IAM members from various regions and industries gathered at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center for a weeklong Young Workers Program. The event, organized by IAM Women’s and Young Workers Director Dee Colbert, focused on equipping young union members with leadership skills and practical knowledge to establish Young Worker Committees in their local unions.
“This initiative is designed to engage and empower the next generation of union members by providing them with exposure to a wide range of departments, leaders, and opportunities within our movement,” said Colbert. “It is imperative that we give young workers meaningful experiences that deepen their understanding of union values and help shape their leadership mindset as they prepare for long, successful careers in the labor movement.”
Participants engaged in sessions covering topics such as IAM history, strategic planning, parliamentary procedure, generational diversity, public speaking, organizing around issues, economics from a labor perspective, human rights, and effective committee building. These sessions were led by experienced educators and staff from IAM.
The attendees worked in groups to develop strategic plans for creating Young Worker Committees at their respective locals. One group presented its plan through a podcast format as an example of using new media channels to connect with younger audiences.
The IAM Communications Department conducted training on messaging strategies to help participants effectively communicate with union members when building committees back home.
Several senior IAM officials visited the program to speak with participants. General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes, Special Assistant Bryan Pinette, and Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen shared personal stories about their own paths within the union and stressed the importance of ongoing engagement among younger members.
