W.S.L.C.
A transformative training for union organizers
AFL-CIO Organizing Institute, WSLC host 3-day training in Seattle
SEATTLE (March 5, 2024) — The AFL-CIO Organizing Institute (OI) partnered with the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO last week to offer a three-day training for organizers to learn the skills they need to win and to move the labor movement forward. Nearly 40 organizers participated in this dynamic training, including representatives of the IBEW, IAM, OPEIU, AFGE, UFCW, AFSCME, SPEEA, IFPTE, NALC, IUPAT, MLK Labor Council, NEA, and SEIU.
“We had such a great crew of union members and staff organizers dedicated to learning and building their capacity to effectively organize,” said Ingrid Chapman, the WSLC’s Statewide Organizing Manager. “There are so many workers thirsty for change and ready to organize with their coworkers, but they just don’t know how. Now we have about 40 more union members ready to put their new skills into action to build the labor movement and country we and our families deserve.”
Participants learned how to have the right one-on-one organizing conversations, how to recruit and develop key workplace leaders, how to run issue campaigns to build momentum, and much, much more.
Special “shoutouts” go to:
● IBEW Local 46 Business Manager Sean Bagsby and the team for allowing the AFL-CIO OI to host this transformational union organizer training at their amazing facility.
● WSLC President April Sims (pictured above) and Secretary Treasurer (and OI Graduate) Cherika Carter for their vision to continue to build a transformational workers’ movement to meet this moment in Washington state.
● An amazing team of OI Teaching Fellows: Statewide Organizing Manager Ingrid Chapman and Union, Community & Naturalization Organizer Dulce Gutierrez (WSLC); Lead Organizers Chris Maxie (Oregon AFL-CIO), Robert Sumlin (NV AFL-CIO), Russ James (Nevada AFL-CIO); Courtney Scott (CWA), Nallely Flores (OPEIU 8), Ben Sercombe (WFSE DC 28), T. Adigeshan (CODE-CWA), and Alvaro Mejia (IUPAT DC 5); and Brenna Stroup (ProTec 17), Michael Hochberg (SPEEA) for taking time away from their campaigns to train up this generation of union organizers to assist working people winning a voice at work through forming a union.
● IBEW 46 Political Director Nicole Grant and WSLC Assistant to the President Willa Kamakahi for their assistance on this training;
● The OI Team, led by OI Senior Trainer Tiffany Millsap, OI Senior Trainer Daisy Monterroso (co-lead), OI Senior Administrator Indeya Taylor, OI Recruitment Coordinator Sara Duran, and OI Administrative Assistant Ryan Gwin for making sure this training happened the right way.
The mission of the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute is to tool-up organizers to assist working people as they win respect, dignity and a voice at work through organizing a union. The OI will continue to offer trainings across the nation in 2024. See the schedule here.
Stay tuned to The Stand for announcements about upcoming OI trainings in Washington.
CHECK OUT THE UNION DIFFERENCE in Washington: higher wages, affordable health and dental care, job and retirement security.
FIND OUT HOW TO JOIN TOGETHER with your co-workers to negotiate for better wages, benefits, and a voice at work. Or go ahead and contact a union organizer today!
