Educate to Organise is an initiative aimed at developing a critical understanding of social, economic and political issues in order to build capacity to effect positive change. It is a programme produced by trade unionists, for trade unionists, with the aim of empowering all of us to build stronger unions. It was initially the subject of a pilot project involving 20 SIPTU activists and staff during 2014 and 2015. Due to the success of the pilot project, Educate to Organise is now offered on a wider basis since September 2015.
Educate to Organise has three modules as follows:
Module 1 – Workers in Society
This module looks at workers in society in a particular way – looks at where workers are placed in society, at issues such as class, left and right wing politics, globalisation, inequality – how these affect us all, particularly as trade unionists.
Module 2 – Workers and the Economy
As the name implies this module explores economics from the viewpoint of workers, helping to reach an understanding of how economic decisions affect workers and their families.
Module 3 – Workers in their Union
This third module examines the history of the unequal relationship between workers and employers and verifies the potential for union renewal with particular emphasis on Irish trade unions.
Educate to Organise is delivered over a 2-hour session once a week, using a lively mix of lecture, film and debate. Participants can expect to spend an additional two hours each week, reading and generally exploring the issues raised. Each module runs for between 6 and 8 weeks and includes evaluation and assessment at the end.
Once you register for Educate to Organise (usually the week before we start), you will be given a username and password for siptulearn – this is where you will find everything you need to participate on the programme. That includes a summary of each week’s work, a “To do list” including recommended readings and a quiz or crossword to test your learning and space for you to comment or let us know how you’re getting on.
For further information please contact Tish Gibbons at [email protected]