About the Labor Center The Labor Center is located within The University of Iowa’s College of Law. Its mission is to provide educational programs and resources to Iowa workers and their unions. The Labor Center offers courses for union members on The University of Iowa campus. Each year we conduct a series of open-enrollment, non-credit short courses and seminars—see inside for this year’s calendar. We also travel to your union hall or community to provide classes on a wide range of topics which can be tailored to the needs and priorities of your union. Our staff can also provide research assistance and technical information to unions. Labor Center Staff Labor Educators Robin Clark-Bennett, robin-clark-bennett@uiowa.edu Matthew Glasson, matthew-glasson@uiowa.edu Paul Iversen, paul-iversen@uiowa.edu Jennifer Sherer, jennifer-sherer@uiowa.edu Support Staff Sarah Clark, Secretary, sarah-j-clark@uiowa.edu ILHOP Oral Historian John McKerley, john-mckerley@uiowa.edu The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, associational preferences, or any other classification that deprives the person of consideration as an individual. The university also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to university facilities. For additional information on nondiscrimination policies, contact the Director, Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity, The University of Iowa, 202 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242-1316; 319-335-0705 (voice); 319-335-0697 (TDD); diversity@uiowa.edu (email) What participants are saying about our 2016-17 programs... It was a great class. Our members stayed engaged and left with a wealth of new knowledge. It’s great to see the excitement of new leaders learn about labor. Labor Advisory Committee The Labor Advisory Committee regularly meets with Center staff to plan and promote labor education in Iowa. Current members: Stacey Andersen, International Representative, GMP Randy Boulton, Sub-District Director, USW District 11 Jesse Case, Secretary-Treasurer, IBT Local 238 Bruce Clark, President, Iowa Postal Workers Union (APWU) Ernie Colt, President, Western Iowa Labor Federation, AFL-CIO Building the labor movement through education Mark Cooper, President, South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Herb Copley, President, Iowa State Assoc. of Letter Carriers (NALC) Greg Cross, International Representative, UE I’m new to this and the class is giving me tools I can use. This class did a great job inspiring me to be a better union member. Great ideas on how to build a stronger shop. The team at the Labor Center does a great job with teaching and having the right instructors who know the subjects. Bill Gerhard, President, Iowa State Building & Construction Trades Council Robert Gilmore, Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer, IUPAT District Council 81 Cathy Glasson, President, SEIU Local 199 Joe Gorton, President, UNI United Faculty-AAUP Brad Greve, President, Great River Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO Roger Grobstich, International Representative, RWDSU Bill Hanes, President, IBEW Iowa State Conference John Herrig, Directing Business Representative, IAM&AW Dist. 6 Jerry Hobart, Business Manager, UA Local 125 We feel there is no better way to teach union values and develop new leaders than classes like today’s from the Labor Center. Danny Homan, President, AFSCME Council 61 Gregg James, National Vice President, Dist. 8, AFGE Coy Marquardt, Assoc. Director for Affiliate Services, ISEA Rafael Morataya, Executive Director, Center for Worker Justice Rick Moyle, Executive Director, Hawkeye Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO Doug Neys, President, Iowa Professional Fire Fighters (IAFF) Kay Pence, International Representative, CWA Ken Sagar, President, Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Brad Schwanda, International Representative and Region 4 Education Coordinator, UAW Midge Slater, President, Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans Lorri Walker, President, USW Local 444L Bob Waters, Staff Representative, UFCW Local 431 Charlie Wishman, Secretary-Treasurer, Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO The University of Iowa Labor Center 100 BioVentures Center, Room W130 Iowa City, Iowa 52242-5000 Ph. 319-335-4144 ● Fax 319-335-4464 E-mail: labor-center@uiowa.edu Web: https://laborcenter.uiowa.edu OPTION 1: Attend Classes at The University of Iowa Courses for Union Members, 2017-2018 presented in cooperation with the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO OPTION 2: Let the Labor Center Come to You Host a Labor Center Class Customized for Your Union Advanced Steward School ...................................................... Oct. 23-24 Labor Center instructors are available to travel to your community to conduct programs at times and places convenient for your members. Call to discuss setting up a class for your local union: 319-335-4144. Workers’ Compensation .......................................................... Nov. 13-14 Fees for Off-Campus Classes Public Sector Bargaining in Iowa ............................................ Sept. 25-26 Financial Officers’ School ....................................................... Nov. 30-Dec. 1 Collective Bargaining (private sector) .................................... Jan. 24-26 Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ....................................... March 8-9 Labor Short Course .................................................................. April 23-27 Information and Registration for Courses on Campus Courses held on campus feature instruction provided by Labor Center staff and university faculty as well as invited experts from the labor movement, the legal field, and relevant government agencies. Detailed fliers and registration information for each program will be distributed to mail-receiving officers and posted on our website prior to each program. Customized classes are offered to Iowa unions for a fee of $300 per day, plus the cost of materials. A reduced fee sliding scale is available to locals experiencing financial hardship. Call for information on out-of-state fees. Labor Federation Programs Under a unique statewide education program, each chapter of an AFL-CIO Iowa Area Labor Federation is eligible to receive financial sponsorship from the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, to hold up to four Labor Center classes per year. Contact the Labor Center for details. Please register at least 21 days in advance. Spanish and Multilingual Programs For more information or to register, call 319-335-4144 or visit https://laborcenter.uiowa.edu Classes may be delivered in multiple languages through simultaneous interpretation. Programming in Spanish is also available. Call for details. Standard per-person registration fees: one-day schools=$100 two-day schools=$175 three-day schools=$250 five-day schools=$375 Lodging options will be available either on site or at nearby hotels (lodging/meal costs are not included in registration fees unless specifically noted). English-Spanish interpretation is available for all programs with advance notice. Sample Class Topics Topics listed below are examples of classes offered to Iowa unions on a regular basis. The Labor Center also offers classes on a wide range of other relevant topics by request, and can customize or combine topics to create a course to suit your local union. Give us a call to discuss the possibilities: 319-335-4144. Arbitration Building Solidarity Building Trades Union Issues Child Labor Collective Bargaining Common Sense Economics Communication Skills & Strategies Disability Issues and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Discrimination Issues in the Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Ergonomics Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Health Care Immigration Internal Organizing: One-on-one communication, building membership, organizing around issues, etc. International Trade and the Global Economy Labor and Employment Law Labor History Mobilizing New Member Education Newsletters and Web Sites Media Outreach Organizing Parliamentary Procedure Political Action and Citizenship Privacy Issues in the Workplace Privatization, Outsourcing and Contracting Out Public Sector Union Issues Public Speaking Safety and Health: OSHA and other legal rights, safety committees, etc. Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Steward Education: Legal rights and roles, grievance handling, organizing, etc. Strategic Planning Workers’ Compensation in Iowa Young Workers/Emerging Leaders