Education

The Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association is one of only a few unions to have a department specifically dedicated to the education of its membership, both elected and rank and file. Since its establishment in the early 1980’s the Department of Education has designed a number of training programs that allow the elected or appointed union official to better perform their duties by providing top quality designed programs facilitated by experts in the fields of representation, organizing, communication and leadership. Our programs are taken to the union hall and include Youth to Youth orientations as well as other organizing initiatives for SMWIA members.

SMWIA courses are generally conducted at the National Labor College at the George Meany Campus located in Silver Spring, Maryland and at the Kellogg West Center in Pomona, CA. Each course is an intensive six-day journey which includes lectures as well as interaction with most courses having accreditation with the NLC - meaning that when going through the Bachelor of Arts Program at the NLC, three credit hours may be awarded. International Organizers and Representatives assist in the development of course content as well as teaching approach and technique.  The courses are designed to facilitate the learning of new administrative, organizing, communication and leadership skills with one common goal: to strengthen our local unions so that they may represent our members, both current and future, to the best of their ability.

SMWIA Department of Education 2012 Class Schedule

    February 27- March 1, 2012 Effective Communications @ Kellogg West Conference Center

    April 16-19, 2012 Strategic Organizing @ the National Labor College

    September 24-27, 2012 Basic Organizing @ Local 36 Training Center - St. Louis, MO

    October 15-18, 2012 Advanced Business Agents Workshop @ Kellogg West Conference Center

    December 3-6, 2012 New Business Agents Workshop @ the National Labor College

The Department of Education has made some changes to its main class schedule in addition to adding two new classes and a brand new mid west location.  In an effort to reduce costs and consolidate time, all of our classes in 2012 will be reduced to 30 hours, starting Monday evenings from 7-9pm and concluding on Thursday at 4pm with a banquet in the evening.  These classes will be accredited by the NLC for 2 credits when applied towards their Bachelor of Arts degree program and will include the option for a third credit if needed. We have also developed a Negotiations class and is in the process of developing an Advanced Business Representatives class which will focus on more complex issues for union representatives.  Lastly, David Zimmermann, Business Manager of Local 36 in St. Louis, MO has graciously made his members new training facility available to us to run one of our classes in 2012.      

The Department of Education has fewer classes scheduled in 2012 at the NLC and Kellogg West so that we may bring more programs on the road.  If there is a desire to have a particular program or class such as Dynamic Leadership, Negotiations or Strategic Planning delivered in your local union, district council or regional area please contact Chris Carlough (202) 662-0840 ccarlough@smwia.org  to schedule.