28th Annual CUPE Manitoba Winter School 2026

February 26 - March 1, 2026

English

Classroom

CUPE/SCFP

Workshop streams offered this Winter School are:

- Member Engagement: Solidarity School
- Steward Learning Series
- Next Level Communications: Speaking Up, Speaking Out

Brochure can be found on the CUPE Manitoba website.

We talk about union solidarity, but what does it mean in practice? We spend a lot of time in meetings, yet how often do we stop to think: Who's missing? Are there other ways to get things done? Join this stream if you want to go beyond meetings to deepen skills for member engagement in initiatives and campaigns. In this session, we will do a deep dive into equity, diversity and inclusions, as well as principles of adult learning and participation. This session is all about how to make space for as many members as possible to get involved and stay involves. This will include human rights topics as well as organizing skills. We will explore how to build effective events and campaigns, understand members' wants and needs, make tough decisions about priorities, set expectations, and pivot when plans change. This session will be especially useful for committees, bargaining teams, and anyone planning campaigns, meetings, and events.

Introduction to Anti-Racist CUPE (ARC)
February 26 (4:00pm) - March 1, 2026 (12:00pm) (19 spaces available)

Unions are strongest when every worker is valued, included, and empowered. This interactive workshop is your introduction to building an anti-racist union—one where solidarity means standing up for all members. Through engaging discussions and real-world examples, we’ll explore key concepts, challenge biases, and develop the skills needed to create a more inclusive and powerful labour movement. This workshop is an introduction to building an anti-racist union. It is part of a wider program of anti-racism workshops from CUPE Education. This intro workshop introduces some core ideas, concepts and skills that are carried through the other workshops and resources.

LET - Essentials for Inclusive Unions
February 26 (4:00pm) - March 1, 2026 (12:00pm) (19 spaces available)

As activists in our unions, we often ask why members are not more involved. This workshop asks a different question: Who is involved and who isn't and what might be some reasons why? How might our unconscious biases contribute to this? How can we represent members in a way that invites those on the margins to get involved and to see the union as place where they want to make a difference?

LET - Good Meetings
February 26 (4:00pm) - March 1, 2026 (12:00pm) (19 spaces available)

Have you ever sat through a meeting, either as a participant or a facilitator that you knew could be more focused, efficient, inclusive, or effective? We use Bourinot's rules of parliamentary procedure to make important decisions in a way that is fair. But sometimes a different kind of conversation is needed to be inclusive and build our movement. In this workshop, executive members learn how to find and lead the right process for the work that needs to get done. Parliamentary procedure is an important part of our democratic process in CUPE. Some conversations are better had using other approaches. How do you decide when parli-pro is needed and when another approach could help? Build your facilitation skills for supporting effective and inclusive discussions, learn and practice some processes that you can use in your day to day work.

LET - Strategic Planning
February 26 (4:00pm) - March 1, 2026 (12:00pm) (19 spaces available)

Staff work with locals to put together a strategic planning session. Strategic planning is a collaborative way to set achievable and measurable goals for your local. It will help you determine what will be implemented over a matter of weeks and years so your local can evolve and grow to serve your membership better. It is also a way to build capacity and activism within your local. This is not an off the shelf workshop. Each situation is different and requires a tailor made approach.