Unifor-McMaster Labour Studies Certificate Program

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1 Welcome to Unifor-McMaster Labour Studies Unifor-McMaster Labour Studies courses are designed specifically for Unifor members. Education has an important role in building a knowledgeable membership and workplace leadership. The Unifor-McMaster program will develop members capacities for critical thinking. The learning process is built upon a commitment to participants that translates into respect for prior experience, skill and activism. The certificate program is an in-depth credit program designed to be completed at your own pace. Courses are offered locally in your community. Classes are held at various times during the day, evening or weekend, allowing the maximum number of workers to take advantage. Courses are designed by experts in the field to give you knowledge and practical information you need to succeed and understand the working world of today. Courses are set to serve individuals who want to pursue learning and career goals in a flexible setting. Whether you are looking for career advancement, job change, working towards a degree or interested in learning for selfdevelopment and enrichment, we can help. Contact Information For more information please contact us at Ext or by at uniformcmaster@mcmaster.ca You can also visit our website for detailed program information and to download our current course schedule: Unifor-McMaster Labour Studies Certificate Program WINTER 2014 COURSES

2 Program Details Area Coordinators Revised Requirements for Completing the Labour Studies Certificate Students are required to complete 36 units in order to be eligible to graduate. Depending on the course, unit values range from 1 to 8 unit courses. Courses are delivered through a combination of face-to-face instruction, online learning, and video conferencing. Students will be required to take 24 units of courses from the following list. Registration The CAW and the Canadian Labour Movement: A History (4 units) Current Challenges to the Labour Movement (4 units) Introduction to Workplace Issues (4 units) Globalization and Democracy (4 units) The Modern Labour Movement (4 units) Making Work: Factors Shaping Today s Workplace (4 units) Wal-Mart: Driving a New Brand of Capitalism (4 units) Government, Labour Regulation and the Workplace (4 units) Solutions to Global Warming (4 units) Labour and Media (4 units) Labour in Film (4 units) Labour in Documentary Film (4 units) Film and Ideology (4 units) Photo Essay Project: Social Justice through Photographs (4 units) Labour History as Told Through Music (4 units) Art, Labour Activism and Change (4 units) Introduction to Economics course (online) (6 units) Introduction to Politics (online) (6 units) Unifor members employed at Ford, GM, and Chrysler can continue to enroll in courses at no direct cost. Simply inform your area Unifor-McMaster Coordinator (listed on the right) that you are interested in enrolling in a course. All necessary registration forms are completed in the first class. Brampton Bill Turner (Local 1285) by at wt14@chrysler.com Or Gail Luyben-Powers or Tuesdays gailwind50@gmail.com Etobicoke Kris Mueller (Local 1459) kristoffer.mueller@gmail.com Hamilton (McMaster University) Sam Vrankulj (Local 555) ext or vrankus@mcmaster.ca Ingersoll Dan Borthwick (Local 88) dan.borthwick@bell.net St Catharines Peter Scott (Local 199) ext. 238 Oakville Brett Lefebre (Local 707) bhlefebre@gmail.com for information or call Carol at Local to register Oshawa John MacDonald (Local 222) johndmacd@rogers.com or by phone at Windsor Rick LaBonte (Local 444) to register or for questions

3 In Class and Online Course Descriptions The CAW and the Canadian Labour Movement: A History This revised and updated course explores the history of the CAW. Topics include the origins of the labour movement in Canada, the birth of the CAW, building the union, the split from the UAW, the changing nature and composition of the CAW, and an exploration of the challenges faced by the CAW and the rest of the labour movement. The CAW-CEP New Union Project and the formation of Unifor will be also covered in this updated course. Course No units Introduction to Computers and the Internet Part 2 This course expands on the internet skills learned in the Introduction to Computers course. It focuses on exploring social media technologies including Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, YouTube, Linked-In, media sharing sites and search engines, and how to sign-up and use these to more effectively to communicate and research. This course is an intermediate level computer course. It is recommended that beginners complete the Introduction to Computers course before enrolling in this course. Units-2 Introduction to Computers and the Internet Would you like learn how to use a computer more effectively? What is the internet, and where did it come from? What is social media? This introductory course is intended for beginners interested in learning computer and internet basics. You will learn computer operating system fundamentals, how to get onto and navigate the internet, sign up for an account and send an , find and download information and documents from the internet, and other important basic computer skills in this one day course. Course No Units Social Media and Activism: Mobilizing Online Communities for Progressive Change This new course builds on the skills and knowledge obtained in the Internet Skills for Activists (No. 838) course and continues the exploration of how progressive organizations use the internet and emerging online and mobile social networking technologies to organize and mobilize around social justice and political campaigns. This course will be organized around the creation of an online project which will allow students to explore current online social media platforms such as Pinterest, Evernote, Tumblr, live streaming, online hangouts, Storify, Twitter, mobile apps, and other resources. How to find and assess online sources of information and research will be a focus throughout this course. Course No. 846A 4 Units Introduction to Economics How did our economic system evolve? What is GDP? How are wages determined? Is competition good for workers? These and other questions will be addressed in this course. This is an on-line course featuring mini lectures by Jim Stanford, videos and animations describing how the economy works, readings from Jim Stanford s Economics for Everyone, and online quizzes. This is a self-paced course in which students will view online presentations, complete readings and submit exercises to an instructor via . Students will have access to a course facilitator thorough . Course No Units Labour and Media This course is designed to offer a deeper and specific understanding of how the media industry functions in North America and worldwide and how it impacts on the lives of and on the representation of workers in various media forms including the television, radio, print, film and the internet. It is designed to offer insights into how and why these representations are often distorted and what might be done by workers to ensure more accurate depictions to foster greater understanding about issues important to workers. Course No. 837, Unit: 4

4 Advanced Certificate in Labour Studies Advance Credit Toward a University Degree The objective of the Advanced Certificates is to deepen understanding of issues relevant to Canadian workers, provide them with a core set of research skills, and to use these skills in carrying out a research project. The Advanced Certificates are only open to students who have completed the Unifor- McMaster Labour Studies Certificate. To qualify for the Advanced Certificate students will be asked to complete 5 full additional courses (20 units). The requirements are as follows: A) 5 full courses (20 units) made up of a maximum of 3 full video conferencing courses (12 units) plus at least two regular full courses (8 units). B) If students have not taken the online Introduction to Economics ( No. 853) course as part of their first certificate they must include this in the 20 units. In addition students must complete, or have completed as part of their first certificate, the following two courses: a) Tools for Success at University (No. 860) b) Computer Skills for Activists (No. 838) Certificate In Basic Research Skills The Certificate in Basic Research Skills includes the Research Methods course and the Research Project Course. Students will be permitted to take the Advanced Certificate without taking the Certificate in Basic Research Skills. Students taking the Certificate in Basic Research Skills will need to either have completed the Advanced Certificate, or be working towards completion. Students must complete the Tools for Further Study course (Course No formerly called Tools for Success at University) before they start the Research Skills course. We will offer a prior learning assessment for people who feel they have already acquired the skills taught in this course. The course requirements for the Certificate in Basic Research Skills are as follows: A) Research Methods (Course No. 815) (Open only to students who have completed the first certificate) B) Research Project Independent Study (Course 839A). This course will be offered in the Winter 2012 term and is open only to students who have completed the first certificate. McMaster University Senate has approved the Unifor-McMaster University, Labour Studies Certificate Program for advanced credit towards degree studies. Advanced credit is possible only after successful completion of the Certificate Program. Once completed, students are eligible to received 15 units of level one undergraduate credit towards a degree. Credit in this certificate program has also been recognized at Athabasca University and the University of Windsor. Extra Credit in the CAW-MAC Program HAVE YOU COMPLETED PEL - 4 WEEK BASIC TRAINING PROGRAM? If so, you are eligible to receive extra credit towards your completion of the Unifor- McMaster Certificate. Please send us a copy of your Basic Training PEL Certificate along with your name and student number. Upon receipt of your documentation, 8 additional units will be added to your student record. Contact the program office for further information..

5 Video Conference and Online Courses In-class courses TBA Video Conference Courses. Online and In-class courses TBA Video Conference and Online Courses In-class courses TBA WINTER 2014 Course Schedule All courses scheduled from 6:30 9:30 unless otherwise noted Course Oakville Oshawa Windsor Brampton St Catharines Etobicoke Ingersoll Hamilton The CAW and the Canadian Labour Movement: A History Feb. 12, 19, March 12, 19 March 10, March 26, April 7 & 14 Labour and Media Saturdays Feb. 22 and March 22 9:00 3:30 Introduction to Computers and the Internet Part 2 2 Offerings February 20 March 20 Introduction to Computers and the Internet 2 Offerings March 13 April 3 Social Media and Activism: Mobilizing Online Communities for Progressive Change Feb. 26, March 5, 26, and Apr. 2 Saturdays March 8 & 29 Saturdays March 1 & 22 Introduction to Economics (online) This self-paced online course is available in all locations. Please contact our office at uniformcmaster@mcmaster.ca or by phone at Ext to register Video Conference Courses: All Locations The Growing Divide: Income Inequality and the Impact on our Communities- Mondays February 10 & March 17 Working on the Margins: Women and the Low-Wage Economy Monday March 3 The South African Labour Movement: Prospects and Challenges Mondays March 24 & 30 Course descriptions found on reverse

6 Winter 2014 Video Conference Courses The Growing Divide: Income Inequality, Precarious Employment and the Impact on our Communities Income inequality in Canada is growing with the richest gaining an increasing share of wealth. Research indicates that the erosion of full time permanent jobs and the growth of more precarious jobs is in part responsible for this trend. Precarious employment is becoming more widespread and impacting workers in a broader range of economic sectors and occupational groups. This course will examine the growth of precarious employment and the impact of this trend on worker and community wellbeing. It will also explore current campaigns by unions and allies to reverse this trend. Dates: Mondays February 10 & March 17, Course No A 2 Units Working on the Margins: Women and the Low-Wage Economy This special one session course is in celebration of International Women s Day. Women around the world make up a majority of workers in low wage jobs. Many work for minimum wages or less. A woman working full time, year round at minimum wage often will not earn enough to cover basic living expenses, and will live in poverty. Research suggests that women are primary breadwinners for a majority of single parent households who work to support their families. This course explores this trend and the impact of low wage employment on the wellbeing of women workers and their families. Recent campaigns to increase minimum wages around the world, including the current campaign in Ontario to raise the minimum wage to $14 per hour will be examined. Date: Monday March 3, Course No A 2 Units The South African Labour Movement: Prospects and Challenges This course examines the history and role of the black trade union movement in South Africa. It will begin with a historical overview of workers and trade unions role in the anti-apartheid struggle and the transition to democracy. It will also explore contemporary issues, challenges and forms of organising in the new South Africa by exploring the shift to business unionism in the 1990s/2000s in the new labour relations regime, new organising struggles and strategies, and the recent way of strikes (many of them wildcat strikes) and rise of workers militancy in the mines and in non-standard forms of work. This course will also examine what the recent wave of strikes might tell us about contemporary politics in South Africa, the direction the trade union might be going in, and what we can learn from South Africa. Dates: Mondays March 24 & 30, Course No A 2 Units