IAM members from various regions and industries gathered at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center to participate in the IAM Young Workers Program. The event, organized by IAM Women’s and Young Workers Director Dee Colbert, aimed to support members interested in creating Young Worker Committees within their local unions.
The program lasted a week and included practical training, leadership development, and exposure to different aspects of union operations. According to Colbert, “This initiative is designed to engage and empower the next generation of union members by providing them with exposure to a wide range of departments, leaders, and opportunities within our movement. It is imperative that we give young workers meaningful experiences that deepen their understanding of union values and help shape their leadership mindset as they prepare for long, successful careers in the labor movement.”
Participants attended sessions on topics such as IAM history, strategic planning, parliamentary procedure, generational diversity, public speaking, organizing around issues important to workers, economics from a worker perspective, human rights, and how to form effective committees. These sessions were led by experienced educators from the organization.
As part of the curriculum, attendees were divided into groups tasked with developing strategic plans for establishing Young Worker Committees in their home unions. One group presented its plan through a podcast format as an example of using modern media tools for outreach.
The IAM Communications Department also provided instruction on effective messaging strategies to help participants better communicate with fellow members when building committees.
Senior leaders including General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes, Special Assistant Bryan Pinette, and Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen addressed attendees during the week. They shared personal experiences from their time in the union and highlighted the importance of continued engagement by younger members.
