Local 1231’s stewards and Executive board members attended the Leadership 1 course from March 29-April 3, 2026 held at the William Winpisinger Education and Technology center, Hollywood, Maryland, USA.
The Leadership 1 class had 64 members divided into 2 classes and a total of 15 Canadian members attended from across Toronto, Alberta and Vancouver.
The course focused on the important roles and responsibilities of a shop steward, politics, human rights, and Labor History .
Investing in the education of stewards and executive board members is essential to building a strong and effective union. When leaders understand their roles, responsibilities, and the tools available to them, they are better equipped to represent members, uphold the collective agreement, and respond to workplace challenges with confidence. Ongoing training not only strengthens leadership skills, but also helps ensure accountability, unity, and a brighter future for the membership they serve.
Thanks to the vision and wisdom of the President of Local 1231, Merry St. Bernard, union stewards and members are being trained for their leadership roles that lie ahead.
A few lines from the Local 1231 members that attended the course :
Jeneth Franje – Steward : “This was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had. It helped me grow, build my confidence, and better understand my role as a Steward. I am excited to share what I have learned with my fellow members and to continue supporting our union.”
Yogeeta Ishak – Steward York : “The environment was welcoming,supportive, and well organized making it easy to focus on both my studies and personal growth.
Gurmeet Ughra – Steward York : “My learning experience was great and exceeded my expectations. We learned about Labour History, Human Rights, Govt and Politics and the Roles of Steward. In the classrooms it was fun learning.
Michell Pyne – Trustee : “Overall I learned a lot about Struggles, Persistence and Solidarity within the unions.”
