PEP/Human Relations Online

July 9, July 16, and July 23
Online via Zoom
Zoom link will be provided

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Online Training via Zoom

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Agenda

Tuesday, July 9

12:30–5 p.m. (ET)

Negotiations Track
Preparing for Negotiations: Collective Bargaining
Conducting Negotiations: Collective Bargaining

Human Relations – Introduction to Local HRC Track
Local Human Relations Committee: Getting Started
Local Human Relations Committee: Next Steps

Tuesday, July 16

12:30–5 p.m. (ET)

Union Leadership Track
Recruiting and Developing Leaders Part 1
Recruiting and Developing Leaders Part 2

Human Relations – Making Connections Track
Teamwork and Inclusion
Generational Differences

Tuesday, July 23

12:30–5 p.m. (ET)

Union Representation Track
Frontline Union Representative Basics
Introduction to Grievances

Human Relations – Going Further Track
Fire Station Facilities
Understanding Pregnancy and Parental Rights and Accommodations

Workshop Tracks

Negotiations Track (July 9, 2024)

Preparing for Negotiations: Collective Bargaining
The collective bargaining process allows you to negotiate for wages, benefits and other conditions of employment. To be successful at the bargaining table, you must thoroughly research and develop your strategy. In this workshop, you will learn how to set realistic goals for your membership and collect the data needed to support your case.

Conducting Negotiations: Collective Bargaining
Actively negotiating a contract is one of the most important functions IAFF affiliate leadership can perform for members and is the key ingredient in fire fighter–employer relations. In this workshop, you will learn how to create ground rules that benefit unions, participate in mock negotiation sessions and learn how to apply bargaining techniques.

Human Relations – Introduction to Local HRC Track (July 9, 2024)

Local Human Relations Committee: Getting Started
The IAFF recommends that every local establish a human relations committee. Establishing a committee is a proven way to help locals sort through the opportunities and challenges that diversity presents. It can assist locals in resolving conflict and developing a proactive strategy for change. In this workshop, affiliate leaders will learn about the benefits of having a local human relations committee and strategies for developing their own committee.

Local Human Relations Committee: Next Steps
Once you have developed your committee, you are ready for action. In this workshop, you will learn how to assess membership needs, develop and carry out long-term strategic plans, report progress to key stakeholders and devise strategies to fund your committee’s activities. In addition, you will explore strategies for forming a cohesive team of committee members and learning how to keep them productive and energized.

Union Leadership Track (July 16, 2024)

Recruiting and Developing Leaders (4 hours)
Your local relies on the strength of its members. Between dwindling active participation and your local’s organizational history retiring with past union leaders, it becomes harder to run an effective union. New leaders become involved when they understand the local’s core values and find a calling for their talents and passions. This class will provide current local leadership with a framework on how and why they should recruit and develop new leaders, strategies for reaching out across different generations, a brief overview of labor history to help new members understand the value of their membership, and a plan for mentoring rising leaders to carry your local into the next generation.

Human Relations – Making Connections Track (July 16, 2024)

Teamwork and Inclusion
Fire fighters put their lives and health at risk to save other people’s lives and property; they don’t stop to ask who lives in the burning building or for background information on the heart attack victim. At the same time, fire fighters need to bring that respect for community, diversity and ethics back to the firehouse, living up to their own – and their community’s – highest standards for providing a safe, diverse and respectful workplace. Similarly, a station house must be a place where teamwork standards live up to fire fighters’ – and their community’s – standards for fairness and transparency. This workshop helps examine what it means to be a good team member, how to make effective changes in individual behavior and how to build a culture of teamwork that respects and embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Generational Differences
Currently, there are as many as four generations employed and working side by side in fire departments throughout the U.S. and Canada. Each generation brings its own individual values and behaviors and these can be a source of conflict in the workplace. This workshop will examine each of the four generations in a humorous way, providing a better understanding of generational behavior, the value that each generation brings to the workplace, why conflict exists among them, and identify communications styles that work for each.

Union Representation Track (July 23, 2024)

Frontline Union Representative Basics
This workshop addresses the knowledge and skills involved in effectively enforcing contract provisions and representing workers’ rights with your fire service management and jurisdiction. It will introduce and explore the issues and best practices involved in handling grievances, enforcing contract language, and handling discipline issues. Additionally, this workshop reviews ways that key union personnel can inform membership on the benefits of union membership and active involvement.

Introduction to Grievances
The manner in which you process grievances will determine how quickly they are resolved and how your members will perceive you. A good understanding of the grievance process will better enable you to enforce the collective bargaining agreement and avoid costly arbitration hearings. In this workshop, you will learn how to evaluate and file a grievance, reduce your chances of receiving a DFR claim, and develop effective grievance strategies. This workshop is ideal for local union officers and grievance committee members who have limited experience with grievances.

Human Relations – Going Further Track (July 23, 2024)

Fire Station Facilities
Fire stations and fire halls are a historic and important aspect of the fire service and the community. They are meant to be a functional and efficient space for work, but they can also have a huge emotional and physical impact on those that work inside them every day. This course will explore how we appropriately honor traditions, while taking advantage of the improvements in health, resiliency, safety, diversity, and quality of work environment offered by evolving concepts in fire station design.

Understanding Pregnancy and Parental Rights and Accommodations
Members who become parents face increased demands on their time and resources. Local leadership need to help ensure that the local employing agency complies with applicable federal, state/provincial, and local laws, allowing these members the leave time and medical accommodation they need as they build their families. In addition, this workshop reviews how local leadership can advocate for family-friendly local policies and laws..