UPSEU’s 15th Annual Basic Unit Officer & Steward Training drew the largest ever turnout of local unit officers from across Connecticut on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 forcing organizers to hold this year’s event at the Augusta Curtis Cultural Center in Meriden, CT instead of the much smaller Meriden Public Library where the training has essentially been held since its inception in 2004.
Matt Geer, Regional Director of UPSEU’s Meriden office opened this year’s all-day training session by welcoming the huge crowd of attendees and thanking each of them for being dedicated unit leaders before turning the floor over to representatives of Hearing Care Centers, a UPSEU vendor-partner, who specialize in offering hearing impaired members and their dependents discounts on hearing evaluations and selection, measurement fittings, repairs and technical assistance.
This year’s line-up of guest speakers also included Labor Relations Representatives and attorneys from UPSEU’s Meriden office each of whom spoke at length on a variety of collective-bargaining related topics such as the difference between a grievance and an unfair labor practice, the importance of knowing one’s collective bargaining agreement, investigating and prepping a grievance for arbitration, and the many benefits UPSEU offers members such as employee assistance, a scholarship program for dependents, a free accidental death & dismemberment insurance benefit valued at $10k as well as various entertainment, car rental, clothing and other discount plans all of which can be accessed through UPSEU’s recently upgraded website at www.upseu.org.
In addition to hearing from the many guest speakers, attendees of this year’s Basic Unit Officer & Steward Training received several helpful handouts, brochures and pocket guides to take back to their respective bargaining units covering youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Weingarten and Garrity Rights, standard grievance forms and important union contact information.
For first time attendee Paulette DeLeo, the training she received at this year’s event is invaluable in her capacity as Unit President for the Paraeducators of Stamford Association (POSA).
“I loved the training!” adding, “The training provided by UPSEU was another learning curve for me and I am now more knowledgeable to better serve our members,” said Paulette.
Doreen Denhardt, Unit President of Branford Town Hall Employees said she enjoyed the training particularly since it gave her an opportunity to interact with other unit officers & stewards from across the state and served as a reminder to her of the importance of being a UPSEU member.
“It was a great introduction and overview. I was glad to listen and talk to other members and hear some of the issues they are dealing with. Overall, it was a very motivating experience,” said Doreen.
Oxford Municipal Employee’s Unit President Kelly Weymer also said she enjoyed interacting with other UPSEU members and that although she is a regular attendee of UPSEU’s Basic Unit Officer & Steward Training, each year she learns something helpful she didn’t previously know.
“As a frequent attendee of the UPSEU basic steward training seminars, no matter how many times you attend you will always learn something new,” said Weymer, adding, “Not only did this [year’s training] bring an overwhelming feeling camaraderie, but it also shows the success of UPSEU. I am proud to be one of its members!”
Matt Geer, Regional Director, stated, “UPSEU is honored to have such dedicated unit leaders as was shown by this year’s attendance at our Basic Unit Officer & Steward Training. The role each of these unit leaders holds is invaluable to the success of their respective bargaining units as they work collaboratively with the assigned UPSEU Labor Relations Representative to best serve each of the members. I am confident that our recent training provided our unit leaders with the tools necessary to enforce their contract and defend their member’s rights on a day-to-day basis. UPSEU cannot thank each of our unit officers and stewards enough for all that they routinely do, which helps our organization continue to deliver the highest level of representation and be a true advocate in the workplace for our hard-working members.”
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