HSA offers scholarships for Summer Institute for Union Women

July 8 - 12, 2014
U
niversity of Victoria, Victoria, BC
Together Women Win

The Summer Institute for Union Women (SIUW) is a 4-day residential school designed to empower women as leaders in the labour movement through participatory education and community-building. See the BC Federation of Labour's website on the SIUW here for details of the program: http://siuw-2014.com/

The Western Regional Summer Institute for Union Women (SIUW) offers an intensive week of learning within a supportive environment in which union women can develop their skills as workers, activists and leaders.  Hosted by the British Columbia Federation of Labour, the Institute will be held at the University of Victoria (UVIC).

Our theme, Together Women Win, reflects labour’s commitment to providing women with both the skills and strategies to understand the key issues for labour and how that understanding can help us participate in the upcoming elections, and develop stronger representation among leadership within our unions and political institutions.  We need the world to hear more women’s voices speaking out on issues that matter to us, issues like universal early learning and childcare, retirement security, the economy, poverty and other important issues.

We need to see more women elected at all levels of government, and into union leadership positions, speaking out for our communities at the federal, provincial and local government levels.  Women as elected officials can advocate for better legal protections, program funding and rights, and lead national fights on issues that matter to women at the local, provincial and national levels.  Electing women into office in our unions will bring our particular strengths to the internal processes of our labour movements, and give women a central role in advancing women’s issues.

The core courses offer you the opportunity to learn new skills to enable you to take the next steps in the political arena, your union or in your community.

The workshops are an opportunity to take a look at integrating resources available elsewhere in the activist community in our daily lives and within our unions. Workshops include case studies on worker centre modules, Free trade effects on women, Dynamics of Power, Self Care, avoiding burn-out as an activist, Aboriginal Relations, Temporary Foreign Workers/ Guest Workers, Media, Women’s contemporary history and much more.

The Institute is designed to allow women a positive learning experience, acquire new skills and provide an opportunity to network in a safe, relaxed atmosphere.

Come and participate in a unique school dedicated to increasing the awareness, skill level and knowledge of our women unionists.

HSA provides scholarships for members interested in participating in the four-day institute. Scholarships include registration fees, transportation, accommodation, dependent care and wage replacement. In addition, HSA supports the participation of daughters of HSA members by sponsoring a scholarship to attend the Summer Institute for Union Women. If your daughter is interested please complete the on-line registration called 2014 Summer Institute for Union Women (Daughters) on her behalf.

If you would like to apply for an HSA scholarship, please use the on-line registration and either login or create a login using the prompts provided.  The Summer Institute will be listed under 'other events' on the event registration list.  If you require more information, please contact Karin Herbert at the HSA office at @email

If you are selected to attend the Summer Institute, you will be sent courses to choose from.

Deadline for registration is midnight on Sunday, June 1, 2014.