Program offerings on union leadership include classes on and off campus.
- On-campus. For regular updates on upcoming on-campus classes check On-campus Programs events link
- Off- campus programs should be scheduled individually with Labor Center Staff. Call 319-335-4144 and talk to a program coordinator to design a program.
On campus programs include:
Advanced Union Leadership
A one day program for union leaders covering the key issues and challenges facing organized labor.
Arbitration
An intensive class offered for those who present, prepare for and participate in arbitration hearings. Special issues in arbitration as well as particular skills (opening statements, witness preparation, brief writing) and a mock hearing are part of this conference.
Building Trades Issues
For members, officers and staff from building and construction trades unions. Topics include key bargaining, organizing and political issues of the year.
Collective Bargaining
A three-day workshop for union negotiating committee members emphasizing special bargaining issues and skills needed to represent members more effectively at the table.
Ergonomics: Preventing workplace injuries through union ergonomics programs
A one-day workshop designed for union safety committee members, union officers, stewards, staff representatives, and interested union members.
Iowa Workers’ Compensation
The Labor Center’s three-day workers’ compensation program covers the basics of Iowa’s workers’ compensation system and is intended for union officers, stewards, representatives and interested union members.
Labor & Employment Law
This program provides an introduction to public and private sector labor law and a review of recent changes to employment law. The program is intended for union representatives, officers, stewards, and interested union members.
Labor Communications: Connecting with union members on labor’s key issues
A conference for union members who currently have or want to start a local union newsletters, websites, or email lists.
Labor Short Course
The Labor Center invites Iowa union members to attend its longest-running annual program, a week of classes and workshops designed to educate and motivate new union activists and to reinvigorate experienced union leaders.
Trade Union Women
This conference features workshops and skill building for women who want to become more active in their local unions or sharpen the skills needed for more effective union participation.
Union Financial Officers
A two-day intensive course for union officers responsible for private and public sector union financial record-keeping. Instruction by expert practitioners in the law and practice of union finances.
Off campus programs include:
Building Solidarity in Your Union
- Targeting solidarity issues and problems
- Developing specific strategies to combat racism, sexism, or other divisions in the local
- Building a culture of solidarity within your local
- Taking solidarity from the workplace into the community
Collective Bargaining
- The legal framework of collective bargaining
- Developing a bargaining strategy
- Writing contract language
- Costing the labor agreement
- Mobilizing the membership around contract negotiations
Communication Skills for Unionists
- Tips on effective public speaking
- Developing good media relations
- Creating a local union public relations program
- Effective union newsletters
- Parliamentary procedure and effective meetings
Common Sense Economics
- How economic policy affects workers
- The changing structure of the economy
- International trade and the Iowa economy
- Union responses to corporate power
- Building economic alliances in the community
Mobilizing the Membership
- Internal organizing techniques
- Organizing around "hot" issues in your workplace
- Building pro-active union leadership
Organizing
- Planning a local organizing campaign
- Recruiting a volunteer organizing committee
- Steps in the campaign
Policy Issues for Unions
Key issues for unions, such as:
- Civil/human rights
- Corporate accountability
- Economic development
- Education
- "Free trade" and globalization
- Health care
- Living wage
- Social security
- Taxes
Strategic Planning for the Local Union
- Planning for our local's future: What are unions doing? How can planning help us?
- What do unions do? What should our local be doing? (Check mission statement in constitution and bylaws)
- What would we like to see happen here to better accomplish that mission?
- Looking at the situation of the local: its strengths and weaknesses, the opportunities and threats it faces. In view of what we want for our local, what are the obstacles we face and the advantages we enjoy?
- Developing long-term goals: Prioritize goals: what should be done first, second, third?
- Action Plan: What specific steps need to be done to achieve first goal; what support is needed, who will do it; timetable; success criteria; monitoring mechanism. What is the first step, and who will do it?
Unions and Politics
- Key political issues for labor
- Increasing membership awareness of the importance of union political action
- Skills and strategies to mobilize members in the political process
Your Rights in the Workplace
- Overview of labor law
- How the law affects organizing, bargaining, and contract enforcement
- Laws on wages, discrimination, unemployment, and work-related injury compensation
Sample class outlines of some leadership classes for off-campus programs
Fighting apathy through planning and participation: Strategic planning: a tool for unions
- SWOT analysis (Identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats)
- Problem solving
- Planning and participation
- The advantages of the “organizing model”
- One-on-one structure and techniques
- Elements of an effective local mobilization structure
- The mobilization “rap”
- “Okay, so what do you want me to do?” Developing an action plan
Mobilizing the membership
- The Servicing Model and the “Organizing Model”
- Using an organizing model in contract negotiations and grievance handling
- Mapping your workplace
- Developing a unit profile
- Organizing members through the one-on-one canvass
- Evaluating possible tactics
- Worksite activities
- Escalating pressure tactics
“Building to Win, Building to Last”
Organizing Externally
- Why organize? Do we need a labor movement?
- What units, kinds of workers are organizing and what can we learn from this?
- Developing a “culture of organizing”
- How your local may have to change in order to organize
- Getting Started: Steps in organizing
- Targeting, building a committee, building a campaign, “talking union”
- Exercises
- Recruiting a Volunteer Organizing Committee in your own local
- Selecting a target
- Making house calls
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