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Making strategic choices in a changing world was a key theme of the NUPGE's annual Leadership Development School.
Ottawa (28 Aug. 2009) - The 11th Annual Leadership Development School of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has once again demonstrated the exceptional skill and ability that resides within the labour movement.
Participants embraced and enthusiastically engaged the challenge in a week-long course of inspiring and thought-provoking lectures.The school was held Aug. 22-28 at the Elmhirst Resort on the north shore of Rice Lake, just outside Peterborough.
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The school saw the largest number of participants yet with representation from across the country. Those attending include 27 senior elected officers and staff from NUPGE and its Component unions. In addition, there were three participants and presenters from international unions – AFSCME (U.S.), UNISON (U.K.) and UNIONS (New South Wales, Australia).
Other presenters included:
- Michael Lynk, professor of law at the University of Western Ontario.
- Don Wells, Director of Labour Studies at McMaster University, Hamilton.
- Oksana Wolfson, legal officer, International Labour Organization (ILO).
- Carla Lipsig-Mummé, professor of social science at York University, Toronto.
- Patrick Bresette, Associate Program Director, Demos, a U.S.-based institute that promotes the value of public services.
- Erika Shaker, researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).
Positive change in difficult times
Lectures by Elaine Bernard, executive director of the Trade Union Program at Harvard University, provided the core focus of the school. During a series of six seminars participants discussed the two central themes: leadership and organizational change, and strategic choices for union leaders.
The global economic meltdown was one of the recurring themes of this year’s school with most of the speakers addressing the crisis during their presentations.
Presentations by Larry Brown, NUPGE's national secretary-treasurer; Linda McQuaig, well-known author and journalist, and James Laxer, one of Canada’s leading progressive political thinkers, addressed the causes of the crisis and the important role that government and public services must play in ensuring a sustainable recovery.
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Larry Brown |
Elaine Bernard |
James Laxer |
Graduate total reaches 225
Brown noted that over the past 10 years there have been over 225 graduates of the Leadership Development School.
"This last year alone has shown us how quickly our world can change,” he said. “Our union leaders must have the tools to understand and strategically respond to new opportunities and deal with mounting challenges. This school is intended to help facilitate this process," he said.
"Once again I am deeply impressed by the intelligence and commitment of our participants. Our union truly benefits from the active engagement of these bright and committed trade unionists who play a leadership role in the National Union and our Components.”
Bernard said one of the benefits of the school is that it provides an opportunity for union leaders to step out of busy daily routines and analyze a range of important issues.
"These activists are seizing a rare opportunity to enhance the work they do by committing to NUPGE’s Leadership Development School,” she noted. "The National Union and its Components are strengthened through their energy and skill to represent your membership and make real change in the broader political environment.”
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE