The profiles are organised alphabetically by country and then by union. If you are an educator within an ITF affiliated union, please download and respond to the questionnaire at the end of this page.

Argentina

Name: Guillermo Ballestrasse
Union: Asociación Argentina de Aeronavegantes (AAA)
Position: Education Co-ordinator
History: I have been working actively for the union for 4 years and coordinating education programmes for almost 2 years.

Union Education Activities: The education activities I have been working on are: negotiation and strategic planning seminars and parliamentary activities with members who are interested in participating in our National Congress debates.

Areas of Interest: I enjoy this job very much mainly the activities mentioned above.

Problems faced: The main problems I deal with is giving impulse to education activities, lack of interest and individualism.

Strengthening links: Keep contact with other unions through email (in Spanish if possible). To have more information about what is going on in other organisations and countries.

Contact email: ballestrasseguillermo@yahoo.com.ar

Barbados

Name: Wilma Clement
Union: Barbados Workers’ Union
History: 23 years within the trade union movement and 9 years as an educator.

Union Activities: The Barbados Workers’ Union  has a residential college where most of the union education activities are conducted. These include preparations of course outlines, presentation of lecture topic, development of handouts, case studies, identifying participants, coordinating courses including rooms, meals etc; identifying resource persons and gathering and researching information.

The following topics are covered: Developing negotiation skills, Promoting labour management relations, Leadership and Team building, Conflict resolution, Globalisation and Trade liberalisation, Developing self esteem, Health and Safety and Worker awareness, the Ripple effects of HIV/AIDS, History, the Role and structure of a trade union, Shop steward’s training, Industrial relations and Collective bargaining.

Areas of interest: Gender issues, particularly Health and Safety.

Problems faced: Getting employers to release workers, convincing members of the necessity of attending training, finding and sourcing relevant and up to date statistics, and finding enough time to do every thing.

Strengthening links: Bring educators together at least once a year, support and or encourage exchange visits (working), set up a network of educators to build capacity among educators where necessary.

Contact Email: clems@caribsurf.com.