Union Counselling Program
Have a problem? Not sure what to do? Consider talking to a KFA
Union Counsellor.
Who are we?
We are faculty members, like yourself, who have been trained to
act as a resource to provide peer support to our fellow members
who are trying to cope with workplace, personal or family
challenges.
What do we do?
We can help you to identify and deal with problems by providing
peer support and connecting you to services in the community. We
are here to listen, identify the problem, and refer members to
the proper community resource. Dealings with members are kept
strictly confidential and referrals to community resources are
completely voluntary. More...
Phone: 604-599-3169
Email: uc@kfa.bc.ca
We’re here for you.
More on the Union Counselling Program:
A fundamental goal of the labour movement is the health and well-being of its members and their families and, thereby, generates support for services in our communities. To advance this goal, the Canadian Labour Congress and the United Way partnered to create the Union Counselling program and to train union counsellors for the workplace. Now, the Kwantlen Faculty Association is making the Union Counselling program available to promote the health and well-being of our members and their families.
The Union Counselling program, sponsored by the Kwantlen Faculty
Association, is operated by faculty for faculty. Volunteer union
counsellors are available to all KFA members and their families
for any issues or problems of personal impact. It should be
noted that the program does not offer counselling services in
the traditional sense, but rather peer support that, in times of
need, helps workers and their families access important social
services in their own communities.
The Union Counselling program is offered to members and their
families to augment available services; it does not replace the
Employee and Family Assistance program. Also, union counsellors
do not look after work related issues. This remains the role of
shop stewards.
We now have two union counselors who are trained and who are familiar with the resources available in members’ communities. Members will find that the union counsellors will listen, help to identify the problem, refer the KFA member to the appropriate resource if needed, and then, with the permission of the member, follow up to insure that the member was able to resolve their issues.
Confidentiality is crucial and is a priority of the program.
Records are not kept and information about members is not shared
with anyone. Additionally, members will not be contacted by
anyone other than the union counsellor whom she or he contacted,
and only with the member’s permission.
To speak with a union counsellor, call Ronnie Skolnick or Robyn
Rushford at local 3169. Please leave a message and your call
will be returned within the day. Note that if a message is left
after hours, the call will be returned the next day. Your
meeting with Ronnie or Robyn can take place on the phone or in
an agreed upon location.