Indiana Organizing Academy

Internal organizing is a local union building up its strength to face challenges that may impact current members and the sector they represent. The challenges include political and economic challenges to raise or maintain standards for workers, and/or worker education and leadership development.

One-on-one conversations and planning are essential. Internal organizing gives relevance to the locals in their relationships with the employer, the members they represent and their community. Internal organizing is the cornerstone of a strong local.

It is the bedrock of the labor movement for mobilization, worker engagement and community participation. It is the best tool to fight the anti-worker trend.

Over the past year, the OI has been working with a number of AFL-CIO state federations, central labor councils (CLCs), and other allies to build out a game-changing Train-the-Trainer Program to deliver quality trainings and grow the labor movement. We have developed a very rigorous training program for state federation and CLC staff to be able to scale up their on-the-ground union building operations. State federations and CLCs already have run several trainings under this new initiative.

Our premise—to increase union density (currently hovering around 11.5%)—is that we need to organize nearly 1 million new members annually. To do that, we must eventually and adequately tool up more than 5,000 member activists and staff organizers annually for workers to WIN big fights and grow the labor movement. We are intent on doing just that!

The Organizing Institute can assist AFL-CIO affiliated unions and local bodies with their staff and member training needs through partnered in-person and remote training. If you’re interested in collaborating on a training for your organization, please complete our Training Interest Form. After we receive your information, we will reach out to discuss technical support and COVID-19 safety protocols.

Upcoming Trainings in Indiana:

May 20-22 Bedford, IN - Register HERE

931 15th Street, Bedford, IN 47421

Join us for our Indiana Organizing Academy in the Southern Indiana Area Labor Federation!

Please join us for a three-day intensive workshop focusing on internal organizing where we will practice our organizing principles to strengthen our local unions and the overall labor movement in Indiana. We will also go over our Labor 2023 program and get folks ready with workshops on mobilization and outreach. We will be going over our election priorities, toolkits and other resources as well.

TBD Kokomo, IN - Register HERE

Join us for our Indiana Organizing Academy in the Howard County!