Education Offerings
All Members
Winter/Spring 2023 Workshops
We are pleased to announce our Winter/Spring 2023 education program.
We have a variety of sessions scheduled that are open to all members. Presenters include Alex Hemingway from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Jodie Gauthier with Black Gropper Labour & Employment Lawyers, Katrina Miller the Executive Director of Canadians for Tax Fairness and Kerry Palmer of Integrative Mediation Services.
Please note these sessions will be held over the lunch hour and union leave is not provided.
Giving and Receiving Constructive Feedback
Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. PST
Facilitator: Kerry Palmer
Webinar Description:
In this session members will learn about tone setting and the mindset for providing feedback. Other topics will include, how to initiate feedback, what are the key components of feedback, and how to deal with defensiveness from the other.
Off Duty Conduct
Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. PST
Facilitator: Jodie Gauthier
Webinar Description:
This webinar will provide information about the ways that conduct outside of the workplace can impact one's employment relationship. Topics considered will include:
- Discipline for off-duty conduct
- Conflicts of interest
- Online activity, social media and public commentary
Budget 2023: Understanding BC's Capacity to Tackle Big Challenges
Date: Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. PST
Facilitator: Alex Hemingway
Webinar Description:
This presentation will provide analysis and highlights from BC's latest provincial budget and examine the broader state of the province's economic and fiscal capacity, showing that bigger action to address social and environmental crises is well within our power.
Emotional Intelligence
Date: Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. PDT
Facilitator: Kerry Palmer
Webinar Description:
In this one-hour session you will hear about the four components of emotional awareness; self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship awareness.
Tax Policy and Inflationary Pressures
Date: Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. PDT
Facilitator: Katrina Miller
Webinar Description:
During this webinar, members will learn ways to make life more affordable, as well as how the last 40 years of tax reductions for certain groups have made life less affordable, and how rising corporate profits are a driver of inflation.
Privacy Rights at Work
Date: Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. PDT
Facilitator: Jodie Gauthier
Webinar Description:
The webinar will consider the applicable law and common issues with respect to privacy in the workplace, including:
- Privacy rights at work under statutes and the common law
- Workplace surveillance
- Privacy with respect to internet use and devices
- Background checks
Local Reps
Conflict Resolution
Date: March 1 & 2, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. each day
Facilitator: Kerry Palmer
Capacity: 15 participants
Location: PEA Office
505-1207 Douglas St,
Victoria, BC V8W 2E7
Description: This course will provide an introduction to conflict resolution for union leaders. Collaborative communication and working with emotions will be the focus. Kraybill's conflict style inventory and the 5-stage negotiation model will be discussed. Selected registrants will have the opportunity to fill out a survey before the course to indicate their preferred areas of interest.
The deadline for expressions of interest has now passed.
Unions and the Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation Process
Date: June 15 & 16, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. PST
Facilitator: Conni Kilfoil & Tammy Simonds
Capacity: 20 participants
Location: The Maritime Labour Centre
1880 Triumph St,
Vancouver, BC V5L 1K3
Description: This course will examine the history and nature of Aboriginal land claims, the inter-generational impact of the residential school system, the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and an overview of current Aboriginal issues. The relevance of these issues to the labour movement will be examined and groups will brainstorm ways in which tools such as collective bargaining, contract administration, and political campaigns can be used to advance the goals of the Commission.
The deadline for expressions of interest has now passed.
Chapter-Specific Training
Please check back at a later date.
Education Archive & Resources
For descriptions of past sessions and access to resources please visit our Education Archive & Resources page.
In this section
The PEA was formed in 1974, by a group of professionals working in the public sector. The story goes that the founders of the union mortgaged their houses to fund negotiations of the union’s first collective agreement.
Now, the PEA is BC’s union for professionals. We represent a wide range of professionals including lawyers, foresters, engineers, agrologists, teachers, veterinarians, fundraisers, physiotherapists, pharmacists, psychologists program managers, librarians and more.
Our union is led by the PEA Executive. They represent members from across the chapters of the PEA and set the overall vision and direction for our union.
Resources for our members
Navigating a union can sometime be a challenging process. Under this section of the website you will find resources to help you navigate the PEA. In the members section you'll find expense claim reimbursements, information on the PEA's scholarship and bursary program and our grants and donations program.
Collective bargaining and job action resources explain the process of collective bargaining and what to do in the unlikely event of job action.
Local reps can also find resources to help them complete their job more effectively. This includes ways to welcome new members, how to take notes in investigation disciplinary meetings and more.
The heart of our union
The PEA is made up of nine chapters, or groups of members who either work for the same employer or are in the same field of work. Each chapter has an elected executive tasked with running the affairs of the chapter. Each chapter is entitled to representation at the PEA Executive, the governing body of the union.
Our members work for a range of employers: the Province of BC, the University of Victoria, St. Margaret's School, the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, the Oil and Gas Commission, the Law Society of BC, Legal Services Society, the Okangan Regional Library and health authorities across BC.
Professionals need unions now more then ever
Since the 1970’s, when the PEA was formed, our mission has been to ensure our members can work in safe, productive environments and receive fair and reasonable wages and benefits for the valuable work they do. We help individuals and groups of professional workers to understand the challenges they face in their workplaces and some of the solutions available to them.
We work with potential members to become certified as a union and achieve the wages, benefits and respect they deserve.
