A Summary of the Research Report on Worker Education

This is a Summary Document of the full consolidated research report, presented to the Worker Education Committee (comprised of representatives of COSATU, NACTU and FEDUSA) and the Inaugural Worker Education Conference held in August 2018. Now more than ever, worker education is critically important, particularly in the current context of neo-liberal capitalism and the growing informalisation and precarious nature of work, in which trade unions and workers are increasingly under attack, as described by the ILO: “Unions are faced with the effects of unfair globalization, attacks on their existence by supporters of neo-liberalism, rapidly changing technology in the workplace, undemocratic global governing bodies and expanding informal economies in which people try to make a living as best they can, as well as other challenges such as the worst forms of child labour and HIV/AIDS. Learning how to address these and other issues effectively is the key to the continuing health and growth of the labour movement. And the key to learning in the labour movement is effective union education. Improving the funding of union education, linking it to labour research and workplace issues, making it relevant to a broader spectrum of working people, updating its methodologies and training its practitioners will help the movement learn how to create the new knowledge it needs to face the challenges ahead.” (ILO, 2007). As the ILO points out above, union education (and worker education more broadly) is essential to building a strong labour movement capable of challenging the ills of capitalism. But the quality and relevance of such education, and the capacity of trade union educators, is essential to ensuring that worker education helps to equip workers and shop stewards to fight for workers’ rights and dignity

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