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 led by Julie Frietchen in her current role as IAM Women’s & Young Worker’s Director before she transitions to become Director of the Winpisinger Center.
“It’s very exciting news that the numbers are growing every year in these programs,” Frietchen said. 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 help IAM women develop leadership abilities and increase their influence in workplaces and communities. Frietchen has led the program for three years and has spent additional time mentoring members to promote gender equity within the union and in the broader labor movement.
During the weeklong session, participants attended workshops covering organizing, collective bargaining, public speaking, communications, union leadership, political advocacy, and women’s history. These activities helped participants build relationships and reinforced the IAM’s commitment to giving women a voice in workplace decisions.
As part of a communications exercise, the class produced an original post that will be shared on the IAM Union’s social media accounts on Facebook and X (Twitter).
