Unions and Learning in a Global Economy: International and Comparative Perspectives

Bruce Spencer, Athabasca University

188 pages (2002) / Paper
ISBN 1-55077-128-0, $26.95 CDN ($23.95 US)

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See also: Unions Learning: Canadian Labour Education
in the Twentieth Century (by Jeffery Taylor)

Labour education is one of the most important forms of adult education, and in many countries it attracts more participants than any other form of non-vocational adult education. But it is also a field that is often under-reported in discussions about adult learning, labour relations or generally in discussions about the role of unions in society.

With contributions from eight different countries, this is the first book to offer international and comparative perspectives on labour education. It provides context, discusses issues and examples, and reports on new initiatives, programming and courses. The authors are leading labour and adult educators and all have union and labour relations backgrounds.

This book will be of special interest to labour educators, union officials and members; and those working in the field of industrial relations and applied economics. Students of adult education will draw from it a deeper understanding of the contribution of labour education and the role it will continue to play in the twenty-first century.

Bruce Spencer is a professor in the Centre for Work and Community Studies, Athabasca University and has written widely on labour and adult education issues. His most recent books include The Purposes of Adult Education: A Guide for Students and (co editor) Learning for Life: Canadian Readings in Adult Education both published by Thompson Educational Publishing.

CONTENTS

       Preface

1.    Labour Education: An Introduction

       Bruce Spencer

UNIT I: PERSPECTIVES ON PROVISION

2.    Trade Union Education in Europe: Emerging from the Gloom

       John Stirling

3.    Union Education in the New South African Democracy

       Linda Cooper

4.    Education for Labour’s Professionals: Britain, Canada and the USA

       Tom Nesbit

5.    A Chinese Perspective on Workers’ Rights in Labour Education

       Rita Kwok Hoi Yee

UNIT II: LEARNING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL – UNION, WORKPLACE AND COMMUNITY

6.    Labour Education for Immigrant Workers in the USA

       Kent Wong

7.    Research Circles in Sweden: Strengthening the Double Democratic Function of Trade Unions

       Gunilla Härnsten and Lars Holmstrand

8.    Basic Skills and Union Activity in the UK and Australia

       Chris Holland and Geraldine Castleton

UNIT III: BUILDING THE UNION

9.    Organizer Training in Two Hemispheres: The Experience in the USA and Australia

       Marcus Widenor and Lynn Feekin

10.   Equipping the Next Wave of Union Leaders: Québec’s Collège FTQ-Fonds

       France Laurendeau and D’Arcy Martin

11.   Programa Integrar in Brazil: Union Intervention in Employment, Development and Education

       Fernando Augusto Moreira Lopes

UNIT IV: CURRENT CHALLENGES

12.   Training Transnational Worker Representatives: The European Works Councils

       Doug Miller

13.   Unions and Workplace Learning: The British Experience

       Keith Forrester

14.   Union E-Learning in Canada

       Jeffery Taylor

UNIT V: REFLECTIONS ON THE FUTURE

15.   Part of the System or Part of Civil Society: Unions in Australia

       Michael Newman

16.   Unions and Learning in a Global Economy

       Bruce Spencer and Naomi Frankel

       Index

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