Building Stronger Local Unions at the Bargaining Table (RCBS) - Your power is member power but there are even more ways to build power. Union building language can not only secure your rights, but also show management that our union is a big part of our workplaces. Learn about how to build this power into our contracts, what language you need and how to make it a priority!
New Employee Outreach: Building Power from Day One (RCBS) – We know meeting new employees during their first days is critical for strengthening our union and building lasting relationships. Do you want to learn best practices for initiating conversations in both in-person and virtual situations? Do you want a better system to track that outreach and make sure you’re not missing a single person? In this workshop, you’ll learn skills and tips that will help you reach out to those new members and sign them up.
Popular Economics: An Economy That Works for All (RCBS & PA) – Billionaires, corporations and anti-worker politicians like to tell us that “the economy” can’t fund good public services and decent wages and benefits for the people who provide them. But do they alone get to decide how the economy works? What if we were able to change the rules? The truth is the economy is us – working people – and it can be made to work for us. Learn how the system is rigged and what we can do to get worker power involved in economic policy decisions. Agitational regressive taxes
Building Legislative Power (PA & RCBS) -- The 2022 elections provided us a unique opportunity to secure pro-worker gains in many states. We can definitely achieve that again if we have success in our states. This workshop focuses on what pro-worker legislation is, how we can achieve it and how we can use the issues to gauge a politician’s stance.
AFSCME on the Ballot (PA) -- How do we gain political power? By filling political offices with like- minded allies and even with us! This workshop will help members find opportunities to run for political office, learn how to find potential candidates and identify how and where to find the necessary training opportunities.
PEOPLE – How Politics Impacts Your Life (PA) – Our members frequently wonder why our union is involved in politics. The truth is, all levels of the government affect our daily lives, no matter if we are public or private sector workers. This workshop will help you understand how legislation and politics affect your life and the lives of members and teach you how to make effective requests for PEOPLE donations to build the program and increase AFSCME members’ political power.
You Can’t Do It Alone! Recruiting Activists to Build Stronger Local Unions (ED) – As a union leader, you can’t do everything you need to do alone! Learn to identify and recruit activists to build out Member Action Teams, to conduct New Employee Outreach and to do the tasks that will help build a team that strengthens your local.
Gender Equity – What Is it and Why Does it Matter? (ED) - Sharing pronouns has become more commonplace, but what does it all mean? Our country and our newer workers are expanding the understanding of the gender identity spectrum, but it’s easy to feel behind the conversation. This workshop will help you acquire up to date language, deepen your knowledge of gender oppression in our history, and help you appreciate the importance of these differences.
Navigating Social Identities for Effective Engagement (ED) - Society defines us in many ways that influence the way we are perceived in this world. This workshop will encourage you to consider how your identities impact the way people experience you and you experience others in the union and the workplace. You will see how privilege operates to normalize some identities over others and know how to use your power and privilege to leverage equity and inclusion for all.
Advanced Steward Training (ED) -- Let’s be frank—a big part of a steward’s job is making sure that members facing discipline are treated fairly by the boss. This workshop will prepare you to provide the most effective representation possible to those co-workers, from the initial investigatory interview through developing a compelling defense.
Contract Campaigns (ED) -- Negotiations are all about worker power. This workshop will provide you with new tools to negotiate with power! In this session, participants will learn how to build worker skills and abilities to support negotiations and allow us to pressure management and achieve better wins.
Rethinking Our Workplaces – Building Member Engagement in a Telework World (ED & OFS) – With more AFSCME members working from home, we need to think through new ways to engage members and potential members outside of the workplace! This workshop will give you tools on how to engage your bargaining unit outside of the traditional methods of worksite visits.
Solving Workplace Issues with Collective Action (OFS) – How can we hold the boss accountable or build power? Through direct actions in the workplace. Many locals are getting back to the basics by mobilizing workers and using workplace issue campaigns to hold the boss accountable. Using this approach, we are able to build an active membership, enhance communication, develop new leaders and quickly solve problems.
Developing a Plan to Organize in Your Workplace and Beyond (OFS) – Signing up new members makes our union stronger, and sometimes those folks are right beside us in our workplaces or communities. Learn about how to identify good organizing targets and the different processes we can use to organize new groups of workers and grow our union.
How to Get Members of Congress to Work for Us (FGA) - Election Day is only the beginning! We got them elected, now come to this workshop to learn how to build relationships with members of Congress and win support for a proactive worker agenda.
Cybersecurity and You! (IT & EDU) -- The internet poses many risks and challenges, such as scams, identity theft, malware, and cyber-attacks. In this workshop, you will learn how to protect yourself and your devices from these online threats. You will also discover some of the resources and programs available to improve your cyber security awareness. By the end of this workshop, you will have a better understanding of cyber security and how to apply it to your online activities. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, this workshop is for you!
Are You Worried About Pensions, Social Security, and Medicare? Protect Them by Staying Union Strong in Retirement as an AFSCME Retiree! (Ret) During your career in public service you earned a secure retirement with your pension, Social Security, Medicare and other benefits. But our fight to protect these benefits doesn’t end when we leave the workforce. Learn how you can stay union strong after you retire and together, we can protect these retirement benefits as part of AFSCME Retirees!
Stories in Action (Comms) -- Our stories are powerful and when we share them, we can move people to action. In this workshop, you will learn how to tap into the power of your own stories and practice effective tactics you can use anywhere, such as when testifying in front of elected officials, talking to the press, posting on social media or even when speaking one-on-one with friends and neighbors.
Please check the Convention App or follow signage on site