IAM Organizing Director Vinny Addeo and Organizing Department staff recently conducted their new Basic Training for Organizers (BTO) program for Midwest Territory organizers at Local 701 in Aurora, Ill.
“We had another very successful week in Chicago teaching our BTO program to the Midwest Territory staff,” said Addeo. “The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.”
The Basic Training for Organizers Program is part of the IAM Organizing Department’s Comprehensive Organizing Restructuring Plan (IAM CORP) in line with resolutions passed at the 40th Grand Lodge Convention that focus the union on providing necessary organizing training for new and less-experienced organizers.
BTO is a three-day long, hands-on training that incorporates interactive campaign scenarios and engages participants to think through real experiences that organizing department staff have encountered.
“The training walks the organizers through the entire process, from start to finish, step-by-step,” said IAM Midwest Territory Grand Lodge Representative Geny Ulloa. “It goes over what could possibly go wrong, what to expect, how to develop a lead, how to maintain a lead, how to prepare for filing a petition and which documents are needed.”
IAM Legal Department attorneys also assist with the training by providing the must-know legalities of running an organizing campaign and how to handle unfair labor practice violations.
The training also goes over digital tools, as well as strategies for specific types of campaigns.
“The material covered by Brother Addeo and his staff was very well received by everyone attending from the Midwest Territory,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “Our Territory Organizers, Staff and Representatives were thoroughly engaged throughout the entire training session and everyone interacted with one another sharing their organizing experiences. This class is necessary throughout our entire organization knowing the importance of our continued efforts in growing our union.”