UAW Educational Courses

Some of the specific courses developed by the Education Department available to local unions are:

Building the Union's Image: participants evaluate the union's image in the public eye and with the use of strategic planning techniques, determine how to build a more accurate understanding in the public of labor unions, as well as how to advance the labor movement in general.

Collective Bargaining: participants learn the necessary skills to successfully bargain. These include: planning, developing demands, negotiating language, costing economics and how to ratify the agreement.

Facilitation Skills: participants learn the necessary techniques to lead discussion groups and facilitate meetings.

Conflict Resolution: participants learn the techniques to resolve differences and learn to understand that conflict is unavoidably a part of working together.

Global Economics: participants discuss the current state of the economy with an emphasis on trade, the global effects on domestic and foreign workers and economic programs that put workers first.

Social Insurance: participants recognize that economic policy is driven by people's needs and beliefs. They also learn about the union's economic and social analysis behind our position on social insurance.

Education Committee Training: participants learn how the activities of the Education Committee build and support the goal of our union. They learn how to identify the needs of the local union and respond by developing programs promoting resources and sharing information with other standing committees.

Grievance Handling: participants learn the necessary skill to effectively represent the membership such as, investigating techniques, writing and interpersonal skills. They learn the duties and rights of grievance handlers and discuss their role and leaders.

Labor Challenges: participants compare the events from our past and apply the lessons learned to our present and future challenges. They will learn the importance of developing an agenda through strategic planning and what role the political system plays in that agenda.

Labor in the Schools for Elementary and Middle School: school age children learn to appreciate the reasons why people work, difference between work and play, and how they see themselves as future workers.

Labor in the School for High School: students learn the rich heritage of the labor movement and its dynamics in society.

Leaders in Action: participants recognize the role leadership plays in impacting the union and the crisis the labor movement is currently in.

Local Union Discussion Leaders (LUDL): participants become certified by the UAW Education Department to present programs and classes to union members using prepared outlines and materials. They learn to prepare presentation and teaching outlines, objectives and to gather information. They also learn interactive teaching techniques, stand up skill and how to use the appropriate media for delivery.

Membership Education and Mobilization for Organizing (MEMO): participants recognize the correlation between collective bargaining and organizing, and the rise and fall of union power. They may also participate in organizing activities.

New Members Orientation: participants identify the value of unions and the labor movement, the union structure and roles of various officers, and become familiar with the laws that provide union/labor protection.

Political Action Program: participants learn the "wedge" issues in past political campaigns and how they serve to divide us in current campaigns. They will practice one-on-one communicating skills while discussing politics with fellow members.

Survey Design: participants learn when to use surveys, how to design and tabulate them and how to interpret and report their results.

Teambuilding Skills: union leaders and members learn and develop skill for working collectively rather than individually.

Understanding Discrimination Through Solidarity: participants learn the value of diversity. They will recognize that any form of discrimination is wrong and how it hurts and divides us.

Union Activist Training - Building the Power of the Union Through Standing Committees: participants learn to tie standing committees into the goals and objectives of the local union and the labor movement.

Union Involvement: participants recognize the necessity for member involvement in their union. They will discuss worker rights in the workplace, federal, state and local laws, and the Union's legislative agenda. This leads to the recognition of the Union's role in our society and how members get involved.