The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) recently held its largest Women’s Leadership class to date at the Winpisinger Center. The event marked the final Women’s Leadership session under the direction of Julie Frietchen, who is transitioning to become the Director of the Winpisinger Center.
Julie Frietchen commented on the growth of the program, stating, “It’s very exciting news that the numbers are growing every year in these programs.” She noted 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 empower and educate female members of IAM, helping them strengthen leadership skills and increase their influence in workplaces and communities. Frietchen has led this program for three years and has mentored members to promote gender equity within IAM and the broader labor movement.
During the week-long session, participants attended workshops on organizing, collective bargaining, public speaking, communications, union leadership, political advocacy, and women’s history. The program also fostered connections among attendees and reinforced IAM’s commitment to supporting women’s participation in union activities and workplace decision-making.
As part of a communications exercise, the class developed an original post for IAM Union’s social media platforms, including Facebook and X (Twitter).
