IAM members from various industries gathered at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center to participate in the IAM Young Workers Program. The event, organized by IAM Women’s and Young Workers Director Dee Colbert, focused on preparing young union members for leadership roles through training and development.
“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.”
The weeklong program included instruction on IAM history, strategic planning, parliamentary procedure, generational diversity, public speaking, organizing around key issues, economics related to unions, human rights topics, and how to form effective committees. Sessions were led by experienced educators from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).
Participants worked in groups to create strategic plans for establishing Young Worker Committees within their local unions. One group presented its project as a podcast to demonstrate how new media can be used for outreach.
The IAM Communications Department provided a session on messaging strategies aimed at helping participants better communicate with fellow members when building committees in their home locals.
Several senior IAM officials visited the program to offer guidance. General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes, Special Assistant Bryan Pinette, and Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen spoke about their experiences in the union and encouraged younger members to take active roles.
