PTRPSEA102 - Advocacy and Procedural Justice

Course Description

At its core, procedural justice can be thought of as the "commonsense" component of union representation — and it is absolutely critical to the process. Indeed, the ultimate success or failure of any union advocacy effort is often based solely on the degree to which principles of procedural justice are followed.

This course will explore the inherent nature of procedural justice, why it is necessary, how to ensure it exists, and how to implement it in ways that will secure favorable outcomes for your members. At certain points in the course, you may wonder if it is necessary to explain why a course of action is appropriate, especially when that course of action seems to be a matter of common sense. But as the French philosopher Voltaire wrote in 1764, "common sense is not so common" — and the unfortunate reality is that local associations (or simply locals) can, and do, fail to uphold the seemingly commonsense principles of procedural justice. It is your role as the UniServ Representative to ensure that procedural justice remains a constant ingredient in the local’s advocacy efforts.

Benefits to the Learner

• Explore the concept of procedural justice in union activities.

• Consider how to balance the need for transparency with the imperatives of advocacy work.

• Learn how sharing information, open communication, and hearing input from members are all critical components of procedural justice in any advocacy effort.