Union leaders, organizers or rank and file members looking to sharpen their skills can turn to two Chicago area universities where their labor education programs offer a variety of courses.
The University of Illinois Labor Education Program and the DePaul University Labor Education Center offer in-person and online courses designed to promote labor studies.
University of Illinois
The University of Illinois Labor Education Program (LEP) has long offered noncredit classes and now has an extraordinarily successful online labor studies program, enrolling nearly 2,500 students in 11 courses since spring 2008.
LEP offers practical courses for unionists such as “Grievance Representation” and “Union Organizing” where students work together on case studies to resolve real-life situations. Tuition for non-degree students is $933 per course, but unionists receive a scholarship and pay $706 per class. A “Certificate in Global Labor Studies” is available when unionists take six courses. Other courses offered in 2008-09 included: “Introduction to Labor Studies,” “Labor and Social Movements,” “Contemporary Labor Problems,” “Workers, Unions and Politics,” “Globalization and Workers,” “U.S. Working Class and Labor History,” “Union Organizing,” “Gender, Race, Class and Work.” In fall of 2009 new courses will include “Comparative Labor Unions,” and “Workers, Unions and the Media.”
“The online format offers tremendous flexibility that workers need,” said LEP Director Bob Bruno. “There are no classroom meetings. You don’t have to be logged on at any assigned time. For the first time many unionists, who couldn’t previously take classes because of work and family schedules, have the opportunity to take labor studies courses.”
In response to requests from union leaders, LEP now offers non-credit online courses at a reduced flat rate. They can be customized to meet unions’ specific needs.
Noncredit classes for unionists: Bob Bruno at (312) 996-291 or
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Online program: Steven Ashby at (312) 996-8733 or
DePaul University
Founded in the late 1940s, DePaul University’s Labor Education Center has trained thousands of Chicago area union leaders. The center offers a three-year labor leadership program as well as a number of short courses on topics such as leadership skills, communication, labor law and labor history.
Fall 2009 Class Schedule
(The earliest classes begin September 14. Call 312-362-5823 for course information.)
Intro to Labor Leadership
Teaching effective communication skills and the role of the organizer. The course includes an introduction to the Organizing Model of Unionism.
$650
Advanced Labor Leadership
Teaching organizing skills and economics for the trade unionist.
$650
Human Resources I – Health and Welfare Plans
An overview of Health and Welfare plans, plus factors to consider in benefit designs and evaluating plan alternatives.
$300
Illinois Public Sector Labor Law
This six week class will cover the two public employee acts, unfair labor practices, important labor board decisions and how to organize under the acts.
