IAM Women’s and Young Workers Director Julie Frietchen recently traveled to Alberta, Canada to conduct a training on Ending Violence Association’s Be More Than Bystander program for IAM Local 99 members and management at Finning, a tool and machine rental company, in Fort McMurray.
In January 2023, the IAM became the first labor group in the United States to be trained in the Be More Than a Bystander program when 19 male IAM staff members attended a three-day train-the-trainer course at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center.
Now, Frietchen is spreading the program across the IAM, most recently visiting IAM members at Finning Canada to teach two sessions, each with over 30 attendees. IAM District 14 Directing Business Representative Kyle Franzon and Business Representative Steve Luba welcomed Frietchen and attended the training as well.
“I just love this program and I am so happy to see its success in our union,” said Frietchen. “It’s one of the best harassment modules I have come across; it really connects the dots on how it’s a safety issue for everyone.”
Finning’s Fort McMurray site manager asked Frietchen to conduct the training for all employees after hearing about it from an IAM steward who had attended the class at the IAM’s William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center, where Frietchen is based.
Frietchen also took advantage of the opportunity to visit Finning’s other IAM-represented facility in Fort McKay and said she was thrilled to experience the workplace of Finning IAM members whom she’s built relationships with through the IAM’s educational programs.
“This was the first time I facilitated the training in Canada and I hope there is more to come,” said Frietchen.
“The ‘Be More Than A Bystander’ program, which was developed in British Columbia, has had unparalleled success in guiding employees through gendered harassment intervention,” said IAM Canada General Vice President David Chartrand. “Our union was the first union to adopt the program, and we will proudly team up with any employer to help IAM members and anyone else learn how to be more than a bystander when it comes to discrimination, especially in our workplaces.”
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