The IATSE’s Labor Education Assistance Program provides reimbursement money to officers of local unions who enroll in qualifying Labor Studies Programs. The program covers all Officers, Officials, Trustees, and Executive Board Members of all local unions, who are eligible to be reimbursed for one (1) labor studies course each calendar year. Now every representative has access to a broad range of educational opportunities to help them better represent the workers in their jurisdiction.

Educational opportunities exist to fit every schedule and level of education, and cover a spectrum of topics. Thus far, IATSE-sponsored LEAP participants have participated in workshops sponsored by the AFL-CIO, Canadian Labour Congress, and the Labor Arbitration Institute, studied collective bargaining, organizing, and contract writing at skills-training seminars on college campuses, and completed online degree programs at the National Labor College (closed in spring 2014). Many people have also begun to take advantage of online learning classes, which allow freelance workers with unconventional schedules to learn on their own time in degree courses, short workshops, and one-time webinars. Local officers are encouraged to avail themselves of this latest tool in order to expand their labor knowledge and better represent their workers.

HOW TO APPLY FOR LEAP

Click here for a sample LEAP application letter (PDF).

All representatives from local unions may, with pre-approval, have tuition and reasonable housing expenses reimbursed for qualifying labor studies courses. The request must contain the name of the course and teaching establishment, along with the cost of instruction and any anticipated housing expenses, and be submitted to the International President, in writing, on the local’s letterhead. This pre-approval process is essential to guarantee reimbursement of educational expenses, which will be provided upon the receipt of proof of successful completion of the course. The International will pay for course tuition and for pre-approved housing expenses for short courses lasting less than one week. Transportation is not included, and will be the responsibility of the individual or the local union. LEAP funding is available for courses at any accredited institution with a bona fide Labor Studies program. After the course: Reimbursement checks will be made payable to the local union upon the receipt of proof of successful completion of the course.

HELPFUL LINKS

• LEAP Directory (US)
• LEAP Directory (Canada)
• Cornell University ILR School
• Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) – Labour Education

UPCOMING TRAININGS:

SOLD OUT – February 26 – March 1, 2024 – Linthicum Heights, Maryland – FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN LOCALS

The IATSE Officer Institute is a five-day, intensive certification program that will be delivered in multiple cities. The week’s courses range from Labor Law and Collective Bargaining to Union Finance, to managing day-to-day challenges and dealing with conflict. Instructors are experts in their fields and classes will provide hands-on, practical tools to be brought back to the local. Officers will earn a certificate and must attend all classes to graduate.

HOW TO APPLY:

Fill out the application form that corresponds with the Officer Institute you wish to attend and return the completed application via email to officerinstitute@iatse.net or by mail to:

IATSE Officer Institute
207 West 25th Street
Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10001

FINANCIAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM

For Local unions with smaller treasuries, the International has a subsidy program to make attendance feasible. Local Unions are also encouraged to contact their District Secretaries, as many IATSE Districts are also offering financial assistance to students at the Officer Institute.

Through this program, costs of the Officer Institute are split: Local Unions are responsible for transportation, hotels (unless a subsidy application has been awarded), and per diem, and the International Union will pay for the program and instructors.

Rules of the Subsidy Program are as follows:

1. Subsidies are only available for the Officer Institute 1.0, not the Advanced 2.0.
2. Local Unions who submit a Form LM-4 or LM-3 (or, in the case of Canadian locals, those with gross yearly receipts totaling less than $250,000) are eligible for a hotel subsidy for the Officer Institute. (The application form asks subsidy applicants to confirm their local falls within this category.)
3. Once awarded, the subsidy will pay for up to five nights lodging at the designated IATSE hotel, and will be paid directly to the hotel. No funds will be paid directly to the student or the local union. Subsidy recipients must stay at the designated IATSE hotel.
4. Ten (10) individual subsidies will be available for each session of the Officer Institute, and will be awarded subject to eligibility and on a first come, first served basis to qualifying local union leaders. Each qualifying local union may receive subsidies for no more than two officers in a calendar year.
5. Subsidy applications must be received at least six (6) weeks prior to the first day of the applicable Officer Institute session.
6. Transportation, meals, and incidentals are the responsibility of the local union and/or the individual students.
7. The subsidy request form should be submitted together with an officer’s regular application to the IATSE Officer Institute. Both forms must be signed by an authorized representative of the Local’s Executive Board

   Download subsidy application

The next session of the Secretary-Treasurer 2.0 is offered as part of Leadership Development week.

November 13 – 15, 2023 – Tampa, FL – FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN LOCALS

PRE-REQUISITE: You must currently hold office in your Local Union as Secretary or Treasurer or (regardless of office) be a graduate of a prior IATSE Officer Institute.

This training offers advanced work in issues of Financial Record Keeping, IATSE procedures, Fiduciary Responsibility, Fraud Prevention, Taking Minutes, and more. Content will be tailored for both Canadian and U.S. local leaders who have graduated from the IATSE Officer Institute and/or currently hold office as Secretaries and Treasurers in their local unions.

HOW TO APPLY:

Fill out the application form that corresponds with the Officer Institute you wish to attend and return the completed application via email to officerinstitute@iatse.net or by mail to:

I.A.T.S.E. Officer Institute
207 West 25th Street
Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10001

Costs of the Officer Institute are split: local unions are responsible for transportation, hotels, and per diem and the International Union will pay for the program and instructors.

Please contact officerinstitute@iatse.net with any questions.

UPCOMING TRAININGS:

SOLD OUT – November 4-5, 2023 – Los Angeles, CA – FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN LOCALS

Only IATSE Local Union Trustees may attend this two-day course designed specifically for IATSE Local Unions. The instructors are Certified Public Accountants and IATSE Staff, and are experienced educators and experts in their field with considerable experience overseeing audits and investigations, working with Labor Unions, and assisting clients with system implementation and analysis. After sessions on Fraud Prevention, the Role of the Trustee, and Planning an Audit, the class will conduct a mock audit.

Trustees must attend the full two days of class to graduate and earn a certificate.

Only members who serve their local unions as Trustees responsible for periodically auditing their locals’ books and records are eligible for this training. There is no other prerequisite. This training in NOT applicable for Benefit Fund or Training Fund Trustees.

HOW TO APPLY

Fill out the application form and return the completed application via email to officerinstitute@iatse.net or by mail to:

I.A.T.S.E. Officer Institute
207 West 25th Street
Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10001

Costs of the class are split: local unions are responsible for transportation, hotels, and per diem, and the International Union will pay for the program and instructors.

Leadership Development Week is an opportunity to customize your leadership training. 

November 13 – 17, 2023 – Tampa, FL
Click here for the application.

Choose from between 2 and 5 different courses throughout the week, as follows: 

Choose Only One:

• Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday – Secretary-Treasurer 2.0, MUST ATTEND ALL 3 DAYS TO GRADUATE
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday – Organizing 2.0, MUST ATTEND ALL 4 DAYS TO GRADUATE

If you are not applying to the Secretary-Treasurer or Organizing classes, you may choose up to 3 from the following courses:

• Monday Afternoon, Half-day session, Political Polarization
• Tuesday, Full day session, Race and the Economy
• Wednesday, Full Day Session, Labor Law

   

If you are not applying to the Organizing 2.0, you may choose 1 of the following courses:

• Thursday, full day session, Effective Online Communications: Understanding & Standing Up to Misinformation
• Thursday, full day session, Internal Organizing
• Thursday, full day session, Collective Bargaining

   

Friday morning’s session is open to all:

• Friday Morning, Half-day Session, Strategic Planning

   

 All courses are offered for both Canadian and U.S. locals.

OFFICER INSTITUTE: SECRETARY TREASURER 2.0 | MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13 – 15, 2023

This training offers advanced work in issues of Financial Record Keeping, IATSE procedures, Fiduciary Responsibility, Fraud Prevention, Taking Minutes, and more. Content will be tailored for both Canadian and U.S. local leaders who have graduated from the IATSE Officer Institute and/or currently hold office as Secretaries and Treasurers in their local unions. PRE-REQUISITE: You must currently hold office in your Local Union as Secretary or Treasurer or (regardless of office) be a graduate of a prior IATSE Officer Institute.

OFFICER INSTITUTE: ORGANIZING 2.0 | MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13 – 16, 2023

This 4-day course includes: Labor Law and the Mechanics of an Organizing Campaign; Best Practices and Tactics; Targeting and Strategy; Messaging to the Public, Unrepresented Workers, and the Membership; Developing a Blueprint, and more. Local Unions are encouraged to send candidates who have the power to move an action forward in their Local which fosters growth and strength.

POLITICAL POLARIZATION | MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2023, AFTERNOON SESSION

We are living in a time of polarization, and it shows up in many ways: in our politics, in our locals and in our communities. We cannot hide from what is all around us and, in fact, we can play a role in creating a better culture in our locals. This ½ day class will define and lay bare the issue of polarization and offer a path to greater understanding of the issues, strategies, and actions that focus on respectful and constructive dynamics.

RACE AND THE ECONOMY | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023

The labor movement strives for greater solidarity among workers. As such, we need to understand what divides us, so we can unite more effectively. This training helps participants discern how systemic racism operates as an economic tool that weakens power for working people. We look at recent data as well as key events in our country’s history to learn more about how racism contributes to the racial wealth gap. In addition to core understanding the class will build skills to collectively advocate for policy changes that improve economic conditions.

LABOR LAW | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2023

This workshop is specially designed to introduce union members and labor leaders to the laws governing the operation of labor unions, covering relationships with workers and employers, the duty of fair representation, contract negotiations, organizing, internal union procedures, new cases dealing with social media, small bargaining units and more. Emphasis will be placed on the practical day-to-day application of the law, to help students gain confidence in running their locals, creating organizing strategy, and negotiating and interpreting their contracts. Class work will include lectures and group exercises. This course will serve as a good introduction to Labor Law for new officers, and a review for more experienced officers.

EFFECTIVE ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS: UNDERSTANDING AND STANDING UP TO MIS-INFORMATION | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023

This class looks at the ecosystem of mis/dis/mal information and how to strategically build online communication tools and messages that build our union. For some members, their strongest connection to our union is online and through social media. Components of the course will include historical context, hands on tools, and narrative message development.

INTERNAL ORGANIZING | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023

Strong local unions are those where the members are connected and engaged. Building these connections and engagement can into strong contracts, better wages and working conditions, and a more-skilled workforce. This one-day training will teach leaders step-by-step best practices and considerations that will grow your unique vision into a stronger and engaged democratic organization. Course work will include speaking in front of the group and other forms of practice and participation by all students and is designed for engaged members who are ready to take a step forward to expand their skills.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023

This course will teach tools and techniques for effective local union contract negotiations, including the importance of advance strategic planning, how to select and manage a bargaining committee, determining the local’s objectives, priorities and bargaining positions, writing proposals, anticipating management demands, negotiating-table basics, communications with workers and others about negotiations, discussion of contract campaigns, what to do during eleventh-hour negotiations, how to settle difficult issues and reach an agreement, and preparing a memorandum of agreement. The class is interactive and participatory and will include a mock bargaining session in which all students will participate. This course is appropriate for local union officers who negotiate directly with employers on behalf of their workers, and union members who are scheduled to serve on or lead negotiations on behalf of their locals.

STRATEGIC PLANNING | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023, MORNING SESSION

This class explores the process organizations undertake when doing long-range planning and applies it to labor unions. Students will learn the components of a strategic plan and the process for developing one that is relevant to their situations. All of this lays out solid considerations for working with your teams and moving your local forward to build higher capacity and effectively represent workers, communicate clearly, and set and achieve long term goals.

HOW TO APPLY

Fill out the Leadership Development Week application and return the completed application via email to officerinstitute@iatse.net or by mail to: 

I.A.T.S.E. Officer Institute
207 West 25th Street
Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10001

Click here for the application.

Costs of the class are split: local unions are responsible for transportation, hotels, and per diem, and the International Union will pay for the program and instructors.

Please contact officerinstitute@iatse.net with any questions.

UPCOMING TRAINING:

The next session of the Organizing 2.0 is offered as part of Leadership Development week.

November 13 – 16, 2023 – Tampa, FL – FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN LOCALS

This 4-day course includes: Labor Law and the Mechanics of an Organizing Campaign; Best Practices and Tactics; Targeting and Strategy; Messaging to the Public, Unrepresented Workers, and to the Membership; Developing a Blueprint, and more.

Local Unions are encouraged to send candidates who have the power to move an action forward in their Local which fosters growth and strength.

HOW TO APPLY:

Fill out the application form that corresponds with the Officer Institute you wish to attend and return the completed application via email to officerinstitute@iatse.net or by mail to:

I.A.T.S.E. Officer Institute
207 West 25th Street
Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10001

Costs of the Officer Institute are split: local unions are responsible for transportation, hotels, and per diem and the International Union will pay for the program and instructors.

Please contact officerinstitute@iatse.net with any questions.

Essentials of Union Leadership: An online IATSE Officer Institute leadership series developed in partnership with and administered through the University of Wisconsin School for Workers. The series focuses on effective leadership principles and tools to help attendees build a high-capacity local union, effectively represent workers, communicate clearly, and set and achieve long-term goals.

Each course is designed so students can engage independently and learn at their own pace and on their own schedule for a total time of approximately 6-8 hours over the course of a week. Each module includes short readings, videos, recorded PowerPoints, quizzes, and discussion boards where reflective questions are discussed among the instructor and classmates. Courses do not need to be taken in any particular order.

Foundations of Union Leadership is designed to help union leaders understand key components and considerations for leading their local unions. Course topics include Why Workers Join Unions, The Impact of Unions, The Decline of Unions, Signs of Hope, Union Functions and Duties of Officers, and more!

Leadership Theories and Styles explores different types of leadership and how they apply to labor unions. Participants study and evaluate the difference between managing and leading, assess their strengths, interpret key leadership practices, and apply different leadership models and practices to their own situations.

Strategic Planning explores the process organizations undertake to do long-range planning. Students learn the components of a strategic plan and the process for developing one, with an eye toward constructing elements of a strategic plan relevant to their own situations. All of this lays out considerations for work in every local and with any team to incorporate essential elements of a plan for progress.

Building Capacity: Internal Organizing is designed to make every local stronger within – where members are connected to each other, to the local union and to the community in strategic ways that build connections for member strength, security, and growth.

These virtual complements to the Officer Institute are open to officers, officials, trustees, and board members of IATSE Local Unions. There is a limit of three individuals per local union per class.

Check back to this page regularly for updates and announcements.
Please contact officerinstitute@iatse.net with any questions.

The IATSE Road Show: Why Unions Matter is an informative and enlightening presentation developed by the Labor Education Program at the University of Arkansas Little Rock and the IATSE.

The Road Show covers:

• How are unions essential to a healthy political & economic democracy?
• Who acts as the safeguard to corporate power?
• What role do unions have in building an equitable future for all?

How Worker Power Builds an Economy That Creates Jobs, Raises Wages, & Promotes Economic Dignity for All.

Three versions are available: U.S. (English), Canadian (English), and Canadian (French).

REQUEST AN IN-PERSON ROAD SHOW STOP

If you would like to host this presentation in your city, please contact Jennifer Halpern at the IATSE General Office at jhalpern@iatse.net to receive more details and to schedule a date.

WATCH THE IATSE Road Show WEBINAR

To access a recording of Why Unions Matter, register here:

U.S. Locals: https://iatse.co/May11whyunionsmatter

Canadian Locals: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/3332091300754810635

Canadian Locals (French): https://iatse.co/PorquoiLesSyndicats

The IATSE Leadership Training Webinar Channel includes recordings on a range of topics, including Labor Law, The Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer and Trustees, Communication, Mental Health, Public Speaking, Resources of the IATSE Training Trust Fund, Leading Union Teams, and more!

For access to the Leadership Training Webinar Channel, email officerinstitute@iatse.net with the subject line “Leadership Training Webinar Channel”.