The union’s PEL program is held at the Unifor Family Education Center (FEC) located on the shores of Lake Huron, in Port Elgin, Ontario. It is a beautiful place where members working in every sector of the economy come together to learn, build relationships, strengthen our union, and emerge as leaders.
The Paid Education Leave program is a fund negotiated by the union in collective bargaining with employers, where each local or unit must negotiate it individually. A lump sum or cents-per-hour is bargained. This fund supports the development and delivery of training, the Discussion Leaders (instructor), the participation of the members, travel, room and board and all course materials.
The PEL program offers a year-round schedule (with the exception of January).
Most courses are 40 hours in length and run Sunday to Friday in Port Elgin.
The Education Department offers one, two, and three day courses. These courses can be taken in-person in your own community or live online. All courses are facilitated by trained Unifor members (Discussion Leaders or "DLs").
These courses are designed specifically to bring education to members close to where they live and work, right in their own communities or their home.
Area Schools operate on a 50/50 wage cost share. Travel outside of a members home community is not covered by the National Area School Program, however, we understand that special circumstances arise. In this case, a Local President can reach out to the department, in advance to registration for pre-approval.