GCIU Vice Pres. Edward J. Toff, right, outlines the schedule. At left is Ed Hertenstein of the University of Illinois' Labor Education Program.

It was summer time and the corn was high, but the living wasn't easy for GCIU local leaders at the intense week-long Leadership Education Program on the University of Illinois campus at Urbana-Champaign.

During day and evening sessions at this second training course, 28 local leaders learned how to mobilize members to greater participation within their shops, local unions and communities. They also got an introduction to the broad range of information that all local leaders need to achieve strong and effective local unions.

The course, which was organized by GCIU Vice Pres. Edward J. Toff, emphasizes leadership styles that involve democratic member participation.

GCIU Rep. Alan M. Tate and Toronto 500M Vice Pres. Norm Beattie led sessions in leadership, education, and communication skills. They were joined by GCIU Rep. Phil Roberts during sessions on collective bargaining and grievance handling.

Answering questions during the Summer Institute, from left, are: GCIU Rep. Alan M. Tate, Toronto 500M Vice Pres. Norman Beattie, and GCIU Rep. Philip Roberts.

From left, are: Kenneth O. Truemper, St. Louis 505M; Linda Steele, St. Paul 6A; GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi; Blair Reinhardt, Chattanooga 197M; Walter Drakeford, Washington 713S; and Candy Kiser, Fostoria 566M.

Cindy Williams, Jackson 734S, and Jason Miller, Battle Creek 135C, write contract language.

Participants also had the opportunity to draw on the knowledge of staff of the host Labor Education Program of the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations at the university. Professor Ron Peters reviewed law related to grievance handling. Professor Ed Hertenstein, a former GCIU pressman, led sessions on law related to collective bargaining and GCIU labor history. Jason Tebbe provided an overall view of labor history, and Michelle Kaminski provided a detailed look at law related to the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi told the local leaders that organizing and building a strong union are the primary focus of member involvement. "Members often don't understand the importance of organizing – why it's important to them. But when you're at the bargaining table, we know employers love to throw the non-union competition at us. This weakens our bargaining strength," he said.

Another area of member involvement that is crucial to bargaining and organizing, Tedeschi said, is political action. He noted that political leaders appoint members of the National Labor Relations Board and judges who decide labor law cases. Politicians at the federal, state, provincial and local levels control legislation that affects members every day, like safety and health and environmental regulations and education and health care programs. "The GCIU is doing its part – we're putting people power into the governors' races in New Jersey and Virginia, for example," he said.

Tedeschi said the International is considering expanding the leadership training program to intermediate and advanced level courses. Participants indicated an interest in the higher level courses.

Photo by David Riecks

GCIU Summer Institute students and instructors gather on the University of Illinois campus at Urbana-Champaign.