Steward training

For more than 10 years, CAPE has hosted its bi-annual Stewards’ Training Sessions. These sessions provide information on labour relation practices and policies that affect our members. The sessions are designed to help members understand their rights in relation to their collective agreements and the employer.

The sessions are typically offered in the spring and the fall, and are held over a three-day period. A maximum of five modules can be covered per session. The sessions are led by CAPE labour relations experts, either at CAPE headquarters in Ottawa or regionally. 

Minimum requirement: a minimum of five (5) members need to register for a course to be delivered.

The training is generally offered to stewards only. Please contact your dedicated CAPE labour relations officer to find out more about becoming a steward or to enquire about the training. 
 

Steward Training Modules 

Basic Stewards’ Training - Half Day
CAPE’s stewards serve as the eyes and ears of the Association in the workplace. They act as advisors to members and are usually the first link between members in their workplaces and the Association. The Basic Stewards’ Training module introduces members to the roles and responsibilities of CAPE stewards. The module explains how stewards can assist members with issues such as grievances, staffing issues, employment equity, labour management consultations, etc.

Duty to Accommodate - Half Day
This steward training course outlines the role of both the employer and employee in an accommodation situation and covers the legal and policy framework for the duty to accommodate. The course is designed to give stewards the ability to recognize when an accommodation issue is occurring in the workplace and how to react appropriately as a steward. It will also give you a foundation for consultation with the employer at the local level on the duty to accommodate. We have a variety of questions and role-playing scenarios included in the training to enhance the practical learning experience of our stewards.

Know Your Collective Agreement (EC or TR) - Full Day
Know Your Collective Agreement Course is a one-day course that is given to familiarize Association representatives with the collective agreement that applies to their members. The Collective Agreement is probably the most important document for a steward to understand. That is why this course offers a very practical approach to both understanding the collective agreement and applying it to possible scenarios that could occur in the workplace. In this course, you will learn to problem-solve and understand the different ways in which the collective agreement can solve possible problems in a workplace.

Harassment and Violence in the Workplace - Half Day
Harassment and violence in the workplace are hot-button issues in today’s legal landscape. In this Harassment and Violence in the Workplace course, stewards will be taught to understand what constitutes workplace harassment and violence. Because of Bill c-65, which changes the whole landscape of dealing with harassment and violence in the workplace, this course will explain the new legislative regime in relation to workplace harassment and violence. The course will also go over what CAPE’s role is when harassment and violence occur in the workplace.

Mental Health in the Workplace - Half Day
Mental health in the workplace is becoming more and more recognized as the serious health issue it is and CAPE is dedicated to helping our members struggling with mental health issues. The mental health steward training course explains the importance of participating in a psychologically safe work environment. The course outlines the various actions taken by the Treasury Board to advance mental health awareness in the workplace and what support systems and measures are in place for employees with mental health issues.

Occupational Health and Safety - Half Day
Worker safety is a vital concern for the Canadian Association of Professional Employees. CAPE believes that stewards who understand Occupational Health and Safety play a vital role in promoting a safe work environment and preventing injuries. Thus, in Occupational Health and Safety training, we try to ensure that the participants in the course become familiar with the various laws, regulations, etc. that make up the Occupational Health and Safety framework in the public sector service. This course will help participants identify the duties, responsibilities and rights of the employer, employees and the Association.

Performance Management - Half Day
CAPE recognizes that it is important to keep the performance management system fair, open and transparent, and we recognize that we need our stewards to play a role in making sure that the performance management system stays that way. That is why, in the performance management course, stewards will learn about performance management and the year-end review process. Stewards will also learn about the obligations for performance management as set out under the Collective Agreement, along with CAPE and steward’s role in the performance management process.

Running and Mobilizing an Effective Democratic Local - Half Day
Running and mobilizing an effective democratic local training module will help our stewards develop an understanding of how locals relate to CAPE and the broader union environment. Stewards learn and discuss practical ways that locals can defend and represent the interests of members and how they can apply the principles of running democratic and effective locals to their own local. This training also informs stewards about the importance of mobilization and communication, and equips them with the information necessary to recruit and mobilize members.

 


 

Become a steward!

Click here to register for our next steward training session.

Training Sessions