CLC Summer School 2013
Labour Law Course
July 21 to 26th
Port Elgin, Ontario
I am delighted to have participated in the 2013 CLC Summer School Educational and am pleased to
provide a summary of my experience to the members. What an experience attending the summer school
educational in Port Elgin was. Not only did I have the benefit of taking the Labour Law week long, I met
many wonderful people and am very honoured to have taken part in this experience.
Let me begin by thanking our EBM’s for having supported and made this educational available to 3
members of Region 6. I feel privileged to have spent some time with my OPSEU sister/brother (friends), Yuk
Sem Wong and Mike Hocevar, both of whom are OPSEU BPS members out of Thunder Bay and Sault Ste.
Marie. True activists. Family orientated and have the best interest of members at heart, like myself.
LABOUR LAW COURSE, Private & Public This course was my second choice. I had originally signed up for the
bargaining course which was cancelled due to low registration. Labour Law class consisted of
approximately 26 people from across Ontario, from all different Unions. Our instructors were two lawyers,
Andrew MacIsaac and Danielle Leon-Fowlen.
We were provided with a thick binder full of cases & precedents. We read a lot of case law and heard
many examples from members on issues that have taken place in their workplaces over the years. The
majority of the attendees are union activists within their own workplace/union. Many of the students were
seasoned and have a lot of knowledge/examples of different situations that they were able to share with
the rest of the class.
My brother, Mike Hocevar, was also in this course with me. Classes were scheduled daily 9 a.m. To 4:30 p.m.
with 1 hour lunch Monday-Thursday and finished at 12 noon on Friday.
On Thursday, our class was divided into two groups as we were “acting out” an arbitration of a case we
were provided with. I was the “witness” and must say, I was a fabulous witness. Needless to say....we won
our case!
This, in my view, was the most interesting aspect of the course. Reading the cases and statutes portion was
a little dry. It is the people and instructors that made the experience interesting, informative and enjoyable.
Networking & New Friendships. Tommy Lenathen, Local 416, Toronto, was an individual that I met. He had
many stories/examples to share with our class What I found very interesting is that he was one of the first to
benefit from Paternal Leave Benefits in 1987. Great man, interesting stories and active within his union for
many years. He sees the importance of getting the younger generation involved with unions.
Personally, what I have gained from this experience is further insight & knowledge confirming the fact that
now, more than ever, every member who belongs to a union needs to get involved. Anytime I attend a
union function, educational or meeting I leave feeling revived with the hope that more people will
eventually realize that “UNIONS” need member involvement. It is a great feeling being surrounded by
people who believe in investing their own personal time to try to build and bring back a sense of Unity
among the Middle Class Workers. We need to stand up and speak up of our displeasure in what is
happening to full time, good paying employment in Ontario.
Throughout the week there were activities put in place in order to get members interacting together. I
would encourage members,, if this opportunity were to be offered in the future, to apply. You will not be
disappointed. Everything about he CAW – CLC Summer School, facilities, staff, students, instructors,
accommodations, meals, is spectacular. There is no better way to network, make contacts & learn than to
be on-site with everyone for an entire week. Thanks again to our region 6 Executive Board Members for this
wonderful experience.
Respectfully submitted by Charlene Legacy, Local 629 , Sudbury.
REMEMBER….”U”nion (U are the union).