The Bermuda Public Services Association (BPSA) will team up with the Commonwealth Trade Union Council (CTUC) when it offers a pair of seminars later this month.

The organisations will conduct a Youth Workshop at the BPSA Headquarters at Angle Street, Pembroke on November 15 and 16, and its second Annual Shop Stewards' Conference at the Elbow Beach Hotel from November 18 and 19.

And the facilitator for the seminars will be CTUC Caribbean Project Co-ordinator Sandra Massiah, said BPSA General Secretary Edward Ball, Jr.

Approximately 88 shop stewards and 23 youth members from Government, hospital, quasi-Government organisations, Bermuda College, Serco Aviation Services, Cable & Wireless, CedarBridge Academy and Bermuda Telephone Company will be in attendance.

The general aims of the Youth Workshop are to: identify the needs of young trade union members; review the work of the BPSA's youth wing; develop plans and identify strategies to promote the work of the BPSA's youth wing; develop ways to recruit young workers and ensure the active involvement of young members in the union; develop sustainable projects organised by and for young trade union members; and develop basic trade union skills in young trade unionists.

Meanwhile, the general aims of the Shop Stewards' Conference are to: review the union's communications machinery; think about the importance of effective communication; develop the union's communications policy; plan an effective communications strategy for the BPSA; develop the necessary skills, attitudes and knowledge to be effective Shop Stewards and trade unionists; and be aware of the challenging issues facing trade unions.

Mr. Ball said the CTUC works in partnership with member organisations and has spent the past 20 years helping to develop an effective, independent and democratic trade union movement throughout the Commonwealth.

The CTUC promotes self reliance and assists unions in developing the skills, attitudes and knowledge of its members through effective and student-centred education methods.

Mr. Ball said the BPSA looked forward to the educational opportunity with the CTUC because it recognised that trade unions in the Commonwealth were an essential element in civil society.

UNIONS UNS