The Labor Studies Center
Institute for Research on Labor, Employment, and the Economy
University of Michigan
On-Site Courses:
Leadership and Skill Building Workshops
Collective Bargaining
Explore the negotiation process and how to build your package for negotiation, create a win-win situation, and conduct yourself as a negotiator. Learn internal and external factors that contribute to the negotiating climate.
Grievance Handling
Become an effective grievance handler. Learn all the steps of the grievance procedure, how to function as an agent for conflict resolution, and review your duties as an Educator, Organizer, Negotiator, and Counselor.
Insourcing/Outsourcing
Challenge the argument that contracting out results in cost savings and better quality products. Learn theory, legal issues, and a step-by-step method for analyzing product costs and preparing a union counterproposal.
Labor History
What conditions led to the sit-downs? Why was the Wagner Act created? How were unions organized and what can members do to ensure their unions' survival? Explore the unions' rich, exciting legacy.
Contract Interpretation and Labor Law
All you "workplace lawyers" need to attend this inspiring workshop on contract interpretation. Hear for yourself the facts concerning labor law; understand what contract language really means.
Parliamentary Procedure
Unions, corporations, and civic groups all use parliamentary procedure to run their meetings. Know when a motion is in order. Learn how to make a motion, new business, old business, majority and minority reports.
Train-the-Trainer
Future trainers, learn all the tools necessary to become an effective trainer and meeting leader, whether for your union or for civic groups. Practice public speaking, presentation, and facilitation skills.
Sexual Harassment
Know which interactions constitute a violation of the sexual harassment laws. Everything you need to know to avoid appearing in court or in a grievance procedure as a defendant in a sexual harassment charge.
Cultural Diversity
America is a melting pot and so is your workplace. Learn cultural sensitivity through cultural awareness. Learn to appreciate the differences between people. Take the diversity awareness profile and see where you stand.
The cost of each workshop is $200 per participant. For those union members who have tuition assistance programs, all workshops are tuition-assistance (ETAP, TAP) approved and there is no out-of-pocket cost to the participants. Workshops are held once a week for six weeks, for a total of eighteen (18) contact hours per workshop. Participants must attend five of the six sessions in order to receive a certificate.
Contact Skip Turner (734.764.6395,
skimale@umich.edu) at the Labor Studies Center or e-mail
LSC.Info@umich.edu if you are interested in having us provide one of the above workshops (or other topics, call for more information) at your local union hall or other site. We need a minimum of 15 participants per class to run a workshop.
