Dear John,
Kickoff 2021 by expanding your union skills with AFGE! We have SEVEN upcoming webinars in January on a range of topics. Webinars are free for AFGE members, but hurry – they tend to fill up!
Stewards Orientation Online | Friday, January 8 (1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET): A must for new AFGE stewards, or any steward who has not yet had formal training in best practices for local stewards. This 4-hour webinar overviews steward responsibilities, engaging and educating bargaining unit employees, and online tools and resources.
E-Dues: Building Power | Tuesday, January 19 (8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. ET): Is your local interested in learning more about best practices for transitioning to E-Dues? This two-hour webinar outlines strategies for mobilizing teams, using workplace mapping to recruit with a purpose, and real examples of what has worked for other locals to successfully transition to E-Dues. This webinar is aimed at local leaders and stewards. If you have not already completed the Introduction to E-Dues self-paced online training, we recommend that you do so prior to the webinar; it takes about 15 minutes and is available at www.afge.org/edues.
Reopening Amidst a Global Pandemic | Friday, January 22 (4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET): Overview of the phases of reopening agency offices and worksites. Participants will learn about their rights, roles, and responsibilities, as well as management responsibilities, during this 3-phased process. Topics to be discussed include: requirements for worksite hygiene, mask wearing, and ventilation, and what to do if an employee becomes ill from exposure to COVID-19.
Representation: Grievance Handling | Saturday, January 23 (1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.) : This new and popular 4-hour webinar teaches Local Stewards specific skills and strategies for filing and processing grievances effectively, including identifying grievances, interviewing employees, and sources of evidence. The prerequisite for this webinar is the basic Stewards Orientation webinar (offered January 8) which overviews the role of the Steward, Structure of AFGE, and one of the most important laws that outlines the rights of union representatives- 5 USC Chapter 71. Participants can also take the self-paced basic Stewards trainings found in the Stewards Toolkit on AFGE Learn to complete the prerequisite. Participants should already be a Steward at your Local.
Local Officer Orientation | Monday, January 25 (3:00 pm - 7:00 pm EST): This 4-hour overview for new local officers covers legal, fiduciary, and reporting requirements of local officers. Planning and budgeting for a strong, effective local is also discussed.
COVID-19 Outbreak Management | Monday, January 25 (4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.): As workplace outbreaks continue to boom, this 90 minute class teaches local and national leaders how to respond to complaints about unsafe working conditions and apply pressure to federal agencies that neglect proper safety and OSHA regulations. We’ll cover: communication with affected and at-risk workers, filing OSHA and CDC complaints, contacting government officials, Workers’ Compensation claims, and Whistleblower protections.
Cultivating Resilience: A Path Forward | Tuesday, January 26 (12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET): This 90-minute virtual workshop is designed for AFGE members, leaders and staff looking for practical tools and strategies to increase resilience and practice self-care. Participants will assess their current capacity for resilience and create a personalized action plan for cultivating resilience and wellbeing in daily life.
Workers Compensation: Appeals | Thursday, February 18 (12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET): This one-day follow-up to the basic Workers’ Compensation course covers the types of appeals, how to complete an appeal form, and submission of the form in the ECOMP system. Examples of denied claims will be discussed.
And, don’t forget about the many self-paced options and resources available on our newly redesigned education page! Click here to access the self-paced learning options.
“See” you in class!
In Solidarity,
AFGE
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