BAC Graduates 19 New Leaders

Nineteen new leaders from across North America participated in the International Union’s New Leaders program, held in early June at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in Linthicum Heights, Maryland.

A fundamental education program for 50 years, the hybrid in-person and online training offers a comprehensive orientation to the IU’s programs, resources, and personnel for recently appointed or elected Local/ADC officers and staff. Attendees participated in online training sessions on the Action Builder organizing tool and identifying and tracking projects before the intensive five-day in-person session.

During the in-person training, participants learned about the union’s core functions and structure, organizing tactics, project tracking using the Construct Connect construction project database, building unionism in their Local/ ADC, Microsoft Excel, IMI and IMTEF, and IU departments and programs. The training centered on organizing, covering topics such as organizing basics, tactics, and how to speak with non-union workers, as well as a Construction Organizing Membership Education Training (COMET) train-the-trainer and an overview of steward training.

“After nearly 30 years in the field, one quote that I have always used stands out to summarize the New Leaders training: ‘Anything worth doing, is worth doing well.’ The program was well thought out and the curriculum was very tangible for preview and follow up reviewing,” remarked WI ADC Field Representative Doug Goble.