[mobglob-discuss] How To Begin Organizing Your Workplace Workshop

[Gordon Flett]

Know Your Rights (Workplace Organizing Workshop For Beginners/Labour
Code Changes Review)

Monday, May 27, 6 PM
SFU Harbour Centre (515 West Hastings) in Vancouver

With the gutting of the already pathetically weak Employment Standards
Act, unionizing B.C. workplaces becomes all the more necessary. We felt
it was a good idea for people to know how to go about doing this, at
least how to make initial inquiries. The "talking really loud at work
about joining a union (without even contacting one) and getting fired"
method that we keep hearing about is a prime example of what not to do,
but people just keep doing it. This is a bad thing.

This workshop is presented by the Vancouver - Coast Salish Territory
Industrial Workers Of The World as part of the Mayworks Festival. While
we do have IWW members that have organizing experience, none of us have
ever taught it, and we wanted to get the best person possible to teach
this very important workshop. We were fortunate enough to get Raymond
Louie of the Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union to volunteer.
Besides being a successful, kickass organizer, Raymond also teaches at
the B.C. Fed Organizing School. The problem is that the Fed school only
teaches present union-sponsored members, and so many others do not have
an opportunity to attend it. Raymond agreed with us that people who
aren't in unions yet (plus those who are but may not have the chance to
attend the Fed school) need to get the opportunity to learn about
workplace organizing. While he can't teach the whole course in a couple
of hours, at least people will get some of the basics, and more
importantly learn how to get support and advice before you start any
type of organizing drive, to try and avoid just getting fired with no
recourse and/or committing other screwups. Raymond will also cover
changes to the B.C. Labour Code and their possible consequences for
organizing.

If this workshop gets a good turnout we'll try and talk Raymond or some
other experienced teacher into doing more of these in the future. The
vision is to eventually have a virtual army of grassroots organizers out
there with union backing, organizing in the workplaces of B.C. We'll see
how much Campbell's backers enjoy that.   

There are a limited number of seats, so please come early. Email 
pat_wobbly at hotmail.com for more information.

*Please note there is NO workshop Saturday May 25th 1pm. This one got 
cancelled.* We heard there was some type of rally or march or something
that day that people might want to attend instead.