THE TUCP WORKERS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM (1975-2018)

I. Goals

Develop workers’ knowledge, skills, values and attitudes which they can effectively use to improve the quality of their life, their families, strengthen the TUCP and its affiliates.

Enable workers to actively participate in securing political and economic democracy, social justice and environmentally sustainable development.

II. The TUCP Education Department

Responsible for:

• operationalizing the Labor Center’s Workers’ Education Program which includes the planning, designing, monitoring and evaluating activities and ensuring that these are in line with the Philosophy, Mission and Goals of TUCP;
• institutionalizing an all trade unionist pool of educators and trainers as part of the strategy to pursue a mass-based, non-formal education at the workplace and union level;
• providing technical assistance to other TUCP departments and affiliates in the conduct of their own education and training programs; and
• strengthening networking among TUCP affiliates

Programs and activities are held and supported by the following fraternal and donor organizations:

• International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
• International Trade Union Confederation-Asia and the Pacific (ITUC-AP)
• International Labor Organization (ILO)
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
• Japan International Labor Foundation (JILAF)
• Japan Trade Union Confederation-RENGO (JTUC-RENGO)
• American Center for International Labor Solidarity (Solidarity Center)
• David and Lucille Packard

Major Activities in 2002

• TUCP/ICFTU-APRO National Information, Education and Communication Workshop on Social Safety Nets (Maternity Protection), 20-24 January 2002, Cebu City
• TUCP/ICFTU-APRO National Youth Leadership Training-Workshop, 18-22 February 2002, Quezon City
• TUCP/JILAF POSITIVE (Participation Oriented Safety Improvements by Trade Union Initiatives) Training of Trainers Program in Cebu and Manila, 31 July – 03 August 2002, Cebu City, 05 – 09 August 2002, Quezon City
• TUCP/ICFTU-APRO National Workshop on Globalization and Employment Challenges: Organizing the Informal Sector in the Philippines, 10-12 September 2002, Quezon City
• TUCP/JTUC-RENGO/JIL Trade Union Workshop on How to Improve Labor-Management Relations in Japanese Multinational, Enterprises in the Philippines. 11-13 November 2002, Makati City

III.Other Education and Training Activities

Most of the programs and activities participated in and conducted by the Department are held and coordinated with the support of various partner organizations.

From 2002-2007, the TUCP Education Department committed to conduct programs and activities in response to the needs and aspirations of the labor force. It took into great consideration issues and topics that are required in order to keep workers abreast with the rapid changes that are taking place in the world of work.

a) Advanced Leadership Skills Training Program for Trade Unionists

One of the institutional programs of the TUCP is the Leadership Training Program aimed at developing leaders among trade union officers and members:

(a) upgrading the practical skills in leadership and introduce more advanced skills for trade union officers; (b) deepening the leadership within the trade union movement by providing strategic competencies to selected leaders, and (c) verifying and promoting sets of personal qualities that need to be cultivated consistent with desired organizational cultures being formed among trade union federations.

b) Occupational Safety, Health and Environment

The Education Department has been at the helm of promoting OSHE through the following programs:

1. Participation-Oriented Safety Improvements by Trade Union Initiatives (POSITIVE)

With support from the Japan International Labour Foundation (JILAF), the POSITIVE Program is an action-oriented and participatory method of improving the working conditions developed specifically for trade union situations in developing countries in Asia.

Over the years, TUCP-JILAF POSITIVE Program has gained modest success and milestones, including: (a) training of trainers; (b) conduct of local union-based small group activities on OSH; and (c) development of various information, educational and communication materials (and translated into local language).

Over 50 POSITIVE core trainers had been trained and developed. They have been provided with training materials to enable them to serve as resource persons for nationally-organized positive programs as well as local union-based activities where they are invited.

Aside from regular industries as targets, the TUCP Core Trainers give special emphasis on reaching enterprises in special economic zones where violations of OSH standards and other provisions of the Philippine Labor Code are violated and disregarded outright.

2.Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)

With support from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) through the Board of Investments (BOI) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the program aims to contribute to the international campaign for the promotion and application of Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) through unions’ active participation.

Specifically, the project works towards: (a) increasing awareness, better understanding and appreciation of workers and their unions on GHS; (b) integrating GHS into TUCP’s Occupational Safety and Health and Environment Program down to the local union level; and (c) mobilizing POSITIVE Core Trainers for the rapid implementation of GHS at the workplace.

3. Annual Commemoration of the International Day of Mourning

The last component for the OSHE Program is an activity held every 28th of April to commemorate the International Day of Mourning in solidarity with trade unions throughout the world. The activity highlights a candle-lighting ceremony in remembrance of the thousand of women, men and children who died or injured due to unsustainable, unhealthy and unsafe working conditions.

IV.Linkages

The Department maintains local and international linkages to the following agencies and/organizations to ensure that the voice of workers is represented and their needs and concerns are heard and given attention:

• International Labor Organization (ILO);
• Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
• a)Occupational Safety and Health Center (DOLE-OSHC)
• b)Bureau of Women and Young Workers (DOLE-BWYW)
• Department of Health (DOH)
• Philippine National AIDS Council (where Bro. Ariel B. Castro is a member of the Council);
• Local Government of Quezon City (as member of the QC Technical Education and Skills Development Committee);
  Quezon City Council on Population and Development
• David and Lucile Packard Foundation and KPMG;
• Reproductive Health Advocacy Network
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Joint
• Program on AIDS (UNAIDS);
• Workers Alliance Against Child Labor (WAACL)’
• Global March Against Child Labor
• National Child Labor Committee and the National Program Against Child Labor
• Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD)
• Philippine Council Against Sustainable Development (PhilCAT)