WHO WE ARE
Southeast Michigan has long been on the forefront of labor and education. CLCS brings the whole movement into one room.
The Center for Labor and Community Studies at University of Michigan - Dearborn enhances the broad array of leadership and engagement programs already taking place here by connecting the University of Michigan to working people in Michigan and beyond. CLCS started as the Labor Studies Center in 1957. With nearly 70 years of experience in unionism, labor relations, and workers rights, we're dedicated to education, research, and programming that empowers Michiganders to keep pace with the changing global economy by making our rights accessible.
WHAT WE DO
CONFERENCES
CLCS offers six yearly conferences, most of which run from a Thursday through Saturday. Our conferences offer a variety of weekend-long workshops, keynote speakers who are leaders in the communities they represent, and opportunities for networking. All our conferences are eligible for TAP.
SYMPOSIUMS
Symposiums are free, two-hour courses offered throughout the year on a wide variety of topics, including things beyond the realm of workers rights. They are offered via Zoom and they are also recorded and archived so you can learn even if you miss the event.
SHORT COURSES
Short courses meet once a week for six weeks, with each class being 2-3 hours depending on your course. These courses are a great way to get in-depth knowledge on a specific topic. They're usually taught in-person or hybrid with a limited number of slots, so make sure to register. Short courses are eligible for TAP.
NEED US TO COME TO YOUR LOCAL?
CLCS is happy to provide in-office trainings on many topics. To schedule a training, please email clcs.info@umich.edu.
ORGANIZER NETWORK New!
The Organizer Network is a community of and for union organizers. The network provides support, educational opportunities, and a peer network for those building the labor movement through external and internal campaigns.
The Organizer Network is open to union staff and workers who are engaging others to form unions for the first time, or to strengthen existing unions covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
CONFERENCES
UPCOMING: Latina/o Worker Leadership Institute
September 21-23, 2023
The Latina/o Worker Leadership Institute invites all workers, union or non-union, and activists from allied organizations to share ideas and grow skills for responding to the challenges facing Latina/o working persons and learn about Latina/o culture. We welcome participants from all genders and all cultural or ethnic backgrounds.
SYMPOSIUMS
UPCOMING: New Symposiums Coming Soon
Date TBD
New symposium offerings are anticipated for Fall 2023.
Financial Planning for Workers
Getting Workers Comp (& Avoiding Litigation)
SHORT COURSES
UPCOMING: Safety in the Workplace
September 28 - November 2, 2023
Weekly on Thursday Nights (5PM - 8:30PM)
This new short course by Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Specialist B.M. Folks will cover EHS within unions, EHS history and how unions helped to shape OSHA and present day, EHS rights afforded to everyday workers, EHS advocacy, and EHS within collective bargaining agreements. Registration is limited, so make sure to register soon! This course is TAP eligible.
ORGANIZER NETWORK
UPCOMING MEETING: September 12, 2023
Calling all labor organizers and activists! Do you want to help establish what the Organizer Network is going to look like? Then come to the very first Organizer Network meeting on September 12. Beyond finalizing a framework for the Network, this first meeting will be a place to get to know each other and brainstorm who else should be in the room as we go forward.
The meeting will take place in the evening after work hours. Food will be provided.
