (NBU), Kevan Nelson (UNISON, UK), George Marshall (SGEU), Larry Brown (NUPGE), Stephen Kent (SGEU), Chris Firstner (BCGEU).

Two main themes

The Leadership School is designed to provide participants with a unique opportunity to explore key issues and challenges for the labour movement today. It consists of 18 90-minute seminars over a five-day period as well as a two-hour study session during each of the evenings.

The curriculum is built around two central themes: leadership and organizational change; and strategic choices for union leaders. These themes are explored through a series of six seminars led by Dr. Elaine Bernard.

A native of Ottawa and a long-time trade union activist in Canada and the United States, Bernard has worked with the National Union for close to a decade. She is the Executive Director of the Trade Union Program at Harvard University, the oldest and most prestigious residential union leadership program in North America.

This years excellent presenters

The rest of the curriculum this year consisted of 12 sessions on a variety of crucial topics, and the presenters included:

• Linda McQuaig, a well-known Canadian author and journalist.
• Tom Juravich, professor of Labour Studies at Carleton University and author and musician.
• Richard Hurd, professor and director of labor studies at the School of Industrial Relations at Cornell University.
• Candice Owley, Vice-President of the 1.3 million member American Federation of Teachers and President of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (AFT, AFL-CIO).
• Armine Yalnizyan, director of the Social Planning Council of Toronto and Research Associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
• Kevan Nelson, UNISON’s Head of Democratic Services based in the General Secretary’s office in London.
• Andrew Thomas, National Industrial Officer with Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU).
• Art Shostak, Emeritus Professor of Industrial Sociology and Futuristics at Drexel University, Philadelphia.

NUPGE's National Secretary-Treasurer, Larry Brown, also led three sessions at the School.

Committed unionists, stronger capacity, more effective representation

Over the past nine years there have been over 160 graduates of the Leadership Development School.

"The focus of the Leadership School is to help our leadership activists strengthen their knowledge and exercise their skills in dealing with the many issues involving leadership, strategic choice and organizational change," says NUPGE National Secretary-Treasurer Larry Brown.

"This year's participants represent workers across Canada. They are bright, committed trade unionists who will continue to play a leadership role in making the National Union and our Components stronger and more effective organizations."

Dr. Bernard notes there are not many opportunities where union leaders can critically analyze important issues impacting on the union's internal and external environments.

"NUPGE's Leadership Development School provides your leaders with one of those rare opportunities," she says.

"As a result, the School helps strengthen the capacity of the National Union and its Components to effectively represent your membership in the workplace and in the broader political environment." NUPGE

Web posted by NUPGE: 5 September 2007

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