A review of the state of trade union-based worker education

ABSTRACT Worker education is crucial for developing alternative perspectives and collective responses to the socio-economic and ecological challenges facing the working class. This paper summarises findings of research commissioned by the Worker Education Committee of the Human Resources Development Council on the nature and provision of worker education. The research was conducted with trade unions, labour service organisations and institutions involved in worker education. The research process collectively defined worker education as education for workers, controlled by workers and their organisations for their own needs and purposes, and oriented towards building collective organisation to advance workers’ struggles. Worker education includes the employed (in both precarious and “standard” employment) and the unemployed. Key challenges include the lack of sustainable financing of worker education, the lack of time-off for workers to access education, and fragmented worker education initiatives. The revitalisation of worker education requires a reassertion of the historical character of worker education, organically linked to working class struggles and union organising, rather than narrowly focused on skills acquisition for individual advancement. Revitalising worker education cannot solve the problems facing the labour movement on its own. Rebuilding worker organisation and relationships of solidarity and collective action within and between organised and unorganised workers is integral to the revitalisation of worker education.