Sociology for Unionists

This course will explore how you can apply liberation sociology to your union work.

About this course:

Intended Audience 

Organisers and Campaigners 

Workplace Leaders (Delegates and Activists) 

Specialists Staff (Policy and Research)  

 

About this course  

This course introduces Liberation Sociology, a framework that will equip you with tools to engage in liberation for all those who experience exclusion and exploitation because of class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disability, and age. 

Beginning with an analysis of our material conditions, particularly the class structure of capitalist society, the course explores the way power and wealth are concentrated in the hands of the few. 

It introduces you to the dialectical method which will enable you to interrogate a situation exposing the root causes of injustice. Using dialectics will help you reach out to workers and galvanise them in collective struggle to achieve social change. 

 

Outcomes 

By the end of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Define the material base as a means of understanding the key elements that lead to inequality in society 
  • Identify the features of neoliberalism 
  • Analyse the causes of and solutions to insecurity, injustice and inequality 
  • Define dialectics and engage in the dialectical method to uncover and critique the root causes of injustice in a situation 
  • Identify how you can shape and change a situation by engaging in the struggle for liberation 
  • Identify how you can apply liberation sociology to your union work 
 

Content 

What is sociology? 

Definition and how sociology applies to our union work 

 

Understanding our material base 

Features of neoliberalism 

Analysis of our concrete conditions and how society is organised 

Who has power and why? 

 

Using dialectics 

What is the dialectical method? 

Using dialectics to critique inequality 

 

Struggle for liberation 

Interconnectedness of workers’ struggles  

Application of sociology to achieve liberation 

 

Delivery mode 

Online 

 

Delivery style

This course will comprise presentations and facilitated discussion by an expert practitioner along with interactive group work to apply theory to practice in the form of case studies. It also creates space for self-reflection on how sociology applies to and is embedded in union work. 

 

Duration

3 x 4 hour online sessions

 

Pre-requisites

None 

 

Related courses

Climate Action for Unionists

Economics for Unionists 

 

Feature facilitator

This course is delivered by Dr John Falzon, sociologist and social justice advocate, and national CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society from 2006 to 2018. He has written and spoken widely on neoliberalism and the structural causes of inequality and has long been engaged in the collective movement for social justice and social change. John is a lifelong unionist and proud member of the Australian Services Union.

 

Credly Badge

Sociology for Unionists

 

Cost

$229

 

2024

 

ONLINE – ENROL HERE

Session 1 | 17 October | 11:00am to 3:00pm
Session 2 | 24 October | 11:00am to 3:00pm
Session 3 | 31 October | 11:00am to 3:00pm