Education & Training

New President/ Business Agent training prepares newly elected local union Presidents to lead their local union as well as introduce them to the departments and resources at ATU International. The training consists of presentations from every department at the International and include sessions on President/ Business Agent rights and responsibilities, collective bargaining, political affairs, organizing, strategic communications, research, and health and safety. Presidents are also trained on their fiduciary obligations and responsibilities as well as those of local financial secretaries.

The newly elected Financial Secretaries participate in presentations and computer exercises including ATU QuickBooks, Financial Secretary rights and duties, fiduciary responsibility and governmental reporting requirements, and MUMS software tutorial. This training uses several computer-based exercises to show Financial Secretaries how to use QuickBooks accounting software “The ATU Way” and MUMS to properly keep and report membership records.

Shop Steward training introduces stewards to their duties and responsibilities and discusses the various roles of stewards including leader, organizer, educator, and communicator. The training teaches participants the basic steps in the grievance handling process and gives them techniques for investigating, writing and, presenting grievances. The training also considers tests for discipline and contract interpretation principles that stewards should consider when handling grievances. Finally, participants are taught about their rights under the law including access to certain information and mandatory subjects of bargaining.

The training covers topics including grievance handling, roles and responsibilities of union officers, Duty of Fair Representation, and the duties and responsibilities of executive board members under the ATU constitution. The training discusses tactics and strategies for keeping union records, handling internal issues such as lost time, and membership meetings.

The ATU Collective Bargaining and Contract Campaigns training program introduces members to the collective bargaining process and contract campaigns and includes sessions on contract terminology, preparing for bargaining, negotiating, labor law, strategic research, table tactics, elements of a contract campaign, building committees, as well as provides updates on bargaining issues in public transit including RFPs and warranty agreements. The training covers the skills and tactics for engaging rank and file members in the negotiating process through organizing and campaigns. The training also shows participants how to analyze company financials to prepare proposals and win at the bargaining table.

Race and Labor training examines the history of racism and racism in the labor movement, including racial oppression and discrimination at the workplace. The workshop also covers the different manifestations of racism and how our employers use racism to divide strategically weaken workers and their unions. This program offers various strategies and tactics that can be used to interrupt oppressive moments. This interactive and discussion based training gives members tools and resources to fight discrimination at work and win equity for all ATU members.

The ATU has developed a Women’s Equity Training program to give Local Unions background information on gender discrimination in transit, including discriminatory scheduling policies, lack of accommodations for pregnant workers, health and safety issues disproportionately impacting women, and work-life balance issues. The training is based on the “ATU Women’s Advocacy and Gender Equity Bargaining Guide” that educates our Locals and members on the barriers that women face and provides tools to overcome them and establish more equitable policies and procedures at work and in our Union. The training program introduces surveys and bargaining resources for Local Unions to fight back against discriminatory policies and treatment.

ATU Health and Safety Training examines the safety hazards that transit workers face on the job including assault against transit workers, stress and fatigue, poor workplace ergonomics and vehicle design, vehicle maintenance, and discusses the legal protections under the law in the United States and Canada. The training gives participants tools for conducting workplace investigations, surveying rank and file members about their issues, and auditing inadequate or unsafe workplace policies and procedures to hold employers accountable. Training also covers the role of safety committees, both union and joint, when it comes to identifying and addressing hazards through committee meetings, workplace actions, and campaigns.

The training includes sessions on the state of Battery Electric (BEB) and Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) adoption in the US and Canada, BEB and ZEB funding programs and procurement, technical overview including training and safety requirements, Federal and State/Provincial law regarding BEB and ZEBs, and bargaining over training and new technology.

This refresher training for ATU officers introduces participants to Robert’s Rules of Order for using parliamentary procedure at union meetings. The program discusses how to move through the order of business at union meetings while considering motions and amendments. Training covers issues of quorum and difference between board meetings and general membership meetings.  Participants are also taught about setting and keeping to meetings agendas as well as keeping the official minutes and reports for union meetings.

The Workforce Development training programs introduce members to joint labor management programs including mentorship and apprenticeship programs. The ATU works closely with Local Unions as they develop and establish mentor programs and apprenticeship programs that build skills and knowledge to ensure safe and successful careers in transit. The ATU trains rank and file mentors that support and educate new transit workers as they enter the job and get involved with the union. The program also develops local mentorship coordinators to organize and sustain the programs in their local so that every member gets the support they need.