STW Activity

Activity Description

Suggested Actions

Internship Program for School Personnel

The Local Union or Joint Council arranges an opportunity for teachers and administrators, rather than students, to explore an industry or company to develop knowledge of workplace skill requirements. The internship can also be conducted in Local Union or Joint Council offices.

• Contact school personnel to discuss the possibility of establishing an internship for teachers in a local business and/or a union office setting.
• Identify and recruit teachers interested in participating in the internship program.
• Identify Local Union or Joint Council members interested in providing internship experiences for school personnel.

Curriculum Development

Union representatives work with educators at the school, school district, and state or regional levels to integrate curriculum that links with workplace knowledge and skills. This may also include introducing curriculum that specifically discusses the role and benefits of unions.

• Contact school personnel and offer to develop and/or review curriculum that supports students in the development of workplace knowledge and skills.
• Contact school personnel to discuss curriculum that specifically references the role and benefit of unions in America’s workplace.
• Develop curriculum on the role of unions and make it available to school personnel and/or volunteer to instruct these curriculum sequences.

Instructional Materials

Local Union works with educators to develop learning modules and other instructional products that support workplace knowledge and information about the history and role of unions in America.

• Develop informational products (e.g., flyers, brochures, etc.) that can be used to instruct students about the history and role of unions.
• Develop inexpensive products (calendars, rulers, pencils, etc.) that can be used as an incentive as well as an instructional tool.
• Use information from local’s history (newspaper articles, photographs, notable strikes, etc.) in the development of learning modules for students.

Industry Skills Standards

Local Union shares information with educators about industry skill standards and how the standards relate to the workplace. Help educators to integrate skill standards with academic standards and assessment strategies.

• Contact an industry association to find out what materials are currently available regarding standards for various types of jobs (e.g. commercial driver).
• Provide educators with feedback about the various types of academic and social skills that will be needed by students as they enter the workplace.

Advise on Union Industry Practices

Union provides information and support to counselors and teachers on current union industry practices. Union representatives help educators to understand the demands of the contemporary workplace and industry practices that have emerged as a result of changes in state and federal regulations and both union and business policies.

• Invite counselors and teachers to "shadow" union members to observe how workers perform their responsibilities in the modern workplace.
• Meet with educators to discuss how the "new economy" is changing the workplace and how union jobs are being impacted (e.g., "just in time" vs. e-commerce).
• Develop and disseminate a brochure or flyer that contrasts "old" and "new" ways of performing union jobs. Focus on changes which have resulted from major legislation (e.g., OSHA requirements) and union advocacy.
• Meet with educators to develop workshop or in-service training session that will provide them with up-to-date information about current industry practices.

Technology

Union provides educators with information and support to increase awareness and skill development of current industry technology. May provide access to technology and equipment.

• Invite counselors and teachers to "shadow" union members to observe how workers use technology (e.g. computers) to perform their responsibilities in the modern workplace.
• Meet with educators to develop workshop or in-service training session that will provide them with up-to-date information on how job practices have changed with the advent of new technologies.
• Develop a flyer or brochure that informs educators of the academic preparation necessary to help students use technology in the workplace.