The cost savings come when you recognize that you have probably over-invested in training already. If the organization promotes learning and sharing knowledge, you don't have to teach everyone everything. Training employees for every contingency is impossible. Because employers put so much pressure on workers today it's more important than ever to be able to learn quickly. Knowledge has to be available the moment you need it.
Classrooms are fine.
Sometimes you have to teach in a classroom. But trade union education is more than classes, tables, chairs, and flip charts. Union education is also delivered member to member. And since you can't know everything you need to know before you use it, we have to do a much better job of developing the instincts and capacities of our members by any means whenever it's possible. We cannot wait for courses.