Purpose of the program is to provide a structured and progressive training curriculum for District activists and representatives. Using a graduated series of courses designed to develop and build members’ skills, the program will lead to three levels of certification issued upon completion of specific skills-building training sessions.

The program is intended to allow District activists to attend training in convenient locations and is in addition to current Multi-District and other AFGE-wide training programs. Training sessions are to be held two times each calendar year over a five-day period. District and AFGE subject matter experts as well as third party officials and agents will provide training.

Three levels of certification are intended. Representative, Level One, Representative, Level Two and Advocacy Specialist. Upon completion of the required courses of training and experience for each level, the District will issue a formal certification of competency to the member. The District Office will maintain a database of training attendees and when the member completes the required number of courses, a certification will be sent the member with a notice to the Local.

Representative Level One. The course content will focus on representation and organizing fundamentals.

A: Stewards' Seminar 2 1/2 Days Duration

Seminar content includes:

--Structure of AFGE

--Leadership Skills

--Weingarten

--Formal Discussions

--Grievance Investigation

--Grievance Writing

--Information Gathering under Particularized Need

--Grievance Presentation

A member of the District Staff will facilitate the Stewards’ Seminar

B: Membership Seminar 1 Day Duration

Seminar content includes:

--Organizing and Official Time

--New Employee Orientation Strategies

--Fundamentals of Organizing

--Organizing Planning

--Membership Benefits

--Practical Exercises in "one-on-one", "issue organizing" and the

"Lunch and Learn" Technique

A member of the District Staff will facilitate the Membership Seminar

C: Basic Unfair Labor Practice Issues 1 Day Duration

Training content includes:

--Elements of Unfair Labor Practices

--ULP's and Grievances

--The Role of the Federal Labor Relations Authority in ULP's

--ULP Processing Procedures

--Hearings and Settlement Processes

A Federal Labor Relations Authority agent will provide the Unfair Labor Practice Issues training.

D: Duty of Fair Representation 1/2 Day Duration Training content includes:

--Duty of Fair Representation Defined

--Duty within the Negotiated Grievance Procedures

--Duty within other, third-party, forums

--Potential violations of the Duty of Fair Representation

A Federal Labor Relations Authority agent will provide the Duty of Fair Representation training.

Representative Level Two. The course content will concern the principles and procedures related to the various third-party forums with primary focus on those matters. Practical application of the principles and procedures vial "mock" hearings will be provided during Level Three training.

A: Equal Employment Opportunity Complaints and Processes 2 Days Duration

Training content includes:

--Federal Sector Regulations governing EEO

--Equal Employment Opportunity complaints

--Burdens of proof

--Complaints processing

--Remedies and damages

--Hearings, filings and procedures

--Appeals

Equal Employment Opportunity Complaints and Processes training to be provided by either AFGE or EEOC subject matter expert

B: Merit Systems Protection Board Appeal and Processes 2 Days Duration

Training content includes:

--Federal Regulations governing MSPB processes

--Appealable issues

--Appeals vs. grievances

--Appeal procedures

--Discovery procedures

--Hearing procedures

--Douglas Factors

--Defenses

Merit Systems Protection Board Appeal and Process training to be provided by either AFGE or MSPB subject matter expert

C: Grievance Arbitration 1 Day Duration

Training content includes:

--Role of the Arbitrator

--Witness preparation

--Framing the issue(s)

--Opening statement

--Arbitrability issues

--Presenting the case

--Direct and Cross-examination

--Closing statements and briefs

An arbitrator experienced in Federal Sector procedures will provide arbitration training

Advocacy Specialist. The training will consist of a review of hearing procedures and practices with practical, "mock" hearing exercises led by an arbitrator. Participants will be assigned to prepare and present a hearing at arbitration with an end-of-session critique. One or more arbitrators will present the training. In order to participate in this training, the participant will need to have some experience with third-party processes or be recommended by the Local President.

Training content includes:

--Arbitration "Do's and Don'ts"

--Procedures review

--"Mock" arbitration

--Critique 5 Days Duration

Considerations related to this plan are:

--In order to get the certifications described, participants must take the courses at each level.

--The first training session will include all three level courses and participants should attend the level course which most-closely relates to their current experience. However, in order to gain the certifications described, participants must attend all the courses at each level.

--Our goal is to have a standardized, sequential training program available for our District's activists. Advance pre-registration for the various courses will be essential so that proper plans can be made.

--Registration costs will be kept as low as possible, generally only to cover the expenses of breaks and, if necessary, meeting rooms. Attendees' Locals will need to cover the cost of lodging, travel and meals.

--Presently, training locations are planned to be at Solomon's Island, Maryland and at another location decided by District Local leadership.