Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Here is the education schedule for BC, updated May 7^th 2008.

Fill out an application on-line or download a course application form (pdf) and mail or fax it back to us. Please note the In Residence courses require a more detailed application form which will be available closer to the dates of the course. Also note that all PSAC courses and events are scent free.

Click below for this year’s course descriptions or here is a full list of basic and advanced courses we offer.

• Talking Union Basics
• Understanding and Interpreting the Collective Agreement
• Grievance Handling
• Staffing In The Public Service
• Staffing In The Federal Public Service
• Local Officers Course
• Duty To Accommodate (advanced course)
• Aboriginal Awareness - Unionism on Turtle Island
• Convention Procedures

Convention Procedures: By the end of the course, participants will understand the purpose of conventions, become familiar with convention procedures such as voting, elections, reports, etc., and become more skilled at using Rules Of Order. We will examine the roles of convention committees, committee chairpersons, convention chairpersons, and gain some understanding of the dynamics of conventions.
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Talking Union Basics: This is the union’s key introductory course. If you have wondered what it means to be a union member, how the PSAC works, and what happens to your dues dollars, then Talking Union Basics provides answers to these questions. The course also introduces the collective agreement, your employee rights and your rights as a member of the PSAC. You will learn about the many opportunities to be active in the union and ways you can make a contribution to building strong locals in the B.C. region. It is recommended that members take Talking Union Basics first, as it provides the basic knowledge you need to get the most from other PSAC courses.
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Understanding and Interpreting the Collective Agreement: This course explores key provisions in members’ collective agreements and introduces an easy four-step framework for interpreting the contract. We will practice applying the four-step interpretation method and examine cases providing examples of “aids to interpretation”. Using a number of case studies from adjudication / arbitration decisions (e.g., sick leave; operational requirements; other leave with or without pay; acting pay; discharge), we also will practice applying the collective agreement to actual workplace situations. Working with actual cases enhances your ability to problem solve through analysis and discussion.The course will “demystify” the collective agreement and provide you with the necessary skills and tools for on-going, self-directed learning.
Note: please bring your collective agreement to this course.
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Grievance Handling: This training is a must for stewards and other workplace representatives, or member who want to use the acquired knowledge and skills to solve problems in the workplace. You will find out what the law says about grievances, grievors and their representatives, and the protections built in for those who choose to use the grievance procedure to solve problems.
You will develop grievance-handling and problem-solving skills through “hands-on” exercises on gathering facts, analyzing a problem, drafting grievance wording, building a complete file, framing the arguments and presenting the case to the employer. You will work on case studies based on actual grievances and, in the process, improve your knowledge of case law. Normally this is a 2-day course.
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Facing Management: Do you often wonder if your Local Union could be more effective and assertive at the workplace? If so, this is the course for you! This course will give you the skills and confidence to ‘Face Management’ in a number of different environments.
Together we will examine the legal framework, protocol and practice of union/management consultation. We will also explore the appropriate use of interest based workplace negotiations as well as introduce some hands-on techniques. And last but definitely not least, when formal and informal union/management consultation fails we can always rely on the power of the collective to make our voices heard. Learn how to organize and carry out strategic and effective workplace actions and campaigns.
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Staffing in the Federal Public Service: What is the staffing regime in the Federal Public Service? How does it work? This 1 day course will outline the main aspects of the federal public service staffing regime and identify the interests, rights, obligations and expectations flowing from it. Together, we will identify strategies for building fair and transparent systems, in the absence of effective recourse mechanisms.
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Duty To Accommodate: What is the Duty to Accommodate? What are the roles of employers, unions and individuals requesting accommodation? Should we wait for individual requests or are there things we should be doing that anticipate accommodation needs of workers? Is there legislation and case law we need to know about? What are some examples of measures we should be actively promoting at the workplace and within the union?
This in-depth, advanced course will look at what the law says about the Duty to Accommodate in the workplace by examining recent cases. Our rights in this area and our ability to enforce these rights have serious ramifications for the members, the union, and the employer.
Participants will develop skills in: recognizing and identifying accommodation issues in the workplace, understanding needs to be met, and negotiating accommodations with the employer on behalf of members.
All participants are expected to stay in residence at this advanced course.
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Public Service Modernization Act: This course will explore key aspects of the Public Service Modernization Act (PSMA) while providing members with the tools necessary to deal with its implementation. Participants will also develop an understanding of how to ensure our members rights are respected under this act.
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Staffing in the public service: What are the staffing systems in the Public Service? How do they work? This 1 day course will outline the main aspects of staffing systems in the public service and identify the interests, rights, obligations and expectations flowing from them. Together, we will identify strategies for building fair and transparent systems, in the absence of effective recourse mechanisms.
This course is applicable to PSAC members from the following bargaining units: Treasury Board, CRA, CFIA and Parks Canada. Hide

Local Officers Course: This is an introductory course for new Local Officers who need to know how to run a Local. Sessions cover the role of the Local Executive; Local administration, including by-laws and budgets; effective communications and Local meetings; and how the Local can access the wider resources of the PSAC. A major theme throughout the course is the organizing model of unionism and how to put it into practice so as to build a strong union presence at the workplace.
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Collective Bargaining: How It Works And How To Make It Work! We have a collective agreement but how did it come about? This 1 day course is for those who wonder about the “who”, “what”, “why”, “when”, “where” and “what” of the process. Who is at the bargaining table? Why does it take so long? What is conciliation? Why do we need to take a strike vote? What happens at the expiry date of our collective agreement? These questions and more will be answered during this short primer on collective bargaining. But more importantly, we will look at ways individual members can be involved, and things our union locals can do to increase membership interest and participation in collective bargaining.
Note: This course is geared towards members in the following bargaining units: Treasury Board, Agencies and other federal separate employers. Members in non-federal government bargaining units are encouraged to apply for the Bargaining From Strength: Strategies for Getting Better Collective Agreements course being offered at the Union School from November 17th-19th.
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Women at Work, Part II: This course is a follow-up from the Women at Work Part I that was held last year. Each participant or group of participants from 5 geographic areas were asked to decide on a course that would be meaningful to women activists in their respective geographic areas, and to set a date and recruit participants for this one day course. The areas were to be each location where there is an existing Women’s Committee and one location where there might be sufficient interest to start another Women’s Committee. Therefore, the areas will be: Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George, Okanagan and North Island. We agreed to hold the Vancouver training in Surrey.As a group, we decided that the course should include a review of the structure of the Women’s program both within the Public Service Alliance and also in the broader labour and community movements. We should discuss ways to tap into existing resources. We wanted to include a part on assertiveness training for women and work-life balance. Information on current campaigns could be shared and finally, we would allow time for learning how to plan strategically, and for women to put their plans together.If you are a woman who might be interested in meeting other union women who want to work to make our world a better place, please sign up for the course in your area. If you have any further questions, please contact Regina Brennan at brennar@psac.com or 604-460-5631/1-800-663-1655Hide

Unionism on Turtle Island was originally developed by the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Aboriginal Committee in 2001. The course is open to all members but is designed for non-Aboriginal members who want to learn more about Aboriginal issues and who want to work in solidarity with their Aboriginal sisters and brothers. This course begins the process of providing a basic awareness of Aboriginal people’s history and culture as well as contemporary issues they are facing today. By analyzing current political and social Aboriginal experiences, and learning the uniqueness of Aboriginal cultures, participants will be able to create a better understanding of the shared struggles of Aboriginal people and unions and deepen their understanding of Aboriginal issues.
Please click for a more complete course description.
note: Turtle Island is an Aboriginal term for North America
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All courses start at 9AM and end at 4:30PM, unless otherwise noted