Paid Education Leave

Check out the Union’s upcoming schedule, download the application form, and send it to your local union for approval and processing.

The union’s PEL program is held at the Unifor Family Education Center (FEC) located on the shores of Lake Huron, in Port Elgin, Ontario. It is a beautiful place where members working in every sector of the economy come together to learn, build relationships, strengthen our union, and emerge as leaders. 

The Paid Education Leave program is a fund negotiated by the union in collective bargaining with employers, where each local or unit must negotiate it individually. A lump sum or cents-per-hour is bargained. This fund supports the development and delivery of training, the Discussion Leaders (instructor), the participation of the members, travel, room and board and all course materials.

The PEL program offers a year-round schedule (with the exception of January & July). 

Most courses are 40 hours in length and run Sunday to Friday in Port Elgin.