The Maine AFL-CIO would like to invite you to attend the Winter Labor Institute, a series of engaging and informative events in February and March to bring us together to learn, discuss, and grow our visions for our labor movement. You are welcome to attend all of these events, but you must register separately for each event you wish to attend. All events are on Zoom and links to register are in each event description. There is no charge to attend and all costs covered by the Maine AFL-CIO.
Zoom Training — Thursday, February 11th, 7 - 8pm
Need a boost to participate online? Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney will be holding a special one-hour Zoom training to give you the skills to be able to participate as fully as possible in the Winter Institute or other events that your union may be holding online during this time of social distance. Click here to register!President’s Lunch & Learn: Briefing on the PRO Act
Wednesday, February 17th — Noon - 12:50pm
Bring your lunch and join Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney to learn about the PRO Act. Bill Samuel from the national AFL-CIO will be with us to give an overview of the Act; what it will do; and how it will support unions, workers, and organizing. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.
Register for the PRO Act briefing and Q&A here!
Organizing & Winning in the Time of COVID
Thursday, February 18th — 6:30 - 8:30pm
In November's election, Portland, Maine passed an unprecedented series of referenda that advanced the conditions of workers, tenants, and unions in the city, despite being outspent 25-1. People inside and outside the People's First Portland campaign will present how they organized for these victories and how they worked in coalition across organization.
Click here to register and receive the Zoom link!
Medicare for All…How We Pay For It
Thursday, February 25th — 5-6pm
[caption caption="Maine Union members supporting Medicare For All." align="center"]
[/caption]Health care for all — everybody in, nobody out. Sounds good! But how do we pay for it? Join us to see how this program can work and become our health care reality. We’ll have a presentation by Katherine Isaac — Executive Director of Debs-Jones-Douglas Institute and member of the Labor Campaign for Single Payer committee — followed by Q&A and discussion.
Click here to register and receive a Zoom link!
Real Experiences: Racism and Discrimination in Maine
Thursday, March 4th — 6:30 - 8pm
What’s it like to stand out all the time as a person of color in predominantly white Maine and face discrimination? Meet members of the A. Philip Randolph Institute Maine Chapter, hear some of our stories, and, most importantly, tell your own. Let’s build the connections and understanding that will make Maine a good place for all.
Register for the “Real Talk” panel discussion here!
Showing of the Musical "The Moment Was Now" & Discussion with Playwright Gene Buskin.
Thursday, March 18th – 6:30 - 9pm
A rollicking yet serious musical play set in Baltimore in 1869, the musical “The Moment Was Now” focuses on the post-Civil War Reconstruction period and issues that are still relevant today. Featuring Frederick Douglas, Susan B. Anthony, and other important historical figures, this is a musical about and for workers. All ages welcome. The playwright, Gene Bruskin, will join us to introduce the play and for a discussion afterward. Watch a short trailer for the play here!
Register for “The Moment Was Now” play and discussion here!
Unions & Democracy with Maine Labor Historian Charlie Scontras
Thursday, March 25th — 6:30 to 8pm
Maine’s eminent labor historian Charlie Scontras and Maine AFL-CIO Communications Director Andy O’Brien will set the stage for our discussion with a look into the historical role of working class Mainers in strengthening democracy both in the workplace and in the state. We’ll see where the discussion goes from there!
Register for “Unions & Democracy” here.New Union Member Orientation Training
Friday April 9 OR Saturday April 10
How’s your union’s new member orientation? Engaging new members when they start at your workplace(s) is a crucial time to introduce them to your union. Many workers have not been in a union before. In some unions, you also are asking the new employee to decide to join the union. This workshop will go over best practices for your new member orientation, from developing it to giving it, and you will leave with tangible next steps to improve how your union welcomes new members to get them involved. Many union leaders have identified this as a weakness they want to improve. We’re partnering with the Worker Institute at Cornell to deliver this training over Zoom.
We’re looking forward to seeing you at our first ever Maine AFL-CIO Winter Labor Institute! For more information contact Cynthia Phinney 207-491-9928 or cynthia at maineaflcio dot org.