Building Power from the Inside: The LEARN Network Attends TLA on “Building Membership Participation”

The Training and Development Department held a Teamsters Leadership Academy (TLA) on “Building Membership Participation” that was geared specifically for Teamster LEARN Coordinators. Thirty-five officers, organizers, business agents, and staff members attended the program that was held September 21-24 in Washington D.C.

This TLA was designed by Sally Payne, who is Associate Director of Training and Development and oversees the LEARN network. This program differed from the traditional skill-building sessions on arbitration, bargaining and representation. Instead, the participants discussed theories of group dynamics and looked at the differences between representational skills and motivational skills.

The Academy kicked off with a look at how Teamsters have built solidarity over the years, and how that became a key part of Teamster identity. Looking at situations, ranging from early organizing efforts to the famous 1934 strike in Minnesota to ratifying the first National Master Freight Agreement, attendees analyzed what elements go into motivating and mobilizing members.

Participants were asked to examine how locals can incorporate member participation into all aspects of the union. The segment was followed by an innovative session on the unique challenges locals face due to generational differences in attitude, perceptions and priorities. Over the course of the week, topics such as “Starting a LEARN Committee,” “Designing a New Member Orientation Program,” “Building Power for Bargaining,” and “Mobilizing Members for Political Action,” were presented with the assistance of Joint Council LEARN facilitators Doug Henderson of Joint Council 28 and Janet Benefield of Joint Council 3.  

Many of the Local LEARN Coordinators also shared their activities and successes working in the LEARN network, including Kari Seime from Local 320 in Minneapolis and John Sholtes from Local 79 in Tampa, who discussed their process for establishing an ongoing stewards’ training program.  

In addition, Richard Negri from the Teamsters Communications Department provided a session on integrating tools like Facebook and Twitter into our communications with members. A special session on member assistance programs was conducted by Debra Johnson and Jim Coverson from Local 1150.  

Participants received a great deal of resource information throughout the seminar, including 17 complete modules for stewards training. These modules include the teaching guide, PowerPoint presentation, exercises and answer sheets on a number of topics which can be conducted in 1-, 2- and 3-hour segments.

The participants enjoyed the program and appreciated the opportunity to become familiar with topics outside standard training skills.

“The modules offer a wide variety of programs to choose from,” said Lisa Oveson from Local 222. “This gives us the chance to really look at our members’ needs and interests, and build events and activities from there.”