About Aspen Foundation for Labour Education
 
Learning Outcomes

In order for youth to fully participate in their workplace, community, and society, they must have knowledge, skills, and attitudes that encourage them to become engaged citizens.  Accordingly, youth should know:

  • Historically, working people, social justice organizations, and labour organizations have played important roles in developing our communities and society.
  • Workers, labour organizations, and social justice organizations continue to make important contributions to our communities and society.
  • There are many organizations and a diversity of perspectives in organized labour and social justice communities.
  • Many social, economic, and technological issues affect working people.
  • Unions work to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions and develop processes to resolve workplace issues and injustices.
  • Unions have democratic structures and processes in their organizations that encourage member participation and leadership development.
  • Alberta has laws that regulate work, workers, and labour organizations.
  • Alberta has laws that govern working conditions and rates of pay for youth.
  • Workers and labour organizations are artistically portrayed in many aspects of our culture.
  • Unions promote cooperation and solidarity in communities and society.
Youth should develop skills in:

  • critical thinking and analyzing issues of injustice;
  • synthesizing a position from diverse perspectives;
  • communicating beliefs and opinions;
  • negotiating a resolution to disputes;
  • cooperating and building solidarity;
  • democratic involvement and leadership;
  • social action and engagement.
Youth should develop values and attitudes that include appreciating and respecting:

  • the dignity and worth of the individual;
  • the value of work;
  • the freedom to express beliefs and opinions;
  • diversity in society;
  • equality, social justice, and fairness;
  • individual and group circumstances requiring compassion;
  • a quality lifestyle and a healthy, just, and democratic workplace;
  • cooperation;
  • the right to take collective action to protect the economic interests of working families;
  • the right to bargain collectively;
  • engaged citizenry.