AUPE President Dan MacLennan opens Kananaskis Labour School
KANANASKIS COUNTRY – AUPE President Dan MacLennan formally opened the union’s fifth annual Labour Education School in Kananaskis last night, praising labour school participants for their commitment and reminding them of the importance of the union’s extensive education programs.
MacLennan reminded participants that in a few days they will be returning to their workplaces, and urged them to put to work what they have learned to help their co-workers and strengthen their union.
He urged them to pass on the knowledge they acquire. “Tell your co-workers about what you’ve learned,” he said.
Attended by more than 200 AUPE activists, stewards and staff members from throughout Alberta, the labour school commenced at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis with dinner and MacLennan’s short opening remarks.
The work began at once. Immediately after dinner, participants headed to their classrooms for an hour-and-a-half-long orientation session.
Regular classes begin first thing this morning and the program will run until noon on Thursday, March 2.
The goal of the program, which AUPE developed in 2002, is to train a large number of members in the skills they need to make AUPE an effective representative for their co-workers at worksites across Alberta.
There are seven classes in this year’s school: one each of Union Counseling Training; Education Techniques and Processes for Union Activists; Advanced Unions Stewards Course; Lobbying Government and Changing Legislation, and Essential Skills Assessment Training. In addition, there will be two Union Leadership classes.
Photo: AUPE President Dan MacLennan officially opened the union’s fifth annual Labour Education School Sunday evening, Feb. 26, at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis. The school will continue throughout the week and conclude on March 2.