1. ITC-ILO/ACTRAV Course A3-01269
Information Management for Trade Union Organization, Research & Education
9-25 March 2009
Course Orientation
ACTRAV-Turin

2. Aims of Orientation
1/To understand the objectives and expected outputs of this programme;
2/To confirm the timetable of the course, and make necessary fine tuning to it.

3. Background
The World of Work has been changing due to several reasons – economic, political & technological
Many challenges before TUs, including on membership & organizational front.
How have unions been responding to these? Do you see strategies & changes within the unions?
Is there a role for IT in Union functions & Organization?
IT can be part of the process, one of the means but can not replace the need for fundamental TU functions

4. Thru exchange of experiences, hands on training & mutual collaborative learning this course will focus on expanding the understanding on the use of information technologies for improving the effectiveness & outreach of union organization.

5. Objectives of the Course
For ILO & ACTRAV assisting TUs to promote Decent Work for All workers remains a major priority. This workshop is part of this endeavour & is aimed at –
strengthening unions capacities for use of IT for managing trade union work, including representing & servicing members and to deliver labour education
Promoting wider knowledge of current issues facing the labour movement, International Labour Standards & initiatives being taken by ILO & trade unions to promote Decent Work
Building an effective communication network among the national trade unions which facilitates information & experience sharing for organizing, collective bargaining and policy-making processes to promote workers rights and actions to promote Decent Work.

6. Key issues to be discussed
Introduction to ILO. ACTRAV & International Labour Movement (history & key challenges)
Globalisation, Financial Crisis & Decent Work: Challenges before the labour movement
International Labour Standards (ILS), Freedom of Association and supervisory machinery of ILO
The state of trade unions in Asia-Pacific
Organizing Strategies
Networking, collaborating & exchanging knowledge in the digital age

7. Key issues to be discussed
Info Technology & Trade Unions
– Introduction to computers, IT & Open Source Software
– The use of Open Office – Spreadsheets (for Union
Accounts, collective bargaining),
– Information Organizer Programme,
– Database programmes for trade union operations
(membership maintenance, recruitment campaigns)
– Using the Web for TU Education, Research, Collective
Bargaining
– Distance Education & Computer Conferencing
Trade Union Policies & Strategies in regard to IT
Follow up Work Plans

8. Main Outputs Expected Preparation of follow up work plans
These plans will be used for evaluation purposes for any future follow-up seminar.
Strengthening of Asia-pacific Regional Educational Network on Workers Rights – to share experiences, news and promote campaigns on workers rights, sharing of information on developments on trade union rights front with the labour movement across the globe
…more on all this later

9. 3rd Week (22-29 Mar 2009) Study Visit to Berlin, hosted by FES.
Focus of the study visit:
Introduction to the international & Trade Union activities of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in Asia
Experience of German unions in regard to organizing, industrial relations issues & workers education
Information management & other initiatives taken to improve effectiveness of trade union actions.
Field visit to a factory and interaction with union representatives.

10. Evaluation Feedback is welcome on daily-basis
Daily Summary – by participants
Weekly & End of the course evaluation
Post-course evaluation to be conducted one year after the completion of the course
Feedback is welcome on daily-basis

11. Role of Participants
Be active & participative in all activities through out the course – your experience is also a source of education for all, including us!
Be PUNCTUAL! – please….. 
Form a 2 member Daily Report Team – to take notes of, summarize major points & key issues of each training session – the team will change daily & will present the summary of previous day’s training sessions every day at 8.30 a.m.
Start thinking of your Project Work Plan Ideas

12. Any Questions?