ULI 2011 Course Descriptions
UNION LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Target Audience
This course is intended for newly elected or appointed leaders, stewards, prospective leaders and newer staff from all AFT constituency groups.
Why Take It?
Leadership in today’s difficult economic and political environment is especially challenging. This program enables you to develop the skills and knowledge to make your role more manageable and rewarding.
Key Objectives
- Identify the different styles of leadership;
- Understand specific constructive and destructive leadership behaviors;
- Improve your effectiveness in empowering and inspiring others; and
- Have fun in the leadership role.
Approach
This course involves highly interactive discussion using small-group and individual exercises, and minimal direct presentation.
EFFECTIVE GRIEVANCE ADMINISTRATION – Part 2
This course is intended for experienced stewards, local grievance committee chairs, and local or state staff with responsibility for contract enforcement. Completion of Effective Grievance Administration 1 is recommended.
Target Audience
This course is intended for those who have completed the initial Effective Grievance Administration Part 1 course or have had substantial responsibility in the investigation, preparation, and presentation of a real case.
Why Take It?
A complete picture of grievance administration – from the first hint of a problem through arbitration – is the best preparation for success. This course examines analysis and preparation for the parts between the last step of a grievance procedure and an actual arbitration presentation. Grasping this course’s objectives will increase skills in use of the underlying grievance procedure itself. If “fire, aim, ready” describes your grievance administration process, this course reorganizes that thinking.
Key Objectives
- Convert analysis into clear understandable grievance and remedy statements;
- Understand role of arbitration and its relationship to grievances and contract enforcement;
- Improve understanding of bargaining as it relates to exploring and settling grievances; and
- Prepare and present an arbitration case.
Approach
This course is highly interactive, using case studies, extensive discussion, individual practice and full simulation of arbitration by all participants.
Note: You will need a copy of your local’s constitution and your contract for this course.
A laptop computer for classwork is recommended.
INTRODUCTION TO NEGOTIATIONS
Target Audience
This course is open only to those with no experience or who are involved in their first bargaining situation.
Why Take It?
If you want to understand why and how bargaining works from start to finish, this program is for you. Learning by doing is this course’s key feature. It is an approach that prepares you to be a full player in the bargaining process, from developing initial proposals and selecting the team to reaching a settlement.
Key Objectives
- Use surveys and past grievances to generate bargaining proposals;
- Cost out proposals;
- Identify and act appropriately during the different stages of bargaining;
- Write bargaining proposals;
- Put together a team and work like one; and
- Develop a strategy to get a deal.
Approach
This course uses discussions, small-group exercises and direct presentation.
Note: Requires additional work outside of class. You will need a copy of your local’s constitution and your contract for this course.
A calculator and laptop computer for classwork are recommended.
MOBILIZING FOR POWER
Target Audience
Local union leaders who want a new approach to building union power in their locals – perhaps because they no longer can bargain and perhaps because they just want a stronger, more effective union.
Why Take It?
This program is about transforming local unions into strong, vigorous, and dynamic unions that use the power of their members to win on key issues, at the workplace and at the statehouse. The course will pay particular attention to how local unions can successfully build strength even in non-bargaining workplaces.
Local leaders will begin by assessing the current state of their union organization and then will discuss strategies and approaches to involve their members in transforming their local union. By the end of the program, each participant or local will develop an action plan to achieve a self-defined union goal on an issue currently confronting the local.
Key Objectives
- Become familiar with basic organizing principles; and
- Develop plans to build the internal structures, devise the strategies, and pass on the skills every local union needs to win in difficult environments.
Approach
This course is highly interactive, using extensive discussion, individual practice. Local leaders will develop a strategic campaign plan to organize and mobilize members in order to successfully adapt to new environments and to successfully win battles of strategic importance to the local.
Note: You will need a copy of your local’s constitution, your contract or administrative procedures, worksite diagrams and membership lists.
A laptop computer for classwork is recommended.
BUILDING A POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE POWERHOUSE
Target Audience
Union leaders, local officers, staff or COPE activists interested in building and strengthening their political program.
Why Take It?
More than ever, politics affects our lives and our job environments. An effective political action program can make the difference in enacting desirable legislation and in electing public officials who support our members and our issues. This course will cover elements that go into building an effective political program, such as communicating with members about politics, engaging them in your political program, mobilizing members around elections and legislative issues, and raising funds for COPE.
Key Objectives
- Discover the basics of what makes an effective political program;
- Communicate with members about politics;
- Utilize the Activists for Congressional Education (ACE) program to strengthen relationships with members of Congress;
- Learn the dos and don’ts of COPE fundraising;
- Use political issues to engage potential members and build your union;
- Identify opportunities to build coalitions around political issues;
- Hold elected leaders accountable; and
- Plan and run a member mobilization program.
Approach
Instructors will combine presentations, group discussion, role-playing, and real and hypothetical situations. Participants will engage in hands-on practices that will develop their skills and introduce them to techniques used to build a strong political program. Class assignments will require teamwork and problem solving.
BUILDING AN ISSUE-BASED STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM
Target Audience
This course is intended for union leaders, local officers, staff, or volunteer activists interested in learning how to build a long-term, strategic communications program by engaging members and the community on key issues through the effective and efficient use of all forms of communications from face-to-face meetings to Facebook.
Why Take It?
Unions, collective bargaining and workers’ rights are under attack like never before. After taking this course, you will emerge with a strategic communications program that integrates your local’s key issues, dates, events and activities complete with a six-month calendar to combat these attacks. Each program is built upon your local’s unique situation and will help you tackle your most difficult communications challenges.
Key Objectives
Approach
Through instructor-led presentations, group discussions and hands-on activities, participants will build an issue-based communications program that you can take back to your local and put to use immediately. Be prepared to discuss current and upcoming issues facing your local. Class assignments will require teamwork and problem solving.
|
