2017 Basic Class
Union marks 60th year with School for Workers
THIRTY-SIX BOILERMAKERS from the United States and Canada attended the 60th annual School for Workers Summer Institute in Madison, Wisconsin, August 14-25. Over the two-week period, the institute offered Basic and Advanced courses. Participants received training from SFW professors as well as International staff on topics geared to a broad understanding of the Labor Movement and skills that are essential to union leadership development. Both courses were held at the Madison Concourse Hotel, located between the university and the state capitol square.
Basic Class coursework included unions and society, administering the labor agreement, collective bargaining, the National Labor Relations Act, workers and the global economy, the Family and Medical Leave Act, health and safety, and labor history. Classes taught by Boilermaker staff included political action, health and safety, Boilermaker history, communication skills, and structure of the Boilermaker union.
The Advanced Class is designed for those who have completed the Basic Class. Advanced participants study common sense economics, communication skills, problem solving and grievance handling, grievance arbitration, workers and the global economy, health care bargaining, labor and IBB history, building the union and membership mobilization, and framing and delivering a message.
Guest speaker Rep. Mark Pocan (D-2nd Wisconsin) visited the Advanced Class to discuss the current gridlock in Washington D.C., noting political rancor is making it difficult to get any legislation passed. As a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, Pocan also voiced his commitment to fighting any legislation that would negatively affect working Americans and unions.
Members attending the Basic Class included: Local 11 (East Helena, Montana), Susanne Donahue; Local 19 (Philadelphia), Alex Biddy, Daniel Houck and John King; Local 108 (Birmingham, Alabama), Lewis Chase and Ernest Johnson; Local 146 (Edmonton, Alberta), Mitchell Gagne and Stennie Noel; Local 344 (Ridgecrest, California), Anthony Arndt and Melissa Baxter; Local 580 (Halifax, Nova Scotia), Herbert Barron; Local 650 (Lake City, Minnesota), Dale Adler and Pam Breuer; Local 696 (Marinette, Wisconsin) Lawrence Alger, Alan Archambault, Dakota Lueskow and Joe Napier; Local D27 (Independence, Missouri), David Coin and Steven Rouse; Local D93 (Humboldt, Kansas), John Hill, Josh Meigs and Rodney Sigg; Local D239 (Three Forks, Montana), Seth McCauley and Tyler Oehmcke; Local D414 (Pryor, Oklahoma), Chris Lampson and Jacob Miller; and IR Billy Staggs.
Members attending the Advanced Class included Local 11 (Helena, Montana), Matt Simpson; Local 108 (Birmingham, Alabama), Austin Wolverton; Local 146 (Edmonton, Alberta), Trevor Loren and Victoria White; Local 344 (Ridgecrest, California), Yordan Artigas, Charles Hale, Nancy Jordan and Ross Weiler; and Local 580 (Halifax, Nova Scotia), Anthony Brown.
