WINTER-SPRING 2012 MADISON INSTITUTES
REGISTRATION FORM - register online at our secure site
- Union Administration
- Taking Back Your Workplace
- Turning Union Members into Union Activists
- Bargaining Health Care
- Grievance Arbitration
- Union Communications - Creating an Effective Web Presence
REGISTER EARLY and SAVE!
CLASS FEES:
Register before the registration deadline and pay less. For fees, see the class description below.
LODGING AT LOWELL: Avoid high hotel costs by reserving your room at the Lowell Center. Make your reservation early before the room block is released! See Lodging below.
UNION LEADERSHIP GROUP DISCOUNTS
Signing up for Union Administration? After you register the first person from your local, receive a $50 discount for each additional local member who joins the class. To qualify, all registrants must be from the same local. Discount checks will be issued after the class has run.
UNION LEADERSHIP SERIES DISCOUNT
We offer three institutes in union leadership annually. They provide the essential education for union leaders to excel and build powerful, proactive organizations for the future. Take all three and receive a $75 reduction in fees when you pay for the third class.
Leading Your Organization (September)
Personal Leadership Skills (December)
Union Administration (March)
Information
Conference Centers & Parking
Meals
Lodging Reservations
Fee & Payment Information
Cancellation Policy
Travel to & around Madison
Union Administration
March 6-8, 2012
Registration form
The role of union leader requires that you understand and manage the essential functions of a union -- the "nuts and bolts" of union administration. Participants in this three-day training program will learn the basics of running and managing a successful union.
Key union functions are explored, including:
- Roles of officers and executive boards
- Union structure
- Union budgeting and finances
- Legal responsibilities
- Effective meetings/parliamentary procedure
- Coordinating committees
- Grievance and contract administration
"One of the best classes I've attended . . . I really like the hands-on approach."
"I would highly recommend anyone to utilize this resource if you want to become more effective as a leader in your union."
"I plan to come back to the other leadership courses and send other officers."
"Great experience being with the many different unions, both private and public sector."
CEUs: 2 toward Union Governance & Administration Certificate. See Certificates
Registration deadline: February 7
This program begins at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday with registration with the class starting at 8:30 a.m. It concludes Thursday at 3:00 p.m.
Fee: $410.00 if you register by February 7 ($450 after February 7)
Location: Pyle Center
Taking Back Your Workplace
April 17-19, 2012
Registration form
Union leaders are finding it harder to get members involved ---resulting in leader burnout and a weaker, less successful organization. What does it take to turn this around, get members involved, and take our workplaces back from management and the critics of the union?
This 3-day program explores the concepts and methods of building meaningful member participation. Among the challenges we will tackle:
- Creating a detailed plan for success
- Identifying and developing new activists
- Building internal structures that make us stronger
- Changing the "what's the union done for me lately?" mindset
- Creating a union culture in the workplace
- Making strength permanent instead of mobilizing from scratch for each new fight
We will learn how to bring real, on-the-ground change to our unions, resulting in more success in representation, bargaining, and political action.
"I would suggest this class to every union member."
"Used a variety of teaching methods that kept us involved."
"I learned how to utilize a power-based approach as opposed to the traditional servicing model."
"I've been to a lot of training programs. This program is by far the best I've been through, and have taken the most out of it."
"I thank the instructors for working with us as a group and getting personal with our issues. We were given great feedback and a new way to look at the issues we face."
CEUs: 2 toward Union Governance & Administration Certificate or Collective Bargaining Certificate. See Certificates
Registration deadline: March 19
Registration will be at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday with the class starting at 8:30 a.m. The program concludes Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $410.00 if you register by March 19 ($450 after March 19)
Location: Pyle Center
Turning Union Members into Union Activists
April 25-26, 2012
Registration form
Is your employer hiring new employees that will be joining the bargaining unit? If so, join us as we explore the potential generational differences that impact union cohesiveness and solidarity. Learn:
- Best practices in new member orientation
- Strategies on bargaining for employee orientation programs
- How to develop comprehensive union orientation programs
Perfect for unions wanting to go beyond 'passing out the membership and Weingarten cards' and who choose to engage their new members and integrate them into building an even stronger local union. You'll leave this class with a plan that will build your union.
CEUs: 1.3 toward School for Union Governance & Administration Certificate. See Certificates
Registration deadline: March 26
Registration will be at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday. The program concludes at 4:00 p.m. Thursday.
Fee: $310.00 if you register by March 26 ($340 after March 26)
Location: Pyle Center
Bargaining Health Care
May 2-4, 2012
Registration form
In today's harsh economic environment it is becoming ever more difficult for unions to negotiate and preserve excellent health care coverage for their members. This 2 1/2 day class will focus on these difficulties and give practical guidance and hands-on experience for union bargainers.
TOPICS INCLUDE
- What is the new federal health care legislation and how will it affect bargaining?
- Health insurance terminology and definitions
- Health insurance plan comparisons
- Health care crisis in the U.S.: where is it going, what is driving it, and what are possible solutions?
- How to cost out health care and get relevant information from the employer
- Group exercise in health care costing
- What bargaining strategies and mobilizing efforts have worked for other unions?
- Group exercise: health care collective bargaining scenario
Bring your contracts and plan descriptions of health care coverage!
CEUs: 1.7 Applicable toward the Collective Bargaining Certificate. See Certificates
Registration deadline: April 3
Registration will be Wednesday, 8-8:30 a.m. with class beginning at 8:30 a.m. The class concludes at 12 noon on Friday.
Fee: $350.00 if you register by April 3 ($385 after April 3)
Location: Pyle Center
Grievance Arbitration
May 7-10, 2012
Registration form
This course is designed for union members, stewards, officers and staff who want to learn more about the grievance arbitration process. In virtually all collective bargaining agreements the grievance procedure ends with an arbitration step. Understanding the arbitration process generally and the arbitration provision in your contract is critical for any union official from steward to staff representative. The course begins with a review of the grievance process, considerations for when to go to arbitration and the differences in handling contract language disputes versus discipline cases. The remainder of the course consists of classroom exercises and discussions that focus on various aspects of the arbitration process. Participants will work in teams to prepare and present a mock arbitration case to an actual arbitrator.
Topics covered include the scope of arbitration, authority of arbitrators and how to select them, preparing and presenting a case in arbitration including developing a "theory" of the case, gathering relevant facts and researching prior arbitration decisions, and proving the case using witnesses and exhibits. We will discuss standards that arbitrators use to decide cases, rules of evidence rules, and the law of arbitration including arbitrability, remedies and the limited bases for reversing arbitration decisions.
At the conclusion of the course, participants will have an understanding of the importance of the grievance procedure to the arbitration process, how arbitration works, how to present a case, and the issues unions face in going to arbitration to resolve contract disputes.
"Enjoyed and learned a lot. Instructor did great job with the program. Having an arbitrator here was awesome."
CEUs: 2.3 toward the Union Governance & Administration Certificate See Certificates
Registration deadline: April 9
The program begins with registration on Monday at 8:00 a.m. and concludes Thursday at noon.
Fee: $465.00 if you register by April 9 ($510 after April 9)
Location: Pyle Center
Union Communications - Creating an Effective Web Presence
May 15-17, 2012
Registration form
Everyone wants to improve membership communication, particularly as meeting attendance lags. In this course, we begin by reviewing what makes union communications successful considering the target audience, proper messaging, and effective dissemination. Using this foundation, we explore the web tools available to unions to both broadcast information and engage members in conversation.
Use of Facebook, Google Groups, YouTube, and email services such as Vertical Response and Constant Contact are described and discussed. Hands-on exercises using laptop computers give you practical experience so you can get started right away. Enrollment is limited to 20 participants.
CEUs: 2 Applicable toward the Union Governance & Administration Certificate. See Certificates
Registration deadline: April 16
Registration is on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. with the class starting at 8:30 a.m. The program ends Thursday at 3:00 p.m.
Fee: $410.00 if you register April 16 ($450 after April 16)
Location: Pyle Center
Information
Questions about enrollment, registration, travel and facilities should be directed to the Main Office.
Phone Number: (608) 262-2112
Fax Number: (608) 265-2391
Email Address: schoolforworkers@uwex.edu
Please be sure to read the information below carefully.
Conference Centers & Parking
Pyle Center
This is a campus conference center located at 702 Langdon Street in downtown Madison. Lodging is available at the Lowell Center (see below). Commuter parking is nearby in a city ramp on Lake Street.
Lodging Reservations
Lowell Center
Participants are responsible for arranging their own lodging. The Lowell Center, at 610 Langdon St. in downtown Madison, offers guest rooms to conference participants. A block of guest rooms has been reserved for your class. Lowell is a nonsmoking facility. If you reserve a room at the Lowell Center, breakfast is included. Complimentary parking 2 blocks off site is also included with your room. Reserved parking on site can be obtained for $8.00/night. For evening dinner, you can explore the many restaurants on nearby State Street. Rates are $89-105/single room and $101-117/double room.
The lodging room block will be released four weeks before the class start date.
CALL NO LATER THAN 1 MONTH BEFORE the class date to ensure a room.
Toll free 866-301-1753
Direct to Lowell: 608-256-2621
Please DO NOT INCLUDE lodging fees in your payments to the School for Workers.
For alternative lodging go to http://www.cityofmadison.com/Visitors/diningStaying.cfm
Meals
Fees include lunches and breaks. Please be sure to let us know about any special dietary needs. If you reserve lodging at the Lowell Center, breakfast is included in your room rate. For dinner, you can explore the many restaurants on nearby State Street.
Fee and Payment Information
School for Workers fees include tuition, instructional materials, lunches and breaks. Participants are responsible for arranging their own lodging. For information go to Lodging Reservations
To assure participation in the course, registration forms should be received by the deadline.
PAYMENT BY CHECK: Make checks payable to UW-Extension. Please DO NOT INCLUDE lodging fees in your payments to the School for Workers. Mail to: School for Workers Registration, 610 Langdon St, Rm 422, Madison, WI 53703.
PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD: Use our secure Registration form to enter your credit card information or, if you prefer, phone that information to our office 608-262-2112.
PAYMENT IS DUE 14 days before the class start date.
Participants will receive confirmation information approximately two weeks prior to the course.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancellation notification must be 14 days or more prior to the program start date. If notification is less than 14 days, the cancellation fee will be: $100.00. The School for Workers reserves the right to cancel programs when enrollment criteria are not met or when conditions beyond our control intervene. If the School for Workers cancels a class, class fees are refunded in full, but additional costs incurred are the responsibility of the registrants.
