CLEVELAND, January 29 — Due to overwhelming demand, the BLET Education & Training Department announced that a waiting list has been created for a second Local Chairman workshop in 2007.
The Local Chairman’s workshop that was announced on January 26 became completely full on January 27, less than 24 hours after it was announced. The rapid sell out is a first in the history of the Education & Training Department. The 25 Local Chairmen who registered are confirmed for the March 18–23 workshop in Champaign, Ill., at the University of Illinois.
Of the 25 Local Chairmen who registered, 23 are new Local Chairmen as of January 1, 2007, one has seven months of experience, and one has 11 months of experience. A workshop of all new Local Chairmen is also a first in Education & Training Dept. history.
Local Chairman interested in getting on the waiting list must do so online at https://www.ble-t.org/lc.
The workshops will include BLET organizational structure and functions, representing members at disciplinary and decertification hearings, union leadership skills, claim and grievance handling, and writing and editing skills. Participants also will learn how to effectively use the BLET arbitration database. A highlight of the workshop is when attendees participate in a simulated disciplinary hearing.
If a second workshop (and a possible third) is held, preference will be given to new Local Chairmen on a first come, first served basis, which was also done with the March 18-23 workshop. This is due in part to the large number of new Local Chairmen who were elected during the recent Triennial Elections. Vice Local Chairman are still encouraged to register, with the understanding that they will be put on a waiting list and will be given a slot in the class if there is room available. Class size will be limited to 24.
If you have any questions, please contact Ken Kroeger, Special Representative and Coordinator of the Education & Training Department, at Kroeger@ble-t.org or call (216) 272-0986.