In an effort to support and augment its highly successful Negotiation Preparation for Bargaining Committees program, the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center is rolling out a new Field Negotiation Preparation program for bargaining units as they prepare for negotiations.
One of the primary aims of the field program is to strengthen the critical role stewards play in the bargaining process and their vital link between the membership and the negotiating committee. The Field Negotiation Prep program will be available to groups unable to travel to the Winpisinger Center and will offer a flexible format for negotiating committees, stewards and members.
“The Negotiation Prep program is one of the most requested and respected programs offered at the Winpisinger Center,” said IAM International President Bob Martinez. “It needs to be more accessible to bargaining units and particularly Shop Stewards across North America. That’s why I directed the Winpisinger staff to work with Strategic Resources, Communications and our territorial vice presidents to deliver a program that puts the fight back in the Fighting Machinists and gives our locals and districts every chance to win better contracts.”
In advance of the new program’s rollout, leaders from every IAM territory took part in a weeklong Train-the-Trainer program facilitated by Winpisinger Center Director Chris Wagoner and Strategic Resources Director Neil Gladstein. The group discussed how negotiation prep modules and material might be adapted and delivered in the field. The week culminated with the preparation and presentation of training agendas and curriculum material developed in response to six different field-training scenarios.
The new program is not designed to replace the Winpisinger-based Negotiation Prep program, but will accommodate situations where in-the field negotiations preparation is the better option. In the coming weeks, specific information will be provided to districts and locals concerning the process for requesting the Field Negotiation Prep Program.
