United Way Labour Partnership

The Canadian Labour Congress & United Way’s Labour Community Advocates program has been a cornerstone of the Labour and United Way Partnership for more than 30 years. In that time, it has helped build up the skillset of countless leaders in the labour movement. Our workshops utilize principles of direct education which invites and thrives off the synergy of its participants. Join us in sharing experiences about helping fellow workers with resources in the community, identifying the labour sector’s potential in supporting community issues and encouraging community action within your union.

Labour Community Advocates

These are union members who have volunteered or are selected by their union to provide a link between the workplace and the community.

What roles do Labour Community Advocates have?

• To link workers facing workplace, personal or family challenges with resources in the community
• To identify community issues where the union can play a role, through collective bargaining or social action
• To support community activism among union members, unions and labour organizations

What do they do?

Labour Community Advocates (LCA) are trained to act as a resource to union members and to the local union itself. They can:

• Provide information to the union local and its members about community services
• Listen and provide a resource where union members can safely and confidentially discuss a problem they are facing and identify how to proceed
• Make referrals to appropriate community services and act as a link or bridge for union members
• Follow-up and ensure that referrals are appropriate, services meet the member’s needs, and support systems are in place once the member returns to work
• Act as a liaison to the community on behalf of the local and support member and union involvement in the community
• Engage in prevention and union action by identifying issues that are having an impact on members and the community, and to identify ways the local union can respond

What do Labour Community Advocates learn?

This program provides participants with information about the emerging social issues faced by working people and the resources available in their community. Participants are trained in communications skills and interviewing and referral techniques so they can assist union members with finding the appropriate resources. The program also allows participants to explore the ways in which unions and other labour bodies can help build resilient and respectful communities. The program provides an opportunity for Labour Community Advocates from different unions affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress to discuss their experiences and share ideas. It also provides training on community involvement, including the way community boards work and how to become an effective advocate on social issues within a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusive framework.

What subjects are covered?

• Unions and Communities Working Together
• LCA’s and Equity with additional focused modules on: Stress, Mental Health & Harassment and Bullying
• Community Services
• Principles of Communication
• Interviewing and Referral Skills
• Linking Labour and Community
• Compassion Fatigue
• Coalition Building

Want to learn more?

The Labour Participation Department at United Way British Columbia delivers Labour Community Advocate Level 1 training annually at the Canadian Labour Congress – Pacific Region Winter School.  Additional courses throughout the year can be requested from unionized labour organizations and we can provide support for union educational events and conventions. If you would like to have a conversation of how we may help, please contact labourinfo@uwbc.ca or call 604.969.8606 to speak with our Program Coordinator.

A leadership training program with innovative small group training and access to a faculty of professionals who have real-life public policy experience. This six-month program is designed to help leaders – from the seniors’ service sector or the broader not-for-profit sector – increase their knowledge of the public policy process and their capacity to influence it.