The following resolution passed at the UAWD Special Membership Meeting held on May 7, 2023.
Whereas:
1. To sustain democracy and membership involvement it is important to develop the next generation of UAW leadership;
2. Too often newly elected leaders are left to figure it out on their own;
3. UAWD has many talented members who can provide mentorship to new leaders.
Be it resolved:
1. UAWD will prioritize developing a series of trainings to give our members the tools they need to be successful with the various aspects of union administration, grievance handling, organizing and all of the features of a progressive unions that empowers the membership.
2. The UAWD Education Committee will take the lead on this initiative and UAWD will commit staff to help get the trainings off to a solid start.
3. The UAWD Steering Committee assist in placing at least 3 Co-Chairs to the Education Committee. If vacancies occur after initial placement, it’ll be the responsibility of the Education Committee to nominate and elect for any vacancies.
4. To that end, UAWD will develop a training series that encompasses the following topics as a start and regularly assesses the effectiveness of the trainings with an eye towards improvement.
a. Running for office
b. Basics of union organizing
c. Using membership power in contract negotiations and shop-floor grievance approach
d. Building an internal communications network
e. Organizing the unorganized from the local union perspective
f. Grievance writing and handling
i. Just Cause
ii. Grievance investigations
g. Union Ethics
i. Being an ethical union leader
ii. Ethical Practices codes
iii. Ethics ombudsman
h. Labor History
i. Contract negotiations and costing contracts
j. Union administration
i. How to run a meeting
ii. Best financial practices
iii. Getting standing committees working to build working class power.
k. Using the Constitution and bylaws to your advantage
i. The appeals processes
ii. Election procedures
iii. Rights and responsibilities of members and officers
l. Dues structure and the strike fund
m. Conventions and delegates