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News - October 2011

The headlines for news items published during this month are listed below.

Click on the headline of your choice to see the entire text of the article.

• National Council members attend jam-packed orientation session

• Labour College now receiving applications for its 2012 Intensive Program

National Council members attend jam-packed orientation session

Posted October 27, 2011

Members of the NHU National Council – veterans and newcomers alike – gathered earlier this month for an intensive orientation session.

These meetings are always held shortly after each of our Triennial National Conventions. This year’s three-day orientation session was held in Vaudreuil, Quebec.

The group photo of National Council members shown below was taken during the October 18-20 meeting.

While the training was a highly-useful refresher for our experienced National Council members, it was of particular value to the five members who were first elected to these senior leadership positions at last August’s Convention.

The training delivered over the three days was organized by the NHU National Office. Topics covered included:
      • roles and responsibilities of Council members and the National Office;
      • lines of authority throughout the NHU structure;
      • collective agreement interpretation;
      • grievance handling;
      • harassment and discrimination;
      • Union-Management Consultation Committees; and
      • the Public Service Staffing Tribunal.

As one can imagine, this was quite a jam-packed 72 hours! The ultimate outcome is a more knowledgeable and effective NHU National Council – something that will benefit our members over the months and years to come.

Labour College now receiving applications for its 2012 Intensive Program

Posted October 17, 2011

The Labour College of Canada – sponsored by the Canadian Labour Congress and supported by all major unions across the country – is now receiving applications for its Intensive Program. Labour College students will be chosen by and financed by their unions after meeting national standards set by the College's Board of Governors.

(Please note that the Labour College operates in English. Francophones residing in Quebec may be interested in a similar educational opportunity offered by the Quebec Federation of Labour: the Collège FTQ-Fonds. Information on the Collège can be viewed HERE.)

The Program consists of two weeks in an in-residence session, followed by a three-month interim in which students will conduct a project in conjunction with their union. Having completed this project, participants will reconvene for a final two week, in-residence session.

The first in-residence period will be held May 5-18, 2012 and the final residency period on August 19-31, 2012. Detailed course information can be found HERE.

Unlike traditional educational institutions, the Labour College does not have stringent academic entrance requirements. Admission is based on the premise that practical experience in the labour movement and motivation will enable workers to meet the challenge of the College’s program.

Deadline for the receipt of applications is Friday, November 4, 2011.

An application form can be found on the College’s general information page HERE. As per the revised application process, Labour College students will be chosen by and financed by their unions after meeting national standards set by the College's Board of Governors.