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“Rise Up” Institute Tracks

Communications Track: Effective communications will be more important than ever as we fend off attacks against our union. Learn how to inoculate union members in a post-Janus environment to ward off deceptive messaging from anti-worker special interests. Learn new communications tips and tools that will help your local cut through the noise, plan smartly to communicate effectively, and use the AFSCME brand to get your message across.

Communications Tools and Tips

AFSCME’s suite of digital tools gives you the power to create professionally designed campaign literature from your computer or smart phone, as well as a professional looking, easy-to-manage website. In this workshop, you'll get a hands-on look at these tools and learn simple techniques to take high-quality photos and videos to use in your communications campaigns.

Moving Messages and the AFSCME Brand

Find out what a brand is and learn about the AFSCME brand. We’ll review the research behind it and how to use the AFSCME brand as the foundation for all your communications. We’ll also discuss cutting- edge message research on unions and the economy. 

Break Through the Noise: Strategic Communications Planning and Tactics

This session will teach you effective communications through planning – including how to define goals and audiences. We'll review key tools and tactics, including email, text message and social media, to increase engagement and build membership.

Launching Powerful Digital Campaigns

Anti-worker groups have launched a multimillion dollar effort targeting AFSCME members. Their goal: To get AFSCME members to drop the union. Come learn about AFSCME's new and innovative campaign to counter their misinformation campaign. Learn how to identify which of our members are social media influencers, and how to harness the power of their networks to fight back.

Representation Track: Building the strongest union possible will require strong stewards. Get the most out of your activist skills by learning how to speak up effectively, fight back and build power. Learn how to help your union gain leverage to achieve great contracts.

Building Our Union from Day One

Our future depends on connecting every new employee to what it means to be in a union. That’s why it’s critical to reach new workers at the start of their employment, establish a relationship with them, and demonstrate the value of our union and the roles they can play. Learn how to reach new workers through New Employee Orientations and by creating a plan for one-on-one follow-ups during their first months on the job. 

Union-Building Language

Your contract holds the power to not only reinforce your rights in the workplace but also to build your union. Participants will learn what collective bargaining language helps build the union and maintain membership and power. We will go through 10 union-building contract clauses and discuss strategies to achieve the right contract language in difficult environments.

Contract Campaigns: Power plus Leverage Equals Winning Contracts

Contract campaigns not only help us achieve the best outcomes at the bargaining table, but also reach our longer-term goals of strengthening our union. Learn strategies to leverage contract fights to engage workers, develop stronger communication structures that can be used beyond negotiations, and discover why developing community allies is critical to a successful contract fight. 

Strong Stewards = Strong Locals: Using Your Skills to Solve Problems and Build Power

tewards are on the front lines of our union. That's why building stronger locals starts with stewards. In this workshop, stewards will improve your skills to effectively represent your co-workers. And you'll learn how to use grievances and workplace actions to strengthen your local by inspiring your co-workers to join the fight. 

Organizing Track: A strong union begins with effective organizing. Participants will learn about the power of one-on-one conversations with your co-workers to grow and strengthen your union. Improve your union’s communication structures to fight bias and learn how to solve workplace problems through issue organizing.

Building our Union from Day One

Our future depends on connecting every new employee to what it means to be in a union. That’s why it’s critical to reach new workers at the start of their employment, establish a relationship with them, and demonstrate the value of our union and the roles they can play. Learn how to reach new workers through New Employee Orientations and by creating a plan for one-on-one follow-ups during their first months on the job.

Solving Workplace Problems Through Issue Organizing

Learn how to identify the issues in the workplace that not only unite union members but help you collectively gain power and solve workplace problems.

Beyond Bias: An Introduction to Implicit Bias

Did you know that 80 to 90 percent of decision making happens at the subconscious level? This provocative and highly interactive workshop will introduce you to the groundbreaking science of implicit bias. Learn new strategies for addressing racial and other forms of bias at the individual and organizational levels.

Communication Structures that Work

Build power through Member Action Teams. Learn how to form them and how to use them effectively. 

The Power of One-on-One Conversations

There are few organizing tools more powerful than the one-on-one conversation. Learn the steps for effective one-on-ones, how to assess co-workers’ responses to the conversations, and how to proceed following a conversation.

Political and Legislative Track: The current political climate offers incredible opportunities for mobilizing union members. Learn how to become a better advocate for public service workers, connect the dots between economic inequality and race inequality, and win in the era of Trump.

Connecting the Dots: Race, Gender, and Economic Inequality

Explore the harmful impact and causes of unequal distribution of wealth in the United States. We will discuss the role that race and other factors play in creating income disparities. And we will discuss solutions to create a fair economy that works for everyone.

Become a Better Advocate

Strengthen your grassroots organizing skills, including understanding legislative advocacy and our messaging on freedom. Learn new strategies for creating a comprehensive candidate-screening and endorsement process. 

Shape The Future: Running for Office

Recruit the best candidates to run for offices up and down the ballot — perhaps including yourself! Learn how to assess viability, build winning coalitions, power-map your community, conduct issue research and more.

Mobilizing Members in the Current Political Climate

Delve into new and proven campaign strategies and tactics – including the relational voter program, building out successful canvass and phone operations, and incorporating member organizing into our political operations through hybrid campaigns.