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.
CONFERENCES
Latina/o Worker Leadership Institute
September 26-28, 2024
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.
SHORT COURSES
UPCOMING: Grievance Arbitration
November 9- October 13
This comprehensive short course by Greg Drudi will provide participants with a foundation of grievance and arbitration procedures and how employee rights have evolved via legal, contractual, judicial, and political interventions. You'll deep-dive into the grievance machinery and gain knowledge to determine and justify whether a grievance should proceed to arbitration.
SYMPOSIUMS
Click on the link to watch CLCS Past Symposiums
Upcoming Meetings
Organizer Network Meeting: July 13, 2024
Calling all labor organizers and activists! Do you want to meet other labor activist and union organizers, learn tricks of the trade, and brainstorm new and improved organizing strategies? Come to the Organizer Network meeting. The Network is meant for both new and seasoned organizers, so don't be shy. We'd love to have you!
Click HERE to access the May 2024 presentation and materials from Sugar Law Center's Tony Parish on Your Rights to Political Speech in the Workplace and Your Right to Protest.