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More than 40 Unifor members came to the union’s national office in Toronto on May 6 and 7 for the third-annual Education, Technical, Office and Professional (ETOP) Conference. Delegates spent two days working on the skills and strategies they need to represent members in a sector facing chronic public-sector underfunding and rising workloads.
“Our members in the education, technical, office and professional sector are on the front lines of some of the most important public services in this country,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “When we bring delegates together to share strategies, sharpen their skills and learn from one another, we are building the kind of representation our members deserve and the kind of union our communities need.”
ETOP members work across school boards, universities, colleges and a wide range of technical, office and professional workplaces. The conference provided local representatives practical tools they could take back to their workplaces and bargaining tables.
“Our sector covers a huge range of workplaces, but the challenges our members face, from harassment and workload to inclusion and political pressure on public services, are deeply connected,” said Emily Heikoop, Unifor National Executive Board member for ETOP. “This conference is where we turn those shared challenges into shared strategy and send delegates back to their locals with the tools to act.”
Much of the agenda focused on the toughest issues members bring forward to their representatives.
A full morning with Lancaster House on trauma-informed grievance handling and investigations gave delegates a clearer approach to handling cases involving harm without weakening the case against the employer. Other sessions walked delegates through intimate partner violence and the union’s role in supporting survivors at work, and the supports available to members during a strike. Sessions on neurodiversity and inclusive practices gave delegates concrete tools to build more inclusive workplaces, committees and union spaces. Delegates also worked on strengthening member voice. Sessions on local communications and on lobbying elected officials gave reps practical skills to engage members at work and decision-makers in government.
ETOP delegates left Toronto with new tools and strategies to bring back to their locals.
