Arnold M. Dubin Labor Education Center

The Labor Education Center connects UMass Dartmouth with the labor movement and local community through education, training, and programming focused on workers’ rights and social justice. We provide student internships and campus programs while supporting unions and labor councils with training in leadership, organizing, workplace technology, diversity, occupational health and safety, and other emerging workplace issues.

Through the statewide Labor Extension Program, the Center works with UMass Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell to provide training tailored to the needs of Massachusetts workers and unions. Our Workers’ Education Program offers English classes for Speakers of Other Languages, high school equivalency preparation, and other adult education opportunities. Based in downtown New Bedford, the program’s 20 staff members serve more than 200 students each year.

Since its founding, the Labor Education Center has expanded its work to address the connections between the workplace and broader community issues, including women’s workplace rights, the future of work and the global economy, organizing, labor history, and the dignity of work.

Your solidarity has been essential in expanding the labor movement’s impact in our communities and strengthening its presence in the workplace.

See what we do

Discover the people, stories, and events that reflect the Labor Education Center's work throughout the South Coast and beyond.

• Listen to the South Coast Working podcast about the issues shaping working life in Southeastern Massachusetts.
• Watch conversations, programs, educational resources, and highlights from the Labor Education Center's work with students, unions, and community partners.
• See the Labor Education Center in action through photos from celebrations, educational programs, cultural projects, student activities, and community events.

The UMass Dartmouth Dubin Labor Education Center recently celebrated its 50 anniversary with over 220 students, university staff and community members in attendance in New Bedford.  The Center was honored to present the Dubin award to AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.  Shuler leads over 15 million union members across the country in the pursuit of economic and social justice.   The award ceremony recognized UMassD retired Professor Dr. Dan Georgianna.  Dr. Georgianna coauthored The Strike of '28 book which was represented through a vignette of the play that was created from the book, held in the photo.

Areas of concentration

• Creating internships for undergraduates in labor history and labor/community organizing.
• Building member engagement and workplace action. 
• Building labor-community coalitions, with experience in transit justice, economic development, immigrant rights, and leadership development for women.
• Developing campaigns and direct actions led by veteran anti-poverty community organizers.
• Utilizing labor history and oral histories as tools for organizing.
• Leading labor cultural projects, including worker photography, theater, and labor history initiatives.