Publication: Worker-Centered Learning: A Union Guide to Workplace Literacy

• Kay, Ann
• Sarmiento, Anthony R.

This guide examines organized labor's views on adult
literacy. It also describes several union-sponsored
workplace education programs and suggests how a union can
plan and operate a worker-centered literacy program. The
book is organized in three parts. The first part examines
workplace literacy in four chapters that cover the
following: the changing workplace, unions' stake in
education and literacy, literacy in the workplace today,
and unions' worker-centered approach to workplace literacy.
The second part, which makes up most of the book, contains
two chapters that explain how to design a worker-centered
program. Steps described include the following: laying the
groundwork, identifying members' needs and goals,
negotiating funding, defining the union role, developing
links with the educational community, outlining a plan of
services, designing the worker-centered classroom,
encouraging members to participate, and keeping the program
on track. The second chapter of this section suggests ways
educational services can be offered to union members if the
union is not able to operate its own program. The final
section (appendixes) lists members of the technical
resource group involved in developing the guide, outside
funding resources, 56 books and articles, and labor
organizations whose programs are mentioned in the guide.

ERIC #: ED338863