The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) recently held its largest Women’s Leadership class to date at the Winpisinger Center. This event marked the final Women’s Leadership class under the direction of Julie Frietchen, who will soon take on the role of Director at the Winpisinger Center.
Julie Frietchen commented on the significance of the event, stating, “It’s very exciting news that the numbers are growing every year in these programs.” She also mentioned that there was a waitlist for the class, which included IAM women from both the United States and Canada.
The Women’s Leadership program aims to equip IAM women with leadership skills to help them influence their workplaces and communities. Frietchen has led the program for three years and has worked to mentor members and promote gender equity within the IAM and the broader labor movement.
During the week-long program, participants attended workshops covering topics such as organizing, collective bargaining, public speaking, communications, union leadership, political advocacy, and women’s history. The event also provided opportunities for participants to form connections and reinforce the IAM’s commitment to giving women a voice in workplace decision-making.
As part of the communications training, the class developed an original post for IAM Union’s social media platforms, including Facebook and X (Twitter).
