This course aims to help union locals and building trades councils effectively plan their organizing activities and develop systematic strategies and tactics for effective business development campaigns.

This course covers the creation and implementation of a well-structured strategic plan. Participants will examine fundamental concepts in construction industry research, market and business analysis, and strategic planning for construction organizations. 

Participants will engage in interactive small-group exercises focused on developing a realistic case study, which will be presented on the final day of class.

Topical areas include: using research to inform strategy, campaign dynamics and laws, concerted protected activity, and house calling and debriefing.

In-person communication is the most effective method for building relationships with contractors and owners.

This course prepares building trades organizers to lead productive face-to-face meetings with construction contractors, policymakers, and end users, both within and outside the organizing context.

Participants review communication strategies and practice building relationships through one-on-one conversations.

Topical areas include closing deals and campaigns, preparing messages for public agencies, and effective communication strategies.

Recently, Facebook surpassed Google as the most visited and searched website in the world. Its user base has exceeded half a billion, which is approximately 30% of the world's population. The exponential growth of platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, X, and Bluesky highlights how communication has changed and expanded in recent years. 

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of social media, the current media landscape, and digital messaging. They will learn how to apply this knowledge to their organizing efforts, develop effective messages for members, workers, contractors, owners, the news media, and the public, and explore various tools and techniques for delivering those messages. 

Participants will explore the evolving landscape of social media and new media through a combination of presented information and real-life scenarios, learning how to apply this knowledge to their organization's organizing efforts.

Topical areas include: the power of storytelling, key features of social media, collaboration with traditional media, partnerships, and growth industries. Additional topics cover messaging on PLA/prevailing wage, utilizing media for organizing—highlighting the IBEW story—texting to mobilize and engage members, and specific applications of social media.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of organizing and business development in today's construction industry.

Participants will be guided in creating an organizing plan that includes targets identified through construction research, a campaign timeline and budget, and a strategy for identifying, contacting, and communicating with workers. Additionally, the plan will focus on identifying leaders and forming member committees.

Furthermore, this class will explore the evolution of organizing over time, with a special emphasis on the value proposition associated with a union workforce. This includes joint apprenticeship programs, codes of conduct, safety protocols, and other benefits for contractors and owners.

Topical areas include: Four x Four campaign dynamics and the law, concerted, protected activity, communications workshop: house calls, campaign planning, and strategic market research and analysis.

This course builds on topics learned in BTA 101, 102, and 103.

This course is designed for union officers and staff members involved in negotiating labor agreements with their signatory contractors.

The course focuses on the contract development process to meet the needs of union members. It includes a step-by-step guide for drafting initial proposals and gaining support during the ratification process. Participants will explore various alternatives for contract bargaining and the associated consequences.

Participants will also engage in discussions about legal cases and recent developments that influence collective bargaining. There will be emphasis on improving productivity and safety, as well as establishing joint Labor-Management Committees under the Labor-Management Cooperation Act of 1978.

In addition, contract negotiators will lead discussions to provide a deeper understanding of employers' perspectives. The legal framework for multi-employer bargaining in the construction industry will be thoroughly examined.

The course will conclude with a mock bargaining session in which students will actively participate.

Topical areas include: bargaining strategy, bargaining simulations, table tactics, labor law, contract negotiations in the construction industry, resource development, and ratification strategies.

Federal labor law includes specific provisions for the construction industry due to the unique nature of employment within this sector.

This course will cover the framework of labor law as it pertains to the construction industry and will guide labor leaders on how to effectively work with legal counsel to ensure fair labor practices. Experienced legal counsel specializing in construction labor law will teach the course, equipping participants to make informed decisions about organizing, collective bargaining, and seeking legal advice. 

Topical areas include: Access to construction worksites, recruitment and protected activities, picketing and legal implications, multi-employer bargaining rules, non-picketing communication, unfair labor practices, strikes, and recognition under Sections 8(f) and 9(a) of the NLRA. Additionally, the course will address hiring hall procedures, the duty of fair representation, fiduciary duties, and reporting requirements under the LMRDA.

This class focuses on leadership management specifically designed for new and emerging leaders within the Building Trades Council. Given the many challenges these leaders face today, the need for effective leadership has never been greater.

The course addresses issues unique to Building Trades Council leaders and includes formal management training, as well as opportunities for assistance and mentoring.

Participants will explore topics such as effective communication, community organizing, community power analysis, and coalition management.

By the end of this course, participants will have increased confidence and will have gained the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to serve effectively in leadership roles.

Key areas of focus include: Communication skills, best practices in community organizing, effective coalition management, and understanding fiduciary and legal responsibilities.

This class is a management and leadership course for Building Trades local union officials. Given the many challenges facing the Building Trades today, the premium on effective leadership has never been greater. Yet many new Building Trades officers take the responsibilities of the office with little in the way of formal management training, assistance, or mentoring. This class is designed to address the challenges specific to Building Trades local union officials.

In this class, participants will examine topics that include effective communication, community organizing, community power analysis, and effective management skills.

Participants will leave this course with increased confidence and the knowledge and skill necessary to meet their various roles and responsibilities more effectively.

Topical areas include: Strategic planning, budgeting, communication skills, budgeting, communications skills, labor-management reporting, effective political action, research, and market analysis, avoiding burnout and personnel management.

Leadership training specifically designed for women transitioning or planning to transition within their organizations is an effective way to "jump-start" the increasing number of women entering leadership positions in the construction industry. This course is structured as a 2-day training experience.

Participants will learn from female leaders about the personal and professional challenges as well as the opportunities involved in leading organizations that are predominantly male. They will also gain insights on how to effectively address these challenges using knowledge, skills, and best practices.

The course will provide participants with an introduction to key databases and data sources specific to the U.S. Construction Industry. Attendees will develop a foundational understanding of research tools and products, which will enhance their ability to engage with researchers in the future. By understanding what to realistically expect from strategic research support, participants will be better equipped to integrate its use throughout their organization.

In this course, instructors will showcase exemplary research-based campaigns and examine a variety of sources, including public data, construction market analyses, government databases, construction research organizations, and crucially, data from small, privately owned contractors. 

The course will be highly interactive, featuring presentations from organizers, researchers, and campaigners. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in breakout sessions focused on local and regional contracting or organizing strategies.

The labor movement and trade unions are currently facing the significant challenge of organizing workers within various immigrant communities. For example, in California, there are approximately 900,000 workers in the construction industry, with around 600,000 of them being Latino. To effectively staff more jobs across the country, trade unions must find and develop strategies to recruit a large number of new immigrants into their ranks.

In this course, participants will identify the challenges associated with organizing immigrant workers, explore successful strategies for growing our unions in markets dominated by immigrant labor, and review the legal and political frameworks relevant to organizing immigrant workers in the construction industry.

Dynamic Planning transforms the planning process by enabling organizations to swiftly adapt to changing market and industry conditions. This approach can be applied to a variety of internal and external challenges. The course emphasizes shorter-term actions compared to traditional strategic planning, focusing on tactical responses with timelines measured in months rather than years. The process is continuous, allowing for timely adjustments in a dynamic and evolving environment. It involves planning teams that meet regularly to monitor, evaluate, and solve problems.

In this course, participants will work on identifying and achieving a specific goal in their area of concern. Each team will create a Dynamic Plan that includes concrete action steps, which can then be implemented in their respective organizations.