Education for Union Members
Build skills. Improve your workplace. Get involved and meet new people.
Welcome to UFCW 1518’s member education portal. Here you will find information on all of the education that UFCW 1518 offers to members to level-up their skills. We hold two Online Education Months per year and all courses, prerequisites, and deadlines are posted here. New members can register for Member Orientations and learn more about getting involved in UFCW 1518.
Our next Education Month is in April. Keep scrolling for information on available courses, tips for getting the most out of our interactive education platform, and opportunities to continue your education.
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"I learned a lot in regards to what my role as a shop steward is. This is my first time being a shop steward and I was feeling a bit lost as to what my role was supposed to be. Thank you for offering this course and looking forward to signing up for the advanced shop steward class in the fall. Thank you!"
—Shop Steward & Shop Steward Fundamentals participant -
"[This course was a] very important tool and I highly recommend it (…) We learned about the importance of the Collective Agreement that covers employers’ and workers’ rights in the workplace. Knowing these rights is important to stand up for members and to ensure members’ rights are protected."
— Virgil Encarnacion, Chief Shop Steward & Shop Steward Essentials participant -
"Honestly this was delivered better than my online university classes have been so far, but we're all learning, right?"
—Member Orientation participant -
"The course was engaging with off-site valuable experience in the world of organizing. It's a course that helps to develop organizing skills that you will be able to experience first-hand during the duration of the course. It taught me the steps in organizing and how to put it to use!"
— Rosanna Hussain, Shop Steward & Organizing for Power participant
Achieve Your Goals
Learn about your union
What do unions do, and how do unions benefit you? Find out more about the movement you've joined.
Health and safety at work
How can I help keep my workplace safe? Learn how to help your coworkers and promote health and safety.
Resolving problems
Want to become a Shop Steward and help solve problems in the workplace? Union courses will help you do just that!
Organizing and political action
Unions effect change inside and outside the workplace. Learn how to make a difference in your community.
Courses
All courses in this round of Education Month will be delivered online. There are courses available for both stewards & non-stewards! Course offerings are divided in three categories, listed below: Foundational Coursework, Development Coursework & Advanced Coursework.
Foundational
Development
Advanced
Member Orientation
Learn about the benefits of your union membership!
This one and a half hour workshop is an opportunity to learn more about being a UFCW 1518 member, your rights under the collective agreement, and what we do with your dues. Members who have never attended a Member Orientation will receive a $50 reimbursement of their union initiation fee! Join this class to meet other union activists and get inspired by the movement you’re now a part of. Requirements (for reimbursement):- To have never attended a Member Orientation before
- Tuesday, April 6 @ 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., PST
- Tuesday, April 6 @ 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., PST
Shop Steward Fundamentals
What are the responsibilities of a shop steward? What rights and authority do I have?
In this full-day course, stewards will learn about key principles of good stewardship and UFCW 1518’s member engagement model. Participants will gain more clarity around their rights and responsibilities as union stewards and will be introduced to tactics to solve common workplace problems. Members will leave with an increased understanding of the work of their union and how their role is critical to our fight for fairness at work.- To be a shop steward AND
- To have never attended a Shop Steward Fundamentals OR Advanced Shop Steward class before
- Wednesday, April 14, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PST/PDT
Health & Safety Essentials
Keeping everyone safe at work
In this one-day course, Health & Safety committee members and stewards will learn more about their rights and responsibilities for keeping everyone safe at work. The course will revolve around exploring workers’ four key health & safety rights: the right to refuse unsafe work, the right to know about potential hazards, the right to participate in OHS activities, and the right to no discrimination. Participants will leave the course with a variety of resources and checklists to better address any safety concerns at work.- To be a steward OR health & safety committee member AND
- To have never attended a Health & Safety Essentials course before
- Tuesday, April 27, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PST/PDT
FOR NON-UFCW 1518 MEMBERS
Info Session: The UFCW 1518 Advantage
Interested in joining a union? Learn more about the union advantage - no strings attached
- There are no requirements to attend this class. This course is aimed at non-UFCW 1518 members.
- Thursday, April 29 @ 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., PDT
Political Action Workshop: Election Campaigns 101
Electing labour activists and progressive candidates into public office
PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CANADIAN LABOUR CONGRESS
Want to make a difference in who is elected to represent you on government? Then this event is for you! This course is perfect for political activists who are interested in getting involved in an election campaign. Participants will learn about what it takes to run a successful political campaign and how to get connected to one: either as a campaign supporter or even a political candidate! We will get an overview of a campaign's lifecycle, election rules, different campaign roles, among other important campaign topics. Bring your interest, bring your experience, this event is a time to learn and share best practices for winning campaigns. Facilitated by Heather Erlen (Canadian Labour Congress): Heather Erlen is one of the Canadian Labour Congress’ Regional Representatives. Her activism began in the fight for gender equity and today she applies an intersectional lens in order to contribute to workers’ rights and access to justice. She strongly believes in supporting others to see the specific and unique leadership qualities that we each bring to the table. This course is recommended for members who want to participate in future union political action efforts- There are no requirements to attend this course. Participants will be selected based on their application
- Friday, April 23, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. PST/PDT
Organizing for Power
Union members are the best organizers.
Organizing new members is a key way that our union builds worker power across industries. Learn about why we organize and how you can become an organizer yourself. In this exciting hands-on bootcamp, you will learn about the exciting process of bringing new members into our union, the fundamentals of an organizing campaign and what you can do to mobilize others to bring positive change to their workplaces by joining a union. This course is recommended for members who want to participate in future union organizing efforts- To have never attended an Organizing for Power / Organizing 101 course
- Thursday, April 29, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PST/PDT
Mental Health At Work Bootcamp
Work stress? We can help.
Work can sometimes take a toll on our lives and minds. With the right tools and resources, things can get better. In this one-day bootcamp, we will explore strategies and resources to address work stress and other mental health concerns arising on the job. We will also go over your rights at work when it comes to your mental health and what your employer’s responsibilities are to ensure not only your physical safety but also your mental well-being.- To have never attended our Mental Health At Work Bootcamp
- Participants will be selected based on their application.
- Thursday, April 15, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PST/PDT
Power Hour
Short union seminars, for those with a busy schedule.
Join us for short one-hour classes of topical interest. Requirements:- This course is open to all members. No application is required.
- Dealing with Management: (Wednesday, April 7, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. PST/PDT) Standing up to management on your own can be difficult. That's when your union comes in! In this one-hour seminar, we will explore strategies to tackle meetings with management, including how to effectively assert your rights and using the collective agreement. Recommended for ALL members who want to learn more about standing up for their rights!
Advanced Shop Steward
Take your stewardship skills to the next level
In this course, stewards will learn more about the history of the labour movement, how to work more efficiently with their collective agreements and how to address grievances. We will explore some more advanced steward topics, including grievance investigations and discipline meetings. Through various exercises and case studies, participants will gain new knowledge & tools to empower their important role as the face of the union at work.- To be a steward AND
- To have attended a Shop Steward Essentials OR Shop Steward Fundamentals course before AND
- To have never attended an Advanced Shop Steward course
- Tuesday, April 20 - Wednesday, April 21, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PST/PDT each day
How to use Zoom
- Sign up for a free Zoom account at zoom.us
- In the email Zoom sends you, click on Activate Account. Follow the steps in the web browser to complete your sign-up.
- Click on the link that was sent to you for your course. You may be prompted to download Zoom, go ahead and download it and install it. If the course time has not started yet, you may have to wait for the instructor to join.
- Turn your video on in the lower left corner of the screen. You can turn your microphone on and off in the lower left corner of the screen. The small up arrow (^) next to the microphone and video buttons allow you to choose a source.
- You can chat with other participants or the entire group using the chat function. You can also raise your hand to ask a question or show support with a thumbs up. On a computer, there are buttons in the lower screen for chatting and reactions. On a phone or tablet, these are under the “more” menu (three dots).
- If there’s a problem and the meeting “drops off” for some reason, just use the same link you used to join the meeting and you can get back in.
Keep Learning
Scholarships
At UFCW 1518 we strongly believe in the importance of lifelong learning and encourage all of our members to pursue their interest in education, whether for personal growth or professional development. We are proud to support our members by offering a variety of scholarships for those attending, or planning to attend, post-secondary school in British Columbia. Good luck!
The UFCW Canada Migrant Workers Scholarship awards 20 scholarships of $500 each to the children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews of migrant workers.
Eligibility:
Only those persons who entered Canada to work under the Temporary Foreign Workers Program such as a live-in caregiver, a seasonal agriculture worker, or a temporary foreign worker in any industry (“the Applicant”) are eligible to apply. An Applicant can nominate his/ her children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews.
The Nominee Child may be living in any country, can be of any nationality, must be between 4-25 years of age, and must be attending or hoping to attend an educational institution.
Apply online:
Click here for more information and to apply online. Please note that this scholarship is currently under review.
The UFCW 1518 Affiliation Scholarship #547 awards 20 scholarships of $1,000 each to students beginning or continuing studies in a full academic program at the University of BC, University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, BC Institute of Technology, or at a college in British Columbia. The scholarship is awarded to students entering from Grade 12 and students continuing with their post-secondary education. The awards are normally made to the applicants with the highest academic standing.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be a member of UFCW 1518 in good standing, or a child or legal ward of a member in good standing, and have earned a minimum grade of 75% in the previous year’s studies.
Required documentation:
- Letter of recommendation from UFCW 1518 confirming your or your parent’s membership in good standing. Please email your request to reception@ufcw1518.com with the subject line UFCW 1518 Scholarship 547.
- Most recent high school or post-secondary transcripts.
- A brief summary of how you meet the requirements.
Apply online:
Click here for more information and to apply online. Applications are open from August 15-September 15.
In partnership with Thompson Rivers University, UFCW 1518 offers members full tuition and partial living expenses to attend the Retail Meat Cutting Program. This nine-month program trains members to take up employment as a meat cutter and join a thriving industry that is always seeking talented and dedicated workers.
For admission information, contact Corey Davison at 250-828-5351 or cdavison@tru.ca.
This scholarship honours the memory of Dick Martin, a tireless health and safety advocate and a pioneer of workplace health and safety in Canada.
This CCOHS National Scholarship is worth $3,000 and is available to any student enrolled full-time or part-time in occupational health and safety-related studies at an accredited post-secondary institution in Canada, including mine safety, occupational or industrial health and safety, industrial hygiene, safety management or other related safety degree program.
Find more information and apply here.
The Columbia Institute is committed to lifelong learning that benefits all segments of society. That’s why it supports adult learners interested in re-training and skills upgrading.
The David Podworny Memorial Scholarship, valued at $1,000 per year, is intended for those studying or planning to study telecommunications trades and labour studies at accredited public institutions in British Columbia or Washington State. Find more information and apply here.
The Dennis McGann Bursary is a one-time bursary, worth up to $1,000, for those studying or planning to study communications who demonstrate a commitment to the issues affecting working people. Find more information and apply here.
Since 1958, the UFCW Charity Foundation has distributed more than $2 million in scholarships to members and their families. Past winners have gone on to make significant contributions to society in areas like the law, public service, medicine, business and teaching. Many have returned to UFCW as staffers, organizers and community activists who advance our values and mission.
Six scholarships worth up to $8,000 each are awarded annually to students who have graduated from high school, have their GED, or will be graduating this spring. Find more information and apply here.
Named in honour of three past leaders of UFCW Canada – William Beggs, Fred Dowling, and Roméo Mathieu – this scholarship supports members and their families pursuing full-time studies at an accredited post-secondary institution in Canada.
You don’t need to be an A+ student – you just need a passion for learning! Eighteen scholarships worth $1000 each are allocated by region across Canada annually. Find more information here and apply here.
The Overwaitea Food Group offers this scholarship to all Canadian citizens in communities served by UFCW 1518 members and the OFG, at any stage of their post-secondary education. Successful applicants demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to diversity awareness in their schools and communities.
Up to 10 scholarships worth $1000 each are awarded annually. Click here to apply.
Founded on the belief that we are stronger together, this scholarship supports respectful and positive work environments by promoting diversity awareness. Successful applicants demonstrate their commitment to developing strong, healthy and mutually beneficial relationships with the diverse communities we serve.
The scholarship is open to UFCW 1518 members with at least one year of service with Overwaitea Food Group and their dependents who are pursuing a post-secondary program.
Up to 10 scholarships worth $1000 each are awarded annually. Find more information on the Team Member Information Site.
