Nancy:

" Well…the client is multi-faceted. No one client…In the end it is the workers' program but it is too simplistic to say I just serve workers. We also have to serve the needs of management and labour."

Fiona:

"Nice to think its just the learners but someone else is paying the bill--the company, a local or national agency. We have to serve a lot of masters and keep our integrity."

Tamara:

"My role is to serve workers and their union although I don't think of them as clients. Sometimes I work with joint committees, but I am accountable to the union."

Paul:

"Hard to say. As an adult educator I say the learner…but other people are investing money. Management and the union are interested stakeholders. Is a stakeholder a client? It is important to try to understand and serve all interests…find a focus of mutual interests."

D. Preparation for Doing the Work

Everyone indicated that there were many different facets to their preparation for doing literacy work in the workplace. There was no one course or experience that prepared people. Everyone indicated that working with colleagues and/or mentors was pivotal in their development to do this work. Life and other work experience as well as formal or academic training were also cited as other important preparation. A few people said that they read a lot.

While some people stressed experience and working with colleagues or a mentor as the main preparation, others emphasized the importance of their academic training or transferable skills from other work.