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We should never lose sight of the fact that worker education is a subversive activity, that it can change the power imbalances in our societies. It’s subversive not just because it shares information democratically, but because of the change that education can cause in individuals making them unwilling to simply accept their place on the “social ladder.”

(Former CLC President Bob White speaking to the Educ-Action Conference, April 1997)

In these times of growing corporate power, union education is key to building union power. The power to defend our rights as workers, to protect the services we provide, and to build caring communities.

Our union education program has changed dramatically over the past ten years. But it needs to continue to change to give our members, leaders, activists, local unions, district councils, divisions and every other part of our union the tools we need to build even greater strength.

This policy statement is meant to:

  • Stimulate thinking and debate about CUPE’s education program;
  • Set some priorities for the next two years to help us meet the challenges we face; and
  • Build understanding of the connections between union education, union action and union power.