The first part of the “Young leaders” training course took place in days 28.05 -01.06.2025 in Lublin (Poland). A total of three courses is planned. They are organized in cooperation with EZA and funded by the European Union.
This training was attended by representatives of workers organisations from Poland (NSZZ Solidarność and European Meeting Centre - Nowy Staw Foundation), Ukraine (Vost Volya), Albania (SAUATT) and Serbia (BOFOS). There was also present a representative of EZA as a main leader of this course. The total number of participants from the all above organizations is 20 people.
The training staff were:
Norbert Klein - Education Officer at the European Centre for Workers’ Questions (EZA)
prof. Jarosław Kucharski - Jesuit University Ignatianum in Kraków
prof. Piotr Duchliński - Jesuit University Ignatianum in Kraków
Mateusz Szymański - Head of the Foreign Office of the NSZZ ‘Solidarność’ National Commission
This training course has 3 days of 8 hours workshops – together 24 didactic hours. The course was started with an integration session and concluded with evaluation session during which everyone was asked to express their opinions about substantive program of the course and suggestions for the future trainings.
MAIN TOPICS
During this course attention was paid to the following aspects:
profile and mission of a good leader
distinguish between a leader and a manager
qualities of a good leader
European values and leadership in trade unions
role of values in attracting new members of trade unions
methods and ideas for recruiting new members - creating campaigns; stages of a good campaign
building unity
the role of collective agreements and methods of concluding them
proactive ways and methods of attracting new trade union members - use of modern media in the promotion of the trade unions
self-reflection on one's role as a leader
priorities and challenges facing trade unions
negotiation skills
distinguishing between values and needs of leader and workers
emotional intelligence as an important resource for leaders
taking care of your own well-being as a leader
METHODS
Trainers led - alongside the lecture style of work supported by Power PoInt presenations - many active methods, exercises and tasks – individual and in the small groups/ pairs. Examples of the tasks:
group tower building
forum/group/pair discussion – brainstorming
playing the role of leader and follower during the task of leading another person
(who had their eyes closed) around the room
role-playing – developing negotiating skills
video making – group work
creating promotional campaigns - group work
self-reflection and individual work – drawing, writing, answering question on the paper
analysis and discussion of the course of the activity and its results
CONCLUSIONS, POSTULATES, EFFECTS
regardless of the country, the challenges facing workers’ organizations are similar - a declining membership, difficulties in recruiting new members (lack of interest), and the loss of those who were involved (the situation in Ukraine)
a proposal put forward by participants: the need for professional psychological support for them, to counteract burnout and excessive mental overload
emphasizing the significant role of values also in context of European values – answer to the question “what are our values, what are our roots, what is our mission” – values make trade unions unique and also build the unity which is attractive for potential members
role of identity and values of a leader – how we can build our position and authority as a leader?
need to improve communication tools/methods and create an atmosphere of trust in our organizations and companies so that workers can talk to union leaders about their needs.
need to develop leadership skills - listening and negotiating skills, communication skills especially on the on the line: employer - leader, conflict resolution, digital skills - with special attention paid to social media management.
social media – as main tool of promotion of workers’ organizations among young generation; need to improve knowledge about modern ways of promotion in effective communication with Generation Z – as a task for us as representatives of trade unions; mutual understanding between different generations.
investing in young people to ensure the continuity of trade union work.
emphasizing self-improvement in the context of developing emotional intelligence as a key predictor of success in leadership.
a proposal to exchange good practices between organizations involved in the course – mutual learning and staying in touch.
role of educating workers about labour rights and their entitlements, as well as about the role of trade unions and the benefits of union membership, was emphasized.
proposal to create youth sections in unions where such sections do not exist.