Unions and Learning in a Global Economy - International and Comparative Perspectives

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Unions And Learning In A Global Economy

International and Comparative Perspectives

By: Bruce Spencer

This book will be of special interest to labour educators, union officials and members, and those working in the field of industrial relations and applied economics. Students of adult education will draw from it a deeper understanding of the contribution of labour education and the role it will continue to play in the twenty-first century.

ISBN 978-1-55077-128-2
Edition First
Year 2002
Page Count 188

$ 26.95

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Description

Labour education is one of the most important forms of adult education, and in many countries it attracts more participants than any other form of non-vocational adult education. But it is also a field that is often under-reported in discussions about adult learning, labour relations, or generally in discussions about the role of unions in society.

With contributions from eight different countries, this is the first book to offer international and comparative perspectives on labour education. It provides context, discusses issues and examples, and reports on new initiatives, programming and courses. The authors are leading labour and adult educators and all have union and labour relations backgrounds.

Table of Contents

  • 1. Labour Education: An Introduction, Bruce Spencer
UNIT I: PERSPECTIVES ON PROVISION
  • 2. Trade Union Education in Europe: Emerging from the Gloom, John Stirling
  • 3. Union Education in the New South African Democracy, Linda Cooper
  • 4. Education for Labour’s Professionals: Britain, Canada and the USA, Tom Nesbit
  • 5. A Chinese Perspective on Workers’ Rights in Labour Education, Rita Kwok Hoi Yee
UNIT II: LEARNING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL – UNION, WORKPLACE AND COMMUNITY
  • 6. Labour Education for Immigrant Workers in the USA, Kent Wong
  • 7. Research Circles in Sweden: Strengthening the Double Democratic Function of Trade Unions, Gunilla Härnsten and Lars Holmstrand
  • 8. Basic Skills and Union Activity in the UK and Australia, Chris Holland and Geraldine Castleton
UNIT III: BUILDING THE UNION
  • 9. Organizer Training in Two Hemispheres: The Experience in the USA and Australia, Marcus Widenor and Lynn Feekin
  • 10. Equipping the Next Wave of Union Leaders: Québec’s Collège FTQ-Fonds, France Laurendeau and D’Arcy Martin
  • 11. Programa Integrar in Brazil: Union Intervention in Employment, Development and Education, Fernando Augusto Moreira Lopes
UNIT IV: CURRENT CHALLENGES
  • 12. Training Transnational Worker Representatives: The European Works Councils, Doug Miller
  • 13. Unions and Workplace Learning: The British Experience, Keith Forrester
  • 14. Union E-Learning in Canada, Jeffery Taylor UNIT V: REFLECTIONS ON THE FUTURE
  • 15. Part of the System or Part of Civil Society: Unions in Australia, Michael Newman
  • 16. Unions and Learning in a Global Economy, Bruce Spencer and Naomi Frankel

About the Author

Bruce Spencer
Athabasca University in Alberta

Bruce Spencer is a professor in the Centre for Work and Community Studies at Athabasca University and has written widely on labour and adult education issues. His most recent books include The Purposes of Adult Education: A Guide for Students and (co-editor) Learning for Life: Canadian Readings in Adult Education both published by Thompson Educational Publishing.