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Workers' Education and Trade Union Training
In order to have an informed and active trade union member-
ship, it is necessary to establish a system of workers' education which might deal with liberal studies subjects, but include trade unionism, and subjects that are con- cerned with the work situation such as aspects of health and safety. In addition, an educational programme to train trade union leaders, especially at the lower and middle ranges, is needed. The subjects covered could include collective bargaining techniques, union admin- istration, trade union history, labour laws, trade union
accounts, international trade unionism, etc. The estab- lishment of an education and training system would go a long way to help the movement develop a more effective leadership.
An obvious problem in the Hong Kong context is how the
educational programme would be organised and who would
run it.
For a general workers' education programme it should be possible to find someone, probably currently engaged in the adult education field. However, the more specialised courses on trade unionism would require someone with in-
depth trade union knowledge, understanding and experience. It might even be necessary to draw on the experience or knowledge of an outside trade unionist in getting a workers' education programme off the ground.
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Meanwhile, both the trade unions and the government might invite an expert from the International Labour Organis-
ation to work with the trade unions, the university department concerned with adult education and other in- terested agencies.
The Hong Kong government would have to be heavily in- volved in the education programme, perhaps through the Departments of Labour and Education. But, at the same time, it would be absolutely important that the courses on trade unionism, wage determination, etc., be directed by trade unionists themselves.
Continued/...