September 8 is International Literacy Day, whose theme this year is “Promoting literacy in the digital era”.
Life and the workplace are constantly changing. Globalization, digital transformation and demographic shifts, among other trends, are influencing work, community, how society functions and how we interact. In this environment, literacy and essential skills are more important than ever.
CUPE believes literacy and skills training are fundamental rights for workers and for all people. Most of the collective agreements we negotiate include education and development provisions. In addition, our union education branch offers our members a wide range of knowledge acquisition and development workshops.
CUPE’s National Literacy and Essential Skills Committee promotes the use of clear language within CUPE and encourages employers and governments to adopt clear language. CUPE locals can use the guide to negotiate a clear contract, create a companion document that explains the contract in clear language, and even adopt clear language in meetings and newsletters.