BMWED Education Department Training Opportunities

This page will change often, as training opportunities are updated. Check back frequently to see upcoming training events, view self-guided learning options, or to register for online webinars.

For further resources to support training you conduct at your Lodge, System Division, Federation, or Department, please contact Ash Anderson at education@bmwe.org or visit our online Education Department Library.

Online Educational Videos

Secretary-Treasurer Instructional Videos

On Our Way - Shortlines: Railway Labor Act (RLA)

On Our Way - Shortlines: Designated Legal Counsel (DLC)

Recording of Zoom webinar, "Being a Lodge Secretary," from Aug. 15, 2023

Recording of Zoom webinar, "Understanding the Railway Labor Act," from May 22, 2024

In-Person Training Events (Joint or Collaborative)

BMWED partners with a variety of organizations to offer training to our members. We link to external organizations and third-party websites as part of offering educational tools and resources for our members. BMWED does not warrant, endorse, guarantee, or assume responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of any information offered by third-party websites linked through this Training Opportunities page, or any website or feature linked in any banner or other advertising. 

Teamsters Training Opportunities

The Training and Grants Department of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters conducts various in-person training within the Teamsters Leadership Academy (or TLA) throughout the year. Topics vary but include training on organizing, communications, strategic planning, administration, and more! The Teamsters Safety and Health Department also works with Training and Grants to also offer training opportunities specific to our workplace safety and on-the-job issues, including Hazardous Materials awareness and response, heat stress, OSHA safety standards, and more!

Participation in the TLA may require coordination or approval from your Lodge, System Division/Federation, Department, of from National Division, depending on how your participation is funded. While the TLA themselves may have no fee, your wage reimbursement, travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals may require prior approval handled at the appropriate level. If you are interested in attending one of these TLA classes, please coordinate that with the appropriate funding or approving organization within BMWED (your Lodge, your General Chairperson, your Department, etc.).

Teamsters Leadership Academy

Teamsters Safety and Health Department E-Learning Hub (Moodle)

Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program

In-Person Events (Railroad Retirement Board Pre-Retirement Seminars)

Thinking of retiring soon?

The Railroad Retirement Board's Office of the Labor Member offers a series of pre-retirement seminars to help educate those nearing retirement about the benefits available to them, and what they can expect during the application process.

This popular program has become a valuable resource to RRB customers and employees alike. It helps promote a better understanding of our benefit programs among the railroad community, and in turn, improves the effectiveness of our benefit program operations.

The RRB's field service representatives conduct each Pre-Retirement Seminar using a slide presentation covering the various benefits provided retired rail workers and their families. Seminar attendees receive a retirement kit full of informational handouts and other helpful materials. Online and downloadable versions of items included with seminar kits are available on the RRB's Educational Materials webpage.

In-Person Education Department Events

2025 Lodge Officer Learning Labs

Our 2025 Lodge Officer Learning Lab venues and dates have been selected! Our Lodge Officer Learning Labs bring BMWED members and Local Lodge officers together from around our country. Instead of passively receiving lectures on important topics, our participants get hands-on practice working with fellow Lodge officers and members in scenario-based, small-group exercises that relate to their work at the local Lodge level.

While we are still updating this year's content, it will follow the same general agenda as last year. Participants in our 2025 Learning Labs can expect:

• Training on how to set more effective Lodge meeting agendas that align with our BMWED Ritual and Order of Business in ways that help your Lodge get real work done!

• Guidance on how to apply BMWED Bylaws to your Lodge's business, your members' rights, and your responsibilities as a BMWED officer.

• Practice using parliamentary procedure to ensure fair, open, and productive debates within your Lodge.

• Practice on navigating challenges with completing Lodge financial reports or Quarterly Audit Reports, as well as learning how these valuable reports keep our union in compliance with federal laws and regulations.

• Practice in presenting important information about our union, our rights and benefits, or our challenges and campaigns to your fellow members.

• Hands-on work that ties the work of your local Lodge to how our union conducts nationwide campaigns in Safety, Organizing, Government Affairs, and more!

• A chance to discuss important questions and topics with senior BMWED leaders.

To apply/enroll for this year's Learning Labs, email your General Chairperson, copying education@bmwe.org. Put "2025 Learning Lab Enrollment" in your email's subject line!

Northeast Region Learning Lab - Pittsburgh, PA - May 6-8, 2025

Northwest Region Learning Lab - Omaha, NE - July 8-10, 2025

West Region Learning Lab - Salt Lake City, UT - September 16-18, 2025

South Region Learning Lab - Atlanta, GA - October 14-16, 2025

CHECK OUT A VIDEO FROM OUR LAS VEGAS LEARNING LAB!

 2025 Advanced Officer Training

Our 2025 Advanced Officer Training will include an in-person training event at our union headquarters in Novi, MI for full-time BMWED officers and staff. This training will give participants a chance to sharpen skills or tackle more advanced concepts and theory behind those skills, helping them better represent and support our members as we all work together to build a stronger union!

Participants in our 2025 Advanced Officer Training can expect:

• Demonstrations and hands-on practice using BMWED information and technology platforms, as well as other tech. we use in membership maintenance, communications, and other jobs.

• Scenario-based training to develop skills and techniques we use to better represent our members facing disciplinary investigations.

• Practice on coordinating actions at multiple levels or across several BMWED Lodges. These scenario-based exercises will sharpen our leaders' skills to effectively manage information and coordinate BMWED campaigns.

• Tools and resources to sharpen our leaders' written communication and group presentation skills.

In-person training will dovetail with self-guided Learning and new peer-to-peer learning groups and mentoring activities for our full-time officers.

To apply/enroll for this year's Advanced Officer Training, email your General Chairperson, copying education@bmwe.org. Put "2025 Advanced Officer Training" in your email's subject line!

BMWED Advanced Officer Training - Novi, MI - April 22-24, 2025

Online Events

The BMWED Education Department offers a lot of training as online events, to allow members all over our country to participate right from home! Some events require registration, while others are open-access meetings. Look at the offerings below to learn more about each.