Public Employee Press

Leaders of cultural locals sharpen union skills

AFSCME's 21st Century Initiative

The DC 37 White Collar Division held its first two-day training seminar for executive board members of three locals as part of the 21st Century Initiative leadership training program of DC 37’s parent union, AFSCME.

“My executive board was able to attend the training and we all benefited,” said Local 1501 President Bob Herkommer.

“The camaraderie was incredible; we all worked really hard together. The training taught us how to run a general membership meeting in a more professional way, and the practice sessions helped us deal with management so they will take us more seriously. I think the training’s benefits will definitely trickle down to the membership,” he said.

Herkommer and Local 1501’s executive board, along with the presidents and executive boards of cultural locals 374 and 1665 were the first participants in the intense two-day program. Leaders were immersed in sessions that explained the election process and how to run locals and be better labor leaders, grievance procedures, labor history, Weingarten workplace protections (which grant workers the right to union representation in a meeting that could lead to disciplinary action) and more.

Division Director Michael Riggio and members of the staff coordinated the special leadership building sessions with the DC 37 Education Fund. The labor leadership training was sponsored by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, DC 37’s umbrella union. AFSCME trained the White Collar Division staff first, and they went on to instruct the board members. The sessions were held at the Hilton Hotel in Newark. AFSCME Council 1199 in Newark also lent its facilities.

“The idea to offer executive board members training came, in part, from training we provided for shop stewards,” said Riggio, who worked closely with Chris Wilgencamp, the division’s assistant director, and Council Reps Keith Clarke and Mickey Eberlein, AFSCME’s Yolanda Medina, White Collar Division Secretary Ellen Medwid, as well as Larry Kelly of the Ed Fund, to develop the 18-part curriculum.

Local board members learned to develop mission statements that will be adopted into their local’s constitutions, initiate communications with new members through welcome letters and packets chock full of information on the union, the AFSCME Constitution, the citywide contract and other related materials.

“When someone is hired by an institution or agency their benefits are explained but the new hires may think these benefits come from management. It’s our responsibility and duty as activists to inform them that benefits come as a result of hard-fought struggles by the union for its members. The benefits and gains are ours because we are the union,” said Cuthbert Dickenson, Local 374 president. “We should develop a mission statement and use that as a guiding light.”

“Two days is not enough time to cover all AFSCME offers. The local leaders were enthused and wanted to learn more,” Riggio said. “We definitely would like to see the program expanded over three days.” The division is developing a manual for future use and plans to expand and offer training to its 11 other locals as early as autumn.