Women's Committee Meeting January 21, 2026 6PM-7PM

What is the LEADS Program?

The LEADS program stands for Leadership Excellence Assembly of Dedicated Sisters. iamdistrict250.ca+3d70iam.org+3IAM Union+3
It is an initiative of IAM aimed at preparing women (referred to in IAM’s wording as “Sisters”) for leadership positions within the union—e.g., roles such as Business Representatives, Directing Business Representatives, President/Directing General Chairs, etc. IAM Union+2d70iam.org+2
The program is a mentoring/training initiative that combines formal education, on-the-job training (mentoring and shadowing), and networking among women members across IAM districts. IAM Union+1
It is developed, according to IAM, in collaboration between the Women’s & Human Rights Department and the William W. Winpisinger Education & Technology Center (the union’s educational/training facility) to meet field-needs across local, district and Grand Lodge levels

IAM leadership recognized that although women made up a growing portion of the workforce (the union cites “women now make up 57% of the workforce” in one article) the representation of women in higher union leadership roles was lagging. IAM District 141
The union noted that while women had significantly increased participation at local/district levels, their presence among business reps and general chairs remained disproportionately low. IAM Union
The goal is to build a “deeper bench” of strong union leaders who better reflect the union’s membership demographics and ensure IAM’s future relevance.

Some of the key components include:

Monthly education/career programs: Participants engage in planned training covering topics such as union governance, grievances, collective bargaining and negotiations. IAM Union+1
On-the-job shadowing/mentoring: Participants shadow experienced union leaders to understand daily operations, workplace interactions, and leadership responsibilities. For example, one cohort visited an airport station and shadowed a General Chair in support of their development. IAM Union
Networking across districts: Women from various districts and locals participate, share obstacles, brainstorm solutions and build support networks. IAM District 141+1
Accessible to varying lodge sizes: The program is being designed to serve both large and small districts/locals, and to consider accessibility and affordability.

The program is targeted at female IAM members (“Sisters”) who are interested in leadership roles within the union structure. IAM Union
It appears to be open to women at local lodge level who show interest in stepping into leadership (either locally or higher). For example, one article mentions IAM Sisters being encouraged “to contact your District leadership about the LEADS Program.” IAM Union
Districts are expected to nominate or establish assemblies of participants (e.g., at least four women from each district in one reference) who then undergo the training and mentoring program. IAM Union

Promoting women’s leadership in trade unions is important both from a fairness perspective (ensuring the union leadership reflects its membership) and from a strategic perspective (diverse leadership is better able to adapt, represent members and maintain relevancy).
It signals IAM’s intention to not only include but elevate women to key decision-making roles in union structure.
For individual women members, it offers a pathway to develop leadership skills, understand union governance, build professional networks, and potentially advance into higher union positions.
For local lodges, district lodges and the Grand Lodge, the program provides a structured way to groom and support upcoming leadership, ensuring institutional continuity.

If you (or someone you know) are a female member of the IAM and interested in the LEADS program, here are some steps you can take:

Contact your District Lodge leadership (or Women’s & Human Rights Department within IAM) and ask about the current status of the LEADS program in your district.
Express your interest and ask about eligibility criteria (for your specific district), application or nomination process.
Ask about the training curriculum, schedule, costs (if any), mentoring/shadowing components, and time commitment required.
Seek feedback from alumni or participants in your district — see what their experience has been, what benefits they’ve gained, and any challenges they faced.
Prepare — since the program aims to groom leaders, think about your leadership goals: what roles you’re interested in, your current involvement in your lodge/district, and what experiences you may need (e.g., grievance handling, contract bargaining, local governance).