Public Employee Press

Professional Division trains executive board members

DC 37’s Professional Division organized an intense and informative weekend training session for the executive boards of five locals: Local 299, Health Services Employees Local 768, Queens Library Guild Local 1321, Brooklyn Library Guild 1482 and Uniformed EMS Officers Local 3621.

The educational conference was held on the weekend of Sept. 25-27.

The training sessions began Friday afternoon with a complete review of the AFSCME Officers Manual, a PowerPoint presentation on running a meeting according to Robert’s Rules of Order, and useful tips on how to conduct effective meetings and plan strategies for problem solving and better communication.

A workshop on the history of the labor movement in the United States covered some of the most significant milestones. These included the founding of the Industrial Workers of the World in Chicago in 1905, the 1915 execution of immigrant labor organizer Joe Hill, and the merger of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations that formed the AFL-CIO in 1955. Just before his execution on questionable grounds, Hill wrote, “Don’t waste time mourning. Organize!”

On Saturday, DC 37 Political Action Director Wanda Williams addressed the local board members, describing how a bill becomes a law and teaching basic lobbying techniques.

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts gave the keynote address during Saturday’s lunch and stressed the importance of becoming better labor leaders, especially during these difficult times.

“Our members will look to you for leadership, and you have to provide that for them in order for the union to remain strong,” she said.

“The Professional Division did a fantastic job,” said Local 299 President Jackie Rowe-Adams. “I learned so much this weekend, and I’m sure everyone else did as well.”