Public Employee Press

White collar locals get 21st century training

The DC 37 White Collar Division held its second training seminar for executive board members of 10 locals Jan. 29-31 in Philadelphia as part of AFSCME’s 21st Century Initiative leadership training.

The intense three-day course helped the local presidents and boards focus on important aspects of labor leadership, such as developing the local’s mission statement, mobilizing the membership and understanding the roles and responsibilities of the various officers. Participating were locals 957, 1070, 1113, 1251, 1502, 1503, 1559, 1655, 2021 and 2054.

“The training was outstanding. I was wired from start to finish,” said MTA Clerical Administrative Employees Local 1655 President Jonathan Gray.

The local leaders were immersed in sessions that explained the election process, how to run a union and become better leaders, grievance procedures and Weingarten workplace protections (workers’ right to union representation in a meeting that could lead to disciplinary action), and labor history.

“The training gave us the chance to interact with other local presidents and their boards,” said Walthene Primus, president of NYCHA Clericals Local 957. “We learned through role play and problem solving. Everyone participated, which made for a very enlightening experience.”

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, DC 37’s national union, sponsored the leadership training. Division Director Michael Riggio coordinated the conference, working closely with Assistant Director Chris Wilgenkamp and Council Reps Melroy Slowe, Mickey Eberlein, John Jordan, Wendell Reid, Madonna Knight and Keith Clarke, Secretary Ellen Medwid, and Yolanda Medina and Jacquie Ray of AFSCME.

“I learned the importance of starting and ending meetings on time, and we included in our local’s mission statement being unified and meeting members’ needs,” said Gray. “Above all, the seminar emphasized that it’s not about the individual leader, it’s about the members.”