Kitchen economics for the family, paid education leave and the Canadian Autoworkers Union

grantor: University of TorontoThis thesis examines the Paid Education Leave (PEL) program of the Canadian Autoworkers Union (CAW), formerly the Canadian Region of the United Autoworkers Union (UAW). This four-week program takes place at the CAW Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, Ontario and potentially provides 90% of the CAW's members with class-based, union-centred, labour education. Interviews conducted with key CAW sources uncover PEL's historical roots. A chronicle of the struggle to establish PEL is detailed in relation to the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 140 on Paid Educational Leave. Thematic, oral-history interviews were conducted with six CAW Local 222 members, all former participants of PEL. Interviews are used to illustrate a detailed description of the program's pedagogy and curriculum. Interview respondents were General Motors (GM) of Canada workers located in Oshawa, Ontario. Several policy and programmatic suggestions are made, including increased understanding of, and elevated respect for, informal learning.M.A