Under the Public Employee Department (PED) Strategic Plan, the PED International Coordinating Committee established the PED Academy. This school is a three level course and curriculum uniquely responsive to the needs of Public, Healthcare, Federal and Provincial jurisdictions. Excellent representation, innovative bargaining and member commitment has traditionally been a part of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) legacy in construction and it is even more important in the public sector where representation demands are higher and member to member communication is an indicator of success.

Therefore, the PED Coordinating Committee established a group to develop and deliver a comprehensive education program to strengthen our representational ability and organizing capacity at every level of the local Union from stewards to Business Manager.

PED Level I Training: Union Leadership Development
An introductory course that brings selected activists or new staff members into the experience their role in the local and the International Union. They are brought into the history of the Union movement and LIUNA’s history in particular. Each student is taught the roles of Local Union offices and positions. They are asked to expand and demonstrate their communication skills and taught the fundamentals of members to member organizing and the elements of excellence in representation.

AGENDA

Sunday
1:00pm – 4:00pm Tour
6:00pm – 8:00pm Reception

Monday
8:00am – 10:30 am Personal Union History (2 minute speech)
10:45am – 12:00pm Communications
1:00pm – 3:15pm Communications
3:30pm – 5:00pm Organizing
7:00pm – 8:30pm Organizing (Role playing)

Tuesday
8:00am – 12:00pm Organizing
1:00pm – 4:30pm Headquarter Tour, Archives

Wednesday
8:30am – 12:00am Leadership 101 (Topics: Role of steward and steward structure)
1:30pm – 5:00pm Communication (5-minute speeches)

Thursday
8:00am – 12:00pm Representation (Level I grievances, contracts, role and responsibility of local union officers (constitution), DFR, Weingarten)
1:00pm – 4:30pm Representation (Role play Level I in groups)
6:30pm – 9:00pm Banquet (Awards) (Room 2 - Cafeteria Building)

Friday
8:30am – 10:30am Political
10:45am – 11:30am Wrap Up (Discussion)

PED Level II Training: Representation Theory and Practice
A more advanced course that gives attention to members to member organizing in represented bargaining units through the O.P.E.N. training. However, its main focus is on advanced representation where students are asked to read cases and analyze them and prepare an opening and closing statement in an arbitration.

AGENDA

Sunday
6:00pm – 8:00 pm Reception/Dinner (Welcome and Orientation)

Monday Public Employee Numbers (Public Sector, History of Membership, Demographics of non-construction, assessing current conditions)
9:30am – 12:00pm Organizing (Why do we need to Organize)
1:00pm – 4:30pm Organizing
7:00pm – 8:30pm Organizing (Role Play)

Tuesday
8:30am – 10:00am Organizing (Planning a Campaign)
10:15am – 12:00pm Conducting a Meeting
12:00pm – 1:30pm Women in Labor/Role Models
1:30pm – 4:00pm Political (Why and How, Message Development)
4:00pm – 5:00pm Introduction to Representation

Wednesday
8:30am – 10:00am Laws & Contracts
10:00am – 12:00pm Assessing a Case
1:00pm – 3:15pm Preparation, Research, Briefing a case, File preparation
3:30pm – 5:00pm Elements of Opening and Closing Statements

Thursday
8:30am – 10:30am Representation (Witness Preparation, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Role Play Witness Testimony)
10:30am – 12:00 pm What Arbitrators are Looking For
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm 5 minute Opening & Closing Arguments
6:30pm – 9:00pm Banquet (Awards)

Friday
8:30am – 10:00am Public, Public Service, Healthcare, and Federal Trends
10:15am – 11:00am Evaluations & Wrap Up (Discussion)

PED Level III Training: Local Union Administration and Management
Focuses on the requirements and skills involved in running or assisting in running a Local Union. The course stresses the legal and constitutional responsibilities attached to official positions within a local Union. The students are required to create and present a 2-year strategic plan for a local Union.

AGENDA

Sunday
5:30 p.m. – 8:00pm Reception/Dinner

Monday
8:00am – 12:00pm Constitutional Obligations
10:20am – 12:00pm Reporting Policies LM2, Finances, Auditing, Beck Reporting
1:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Trusts/ set-up/ documents
Fiduciary Duty, Model Contract Language, International Resources
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Political Action

Tuesday
8:00am – 12:00pm Public Relations for Public Employees & Media/Communication
1:00 pm – 3:15 pm Organizational Structure/ Staff Development / Steward Management
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Technology Use/Best Practices

Wednesday
8:00 am – 10:00am Strategic Planning/Budgeting/Pro-active Initiatives
10:15am – 3:00pm Strategic Planning/Budgeting/Pro-active Initiatives (continued)

Thursday
8:00 am – 12:00pm Presentations by Students
? Local Union Strategic Plan and Budget
? Individual critique of presentation and content
1:00pm – 3:15 pm Presentations by Students
? Individual critique of presentation and content
3:30 pm – 4:45 pm Continued presentation by students
6:00 p.m. Banquet & Awards

Friday
8:00 am – 10:00 am Wrap up and Evaluations

Check out Leadership Education classes scheduled for LIUNA leaders.