Trainings

AFSCME Council 65 offers a wide variety of trainings for our members and locals. 

Click Here to Schedule a Training

You can also talk to your labor representative or contact our office at 888-474-3242 or info@afscme65.org to request any of the following trainings. You can also check out our event calendar to see what upcoming trainings we already have scheduled. 

AFSCME in Action Direct Action Training | Duration: 2-2.5 hours
When we fight, we win! Learn how to successfully plan direct actions and develop an escalating action plan in your local to leverage worker power and successfully move through an action campaign.

AFSCME Strong Activist Training | Duration: 2.5 hours
Learn the steps to a successful one-to-one conversation, how to assess workers through the AFSCME assessment system, and how to build worker power in your local union by organizing your coworkers.

Building Power Through Member Action Teams (MAT) Training | Duration: 2-2.5 hours
Develop organizing skills and learn how to establish a MAT structure in your local to effectively communicate with your colleagues and power your local union to through an escalating action plan.

Know Your Rights Training | Duration: 30 minutes - 1 hour
Learn “Union 101” with your coworkers! Dive into the basics of a union and AFSCME’s governance structure, Weingarten rights, what we can accomplish through our union contracts, and more!

Strike Training | Duration: 3 hours
The best way to avoid a strike is to prepare for one. Work through all aspects of strike preparation including : statutory requirements, resource planning, messaging, and action building. We offer a Minnesota Public Sector and a Private Sector version of this training.

Negotiations Trainings

Train Your Bargaining Team Training | Duration: 3-3.5 hours
This training is intended for bargaining teams to learn about the negotiations process together, and to build a contract campaign plan for their contract negotiations.

Negotiating Team Trainings | Duration: 3 hours
This training is similar to the ‘Train Your Bargaining Team’ training, with a greater focus on state and sector specific laws, and is also available in a virtual format. We offer a Minnesota Public Sector, South Dakota Public Sector, and Private Sector version of this training.

Steward Trainings

AFSCME International Stewards in Action Training | Duration: 3 hours and 15 minutes
This training introduces new stewards to several aspects of stewardship including grievance handling, case documentation, and the role of a steward in an investigation. This training is best for large groups in order to facilitate breakout conversations amongst attendees.

Investigations Training | Duration: 1-1.5 hours
This training offers a great opportunity for less experienced stewards to dive into the intricacies of representing members in investigations. Participants will learn steward best practices and participate in a mock investigation to gain experience.

Grievance Handling Training | Duration: 2.5-3 hours
This training focuses on the intricacies of grievance handling to help new and experienced stewards dive into all tangible components of our contractual grievance procedure.

New Employee Outreach Trainings

AFSCME International New Employee Outreach Training | Duration: 1.5 hours
This training guides local leaders through a plan for a successful new employee outreach program at the local level, including individualized follow-up with new members.

Membership Chair Training | Duration: 3.5 hours
Whether your local has a dedicated Membership Chair position or is working on assigning Membership Chair duties to another local officer, learn how to take on the role of membership chair and work toward increasing local membership, creating a plan to follow-up with new hires and welcome them into your worksite, effective local reporting, and more.

Union Officer Trainings

Financial Standards Trainings | Duration: 4 hours
This training is necessary for all local union treasurers and offers a great additional opportunity for other local officers, too. Learn the AFSCME financial standards and how to keep your local union treasury in great operating shape. This training is available from our AFSCME International Staff- ask us about upcoming virtual and in-person offerings throughout the year.

Local Leaders Executive Board Training | Duration: 3 hours and 45 minutes
This training is intended for local union officers and will walk participants through AFSCME’s governance structure, the basics of an AFSCME constitution and will guide all local officers through the roles prescribed by their local’s constitution in order to prepare them for successful governance.

Intro to AFSCME Governance Training | Duration: 2 hours
This training is for leaders in AFSCME units to get oriented to the different governance roles and responsibilities one may be elected to, how to run and participate in union meetings, finding online resources to help you with your role, exploring what it means to be union, and learning about the attacks on unions.