What is the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute?
The Organizing Institute (OI) was created in the fall of 1989 to promote and foster union organizing. Since then, the OI developed into a highly selective program to recruit and train a new generation of union organizers and has trained thousands of members and others who are committed to building power for working people all across this country. The OI provides an intensive classroom and Field Training program for participants looking to become union organizers. For participants not sponsored by a union and is interested in a career as a union organizer, the OI Program offers a thorough look at a wide array of unions organizing in various industries to best match candidates’ talents with the union most appropriate for them. The OI provides the highest standards of organizer training, mentorship and development for all participants during the Field Training program.
What unions participate in the Organizing Institute training program?
The AFL-CIO is a federation of 50-plus international unions representing a variety of industries ranging from construction, service, technical, professional and public employees. All of the AFL-CIO affiliate unions can participate and utilize the OI for training their members organizers, staff, as well as those unions looking to train and hire staff organizers outside of their rank and file membership.
What does a union organizer do?
Union organizers assist workers in gaining union representation at their worksite. A union organizer educates people (mostly non-union workers) about their rights, identifies and develops leadership skills among workers, explains the union organizing process and runs a campaign for union recognition. Organizers mostly visit workers on a one on one basis, maybe in their homes or other places outside of work where they feel comfortable to talk about problems they face at work. The organizer builds relationships with them based on what those workers do on their jobs, the problems they face at work and then challenges and inspires them to get involved with their co-workers to gain a voice at work through organizing a union. Ultimately, the goal is for workers to build power in their workplaces by win a binding agreement with their employer that makes real improvements in their living and working conditions.
What is the life of a union organizer like?
The work of a union organizer is usually very challenging and demanding. For the most part, organizers can work long, irregular hours depending on the needs of the campaign. Workers that unions attempt to organize may work in a variety of hours, shifts and settings, so it is important the organizer is able to make himself/herself available to as many workers as possible during an organizing drive. Also, depending on where the union is focusing its work, organizers can expect to travel extensively and may be away from their home/family for weeks at a time and should expect to relocate, at least temporarily. Although, the nature of the work is challenging, union organizing is the most exciting, fulfilling and rewarding of careers because organizers are agents of change for workers to empower themselves and the communities in which they live.
For applicants interested in applying to the OI program, what qualifications do you look for?
Applicants must be energetic, and committed to building the union movement, must possess solid communication and leadership skills, must have a clean and valid drivers license. Union, student, or community activism experience is a plus. People of color, women and bilingual individuals are encouraged to apply. Non-union applicants to the OI program must be flexible to relocation and/or extensive travel.
I am interested in applying to the OI. What is the application process?
For union members interested in attending any OI 3-Day Training, you must be sponsored by your union. You must be approved by your union to attend. Your sponsorship fee must be paid by your local/national union. Once approved, you can submit an application online and click the ‘union members’ tab to apply.
Applicants who are not union members and wish to become union organizers must complete and an application, as well as submit a resume and references online. You may apply online . All non-member applicants will be interviewed by OI staff, in person, by phone and/or via video conference to determine eligibility and readiness for the OI program and will be notified as to your acceptance to attend a 3-day training.
For union members as well as non-union member applicants , applications must be received no later than 14 days prior to the weekend training you wish to attend to be considered. Applications received after that date will be placed on a wait list and subject to availability.
What type of training does the OI provide?
The OI provides a 3-day general organizer training. During the training, participants will learn one on one communication skills, leadership identification and development and strategic planning skills. Participants are assessed on their skill and potential based on objective criteria and observations by OI staff and experienced organizers from affiliate unions. Upon completion of the training, the OI will give each participant an individual exit interview at the end of the training and will discuss the next appropriate steps of the training program.
How much does it cost to attend the weekend training?
For union members/staff to attend an OI 3-Day Training, the sponsorship fee is $125 per participant ($150 if billed after the training). Union member must be sponsored by their union to attend the training. We cannot accept personal checks. The OI can only accept payment via check from your union. This fee only covers registration, meals and materials only. Payment should be mailed to the AFL-CIO (815 16 th Street, NW Washington, DC 20006) and made attention to Gail Tapscott in the Organizing Institute.
For applicants not sponsored by an affiliate union, there is no fee to attend the training. The OI will cover your meals and hotel stay during the training. However, travel to and from the classroom/weekend training is the responsibility of the participant.
What should I expect during the classroom/weekend training?
You should expect to be placed in an intense learning environment during the weekend training. More than 80% of the participants attending the weekend trainings are rank-and-file union members and elected union leaders. Other participants from a wide variety of backgrounds ranging from college campuses, community groups, nonprofit organizations as well as individuals who want to change careers and become a union organizer. We will be teaching the basics of one-on one communication between organizers and workers and teaching organizers how to run internal and external organizing campaigns. Through lecture discussions and numerous role-plays, the trainers assess skills and potential of the participants, and participants assess whether they want to pursue organizing, either as a career or as a volunteer.
What are the next steps after the weekend classroom training?
For participants not sponsored by a union and who are recommended to the OI Apprenticeship Training Program, the OI will best match your skills and talents with the needs of affiliate unions looking to train and hire new staff organizers.
If recommended to the field training program, when can I start?
Although we encourage participants to begin field training as soon as possible after the 3-day training, you can start your field training up to six months after the training. As long as you are available for field training within 6 months of the weekend training you attend, you are eligible to participate in the OI Field Training program.
Placement into the OI Apprenticeship Program usually takes 3 – 4 week after the 3-Day Training the participant attends. However, depending on time of year, placement can take up to 6 – 8 weeks. For example, during the summer months, when participants are graduating from college/technical school, placement most likely will be a slower process.
What happens during the Apprenticeship Program?
The OI provides hands-on experience working on a real organizing campaign. Apprentices are placed with a union (local or international) and should expect to work long days, evenings and weekends. You will be responsible for applying the skills learned in the 3-day training when communicating with workers on a one-on-one basis at their homes or their workplaces. During the training, you will work directly under an experienced organizer, who more than likely, will be your lead organizer. The OI will provide a staff trainer for 3-months to be in touch with you and to offer mentorship, advice and feedback. Although OI staff will be in touch with you, your primary training will come from the lead organizer and organizers on the campaign with you. During the Field Training Component of the Apprenticeship Program, apprentices are paid $500 per week (minus taxes). Housing, transportation and health insurance is provided.
What happens during the Field Training Program?
Graduates who receive a recommendation from the OI are in high demand. Apprentices who successfully complete the program are recommended to be hired as a union organizer by local and/or national unions and continue their development. You should keep in mind each affiliated international union has many locals. If you work for an international union, you should expect extensive travel as part of your job and may possibly have to relocate. If you work for a local, you should expect to be a part of that community where the local is based. The amount of travel varies by union. Affiliate unions will receive newsletters announcing OI graduates who are available to be interviewed and hired. Starting pay for union organizers, depending on the union, range from $35000 - $45000 annually plus excellent benefits.
What happens after the Field Training program?
Graduates who receive a recommendation from the OI are in high demand. Trainees who successfully complete the program are recommended to be hired as a union organizer by local and/or national unions and continue their development. You should keep in mind each affiliated international union has many locals. If you work for an international union, you should expect extensive travel as part of your job and may possibly have to relocate. If you work for a local, you should expect to be a part of that community where the local is based. The amount of travel varies by union. Affiliate unions will receive newsletters announcing OI graduates who are available to be interviewed and hired. Starting pay for union organizers, depending on the union, range from $30,000 to $40,000 annually plus excellent benefits.
What other types of training does the OI provide?
The Organizing Institute 3-Day Training
This training has been long seen as the cornerstone of the OI Program. This intense training focuses on teaching participants one-on-one communication skills, identifying and developing workplace leaders and having a strategy and a plan for workers to win, which are the core principles of union organizing.
Participants are given feedback to assist in their learning throughout the training and the sponsoring union will receive an official evaluation with recommendations suggesting next steps for training.
The Organizing Institute (OI) also runs a highly selective, paid training and placement program to match talented individuals, from a variety of backgrounds who want to be union organizers, with unions looking to expand their organizing programs. The OI offers participants a thorough look at a variety of unions so individuals are matched with the union most appropriate for them.
Campaign/Industry-Specific Training
The Organizing Institute (OI) offers industry/campaign specific trainings tailored to meet the needs of an individual union working on a particular organizing campaign. The training we provide for members, staff and volunteers ranges from basic one-on-one communication to more advanced organizer trainings. These trainings can be classroom and/or field trainings. The classroom trainings typically take place at the location of a campaign and the union is responsible for participants and for providing them a training site. The OI will provide training materials, staff and objective evaluations to the union following the training at no cost to the affiliate union.
The field training will take place on the campaign the organizer/member organizer is assigned to work. OI staff will work with the lead organizer and/or campaign director on the specific training needs of the organizer on the campaign. The OI staff will conduct a skills assessment of the organizer through classroom and field training observation and will discuss a development plan with campaign supervisors.
The OI has worked with national and local affiliates of the AFT, ATU, CWA, IBEW, TWU, IATSE, UAW, IAM and a number of other national, regional and local unions on industry-specific trainings. We have also worked with numerous AFL-CIO State Federations and Central Labor Councils across the country such as the Texas AFL-CIO, New Jersey AFL-CIO, Atlanta North-Georgia Labor Council, Central OK AFL-CIO and a number of others across the country to conduct OI 3-Day Trainings.
