Labour Community Services

Labour and United Way share many of the same values and recognize the importance of establishing and maintaining quality services which are accessible and meet the needs of the community. The partnership between organized labour and United Way has evolved and grown for more than fifty years.  In 2004 United Way, Durham Region Labour Council and Canadian Labour Congress formalized their local partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding.  A Labour Community Services Coordinator was hired to support the efforts of both United Way and the Labour Community.

A key element in our work together is the Union Counseling Program.  It trains union members about community resources and social issues so they can link union members and their families in need with the available social services, many of which are funded by United Way.  These members are also able to alert unions to social problems that particularly affect their workplace so the union can consult or bargain with employers to improve conditions.  

The CLC/United Way Union Counseling Program

This is a prevention-based program, with a goal of helping union members in the workplace. United Way provides training for Union Counselors to help them help their colleagues deal with personal problems and refer them to programs in their community that can provide direct support.

Union Counselling Program

Training & Capacity Building

Union Peer Counseling

Workers Helping Workers

Join our network of Peer Counselors:

Union Counselors (Peer Counselors) are workers trained to help co-workers find effective solutions to personal problems that are not resolved through provisions of a collective agreement.

As a counselor, you'll be able to offer guidance, referrals and information to colleagues in need of support.  You will be an important component in making the workplace a healthier, happier place to be.

Through this program you will develop an improved understanding of services and how to access them. You may also become involved in the development, enhancement & preservation of services in the community.

The Basic Course

The basic union/peer course introduces you to counseling and communication techniques. It provides you with an understanding of the broad variety of difficulties people may face.  You will be equipped with the knowledge, expertise and resources needed to ensure people get help when they need it.  We will also help you implement the union/peer counselor program in your workplace.

Everyone Benefits:

The Union Counselor Program empowers you with the skills to help people in need. It gives you insight into available services in your community and how to access them.

The Union benefits by having a knowledgeable resource person who provides an extension of the services the union already offers its membership. The Union/Peer Counselor can help relieve some of the workload union officers can be presented with.

The Employer benefits when personal employee problems are caught and resolved before they become intolerable to those who may be trying to deal with them. This can minimize productivity losses resulting from personal problems and contribute to a happier, healthier work environment.

The Community benefits through the Union/Peer Counselors involvement with agencies and organizations.  Union/Peer Counselors become aware of the needs of your community and make the community aware of the need to provide affordable, accessible services for its residents.  Most importantly, your co-workers have a person they can count on for confidential help when they need it.

In the spring of 2007, nineteen new Union Counsellors received their UC pins at a graduation ceremony in Oshawa (our last Union Counseling course ran from April 14 - 29, 2007), future dates for the 3 next Union Counselling courses have yet to be chosen .  Please call the Durham Region Labour Council at 905-0579-5188 for an update.

Post Training Support

Union/Peer Counselor graduates continue to have access to and assistance through the Labour Council/United Way Labour Services Co-ordinator. If a challenging issue arises, the Counselor can access support just by calling 905-686-0606.

Labour Appreciation Dinner

The Durham Regional Labour Council and the United Way held its first-ever Labour Appreciation Dinner in Oshawa on October 25, 2005.

"Across the country, the United Way raises over 350 million dollars every year. Close to one-half of that money comes from union sources. It comes from unionized workers. This money is raised thanks to union staff and volunteers. Why is the labour movement so committed to United Way’s mission? We do it because of our values. We do it because of our strong roots in our communities. We do it because making a positive difference for people, has always been our mission,” CLC President Ken Georgetti addressed the packed-out room full of local trade unionists and the two United Way chapters in Durham Region: Oshawa-Whitby-Clarington and Ajax-Pickering-Uxbridge.  Among some of the unions in attendence were; CAW222 Oshawa, CAW1090 Ajax, PWU Darlington and Pickering Nuclear Plant, CUPE1764 Durham, CUPE53 of Whitby and Uxbridge, OPSEU331 Whitby Mental Health , IBEW636 Veridian Corp. in Pickering, IAM 905 of Messier-Dowty Ajax, ONA51 Lakeridge Health Oshawa.

Ken Georgetti, President of Canadian Labour Council, keynote speaker at the Labour Appreciation Dinner.

LINKS

Ken Georgetti, President of Canadian Labour Council, link to Notes from Labour Appreciation Dinner*

Pictures from the Labour Appreciation Dinner http://www.durhamlabour.ca/Labour_Appreciation_Dinner.html