The Next GenerationThe Next GenerationMentoring Future Union LeadersMentoring Future Union Leaders

A Joint VentureA Joint Venture

““I was one of the lucky ones…I was the I was one of the lucky ones…I was the beneficiary of hands-on guidance beneficiary of hands-on guidance from an array of members whose from an array of members whose experience helped point me toward experience helped point me toward 30 years of activism and leadership 30 years of activism and leadership in the labor movement. But, in my in the labor movement. But, in my case, it was just luck…”case, it was just luck…”

Linda Foley, Pres. Berger-Marks Foundation, Former Linda Foley, Pres. Berger-Marks Foundation, Former Pres. The Newspaper GuildPres. The Newspaper Guild

What Is Mentoring?What Is Mentoring?

What’s in it for you? The union?What’s in it for you? The union?

Where to begin?Where to begin?

Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop Objectives

Greek Philosophers Mentored their Greek Philosophers Mentored their students as did teachers in ancient students as did teachers in ancient Rome.Rome.

Since the labor movement began, Since the labor movement began, labor leaders have informally labor leaders have informally mentored mentored

For the individualFor the individual:: A relationship between a “mentor A relationship between a “mentor

(teacher) and a mentee (learner, (teacher) and a mentee (learner, protégé)protégé)

Relationship is devoted to developing Relationship is devoted to developing knowledge and skills for union knowledge and skills for union activismactivism

What is Mentoring?What is Mentoring?

What it’s NotWhat it’s Not

Does not guarantee advancementDoes not guarantee advancement Won’t give you “inside information”Won’t give you “inside information” Can’t stand alone: needs to be part Can’t stand alone: needs to be part

of a broader union commitment to of a broader union commitment to education, leadership developmenteducation, leadership development

Why Do Unions Need Why Do Unions Need Mentoring?Mentoring?

Makes union stronger over time Makes union stronger over time Gives seasoned activists feedback from less Gives seasoned activists feedback from less

seasoned membersseasoned members A two way street (information often goes in A two way street (information often goes in

both ways) so more seasoned can get info, both ways) so more seasoned can get info, tootoo

Increases union solidarityIncreases union solidarity Creates new activistsCreates new activists Additional reasonsAdditional reasons

What’s in it for the Mentee?What’s in it for the Mentee?

Helps develop skillsHelps develop skills Helps understand how the union Helps understand how the union

worksworks Can identify barriers to success and Can identify barriers to success and

map strategies to overcome themmap strategies to overcome them Helps to avoid political pitfallsHelps to avoid political pitfalls Can increase commitment to the Can increase commitment to the

unionunion

And for the Mentor?And for the Mentor?

Gain a sense of satisfaction from helping Gain a sense of satisfaction from helping othersothers

Learn from menteesLearn from mentees Develop own communication skillsDevelop own communication skills Learn to effectively give and receive Learn to effectively give and receive

feedbackfeedback Learn from mentee about issues not aware Learn from mentee about issues not aware

of previouslyof previously

Informal/FormalInformal/Formal

Formal:Formal: Structured (planned, Structured (planned, guidelines, rules)guidelines, rules)

Informal: Informal: AccidentalAccidental Unions historically tend to have Unions historically tend to have

informal mentoring programs informal mentoring programs

Informal MentoringInformal Mentoring

Relationship and process developed Relationship and process developed by two people involvedby two people involved

Some people do it without even Some people do it without even knowing itknowing it

Relationship has little or no guidance Relationship has little or no guidance from the unionfrom the union

Drawback: Doesn’t reach everybodyDrawback: Doesn’t reach everybody

Formal MentoringFormal Mentoring

UnionUnion sets up and oversees the sets up and oversees the program with some of these program with some of these components:components: How often mentor and mentee meetHow often mentor and mentee meet How long mentoring will formally lastHow long mentoring will formally last Keeps track of program, successes Keeps track of program, successes

Formal Mentoring, Formal Mentoring, LimitationsLimitations

Is the match working?Is the match working? Establishing trust can be difficult Establishing trust can be difficult

between two people who don’t choose between two people who don’t choose each othereach other

Guidelines can limit flexibilityGuidelines can limit flexibility

Solution:Solution: Program needs guidelines, but Program needs guidelines, but they can be flexiblethey can be flexible

Kinds of MentoringKinds of Mentoring

TraditionalTraditional PeerPeer Mentoring CirclesMentoring Circles

Traditional MentoringTraditional Mentoring

Set up with more experienced union Set up with more experienced union member serving as mentor and less member serving as mentor and less experienced member as menteeexperienced member as mentee

Knowledge primarily is expected to Knowledge primarily is expected to flow from the top-down, but, in a flow from the top-down, but, in a good mentoring relationship good mentoring relationship knowledge and communications flow knowledge and communications flow two ways.two ways.

Peer MentoringPeer Mentoring

Takes place between members doing Takes place between members doing similar union jobssimilar union jobs

Set up to learn from each otherSet up to learn from each other Can offer a different perspective Can offer a different perspective Provides a safe space for talking, Provides a safe space for talking,

sharing experiences sharing experiences

Mentoring Circle (Group Mentoring Circle (Group Mentoring)Mentoring)

Group meets regularly over a period Group meets regularly over a period of timeof time

One mentor and a group of menteesOne mentor and a group of mentees Peer mentoring can occur, tooPeer mentoring can occur, too Can create a network of contacts Can create a network of contacts Learning from one or multiple Learning from one or multiple

mentorsmentors

Internal/ExternalInternal/External

Most unions use internal – mentors Most unions use internal – mentors and mentees are in the same unionand mentees are in the same union

External might be useful for learning External might be useful for learning particular skills, especially if you particular skills, especially if you cannot identify people internally who cannot identify people internally who can teach a particular skill/s. Mentor can teach a particular skill/s. Mentor might come from another local, might come from another local, another level of the unionanother level of the union

Before Starting a Before Starting a Program…Program…

Important questions to answer:Important questions to answer: Does my local need a mentoring program?Does my local need a mentoring program? Is yes, what would its goal/s be?Is yes, what would its goal/s be? Who are the groups of members you want Who are the groups of members you want

especially to include in the program? especially to include in the program? New/uninvolved membersNew/uninvolved members Already active members (who could be Already active members (who could be

more active)more active) BothBoth

Important Questions (cont.)Important Questions (cont.)

Who are the people in the union Who are the people in the union who need to ok the program?who need to ok the program?

How can you reach these people? How can you reach these people? What do you need to say to win What do you need to say to win

them over?them over? Which type of mentoring program Which type of mentoring program

might be best for your union?might be best for your union?

Important Questions (cont.)Important Questions (cont.)

Who might be the mentees (be Who might be the mentees (be specific)?specific)?

Who might be the mentors (be Who might be the mentors (be specific)?specific)?

Check out Appendices to see what is Check out Appendices to see what is there and what you might need that is there and what you might need that is not there…not there…

Additional QuestionsAdditional Questions

How long will the program run? (6 How long will the program run? (6 months to a year is typical)months to a year is typical)

Time commitment of Time commitment of mentors/mentees?mentors/mentees?

How can union free up time?How can union free up time? Where will mentoring sessions take Where will mentoring sessions take

place?place?

What else to consider…What else to consider…

Focus on Women with Families and Focus on Women with Families and other under-represented groupsother under-represented groups

Listen to their particular needsListen to their particular needs Incorporate what’s learned to help Incorporate what’s learned to help

ensure they participate and complete ensure they participate and complete programprogram

Take child care, location, hours, Take child care, location, hours, language into consideration.language into consideration.

ChallengesChallenges

Making timeMaking time Generational differencesGenerational differences Gender differencesGender differences Racial/ethnic differencesRacial/ethnic differences

#1 Question#1 Question

What’s the first thing you will do What’s the first thing you will do about this when you get home? about this when you get home?

What will we do before you leave to What will we do before you leave to help get you started?help get you started?

For more information…For more information…

• Contact the Berger-Marks Foundation Contact the Berger-Marks Foundation bergermarks@gmail.com, 202-243-0133 to , 202-243-0133 to order additional copies (Copies of order additional copies (Copies of handbooks are free; there is a charge for handbooks are free; there is a charge for shipping for more than one handbook).shipping for more than one handbook).

• You can also download and copy the You can also download and copy the handbook at the Berger-Marks website, handbook at the Berger-Marks website, http://www.bergermarks.org/resources