What's next?

Last year, fewer employees used essential skills programs. Rhonda feels the City and CUPE need to go back to employees and find out what programs would be most helpful to them now. For instance, "is there a work unit that needs support as the water workers did in the past?"

Rhonda would also like to raise the credibility of the essential skills program-make it a more normal part of the range of training opportunities that the City offers. By doing so, everyone will understand that all learning and development are positive both for the organization and for its employees.

Learner: Bill Bailey

"One dream has come true-be-coming permanent." On February 18,2008, Bill Bailey moved into a permanent job as a foreman in Insect Control with the City of Winnipeg. Until then, Bill had worked for the City for 22 years, but only in seasonal and temporary positions as an outside worker. The Essential Skills program has played an important role in boosting his skills, confidence, and ability to achieve his personal goals.

Bill has always been up front about what he knows and where he needs help. "I don't hide anything about my reading and writing and they know me and what I can do. I met all the minimum requirements for the foreman's job," he says proudly. He enjoyed his last job in maintenance for the same department because "it was always something different every day. There are so many different machines. I was always up for the challenge." Now, as foreman, he knows he'll be learning new skills: how to deal with co-workers and with the public. "I'll be dealing with complaints from the public. How to handle a situation when a person starts yelling at the crew" He will also have to learn how to hook up the computers inside the trucks and make sure they are in correct working order. Bill feels excited, ready, and able to take on these new challenges.

On the learning track

Back in 2001, Bill was not the same worker and learner that he is today. Reading and writing were difficult and technology was a hurdle. His six week layoff that year proved to be beneficial because he got involved in the Essential Skills program in the ev1enings. "I was never bored and it was on my own time. I was happier to go to school at night and not take a spot for someone who had a longer layoff."