Labor Extension Program
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Union leaders from AFSCME, AFT, and SEIU participated in our three-session program. Stay tuned for our next series. The Center offers these open-enrollment courses on demand.
Topics Included Were
- The various roles of a steward
- One-on-one conversations with fellow members
- Internal organizing
- New member orientation
- Elements of grievance handling
At UMass Dartmouth, the Labor Extension Program has been very active, working directly with unions and other workers and community organizations. We are here to help building organizations through skills training, strategic planning, and technical support. The core of our work is leadership development to build strong, democratic organizations.
Since 1995, the University of Massachusetts statewide Labor Extension Program has provided hands-on training and technical assistance to workers, union members and community organizations to help them fully and effectively represent an increasingly diverse membership, to train a new generation of union leaders to face the challenges of the future, and to prepare all workers, organized and unorganized to exercise their full rights in the work place and the community.
What is the Labor Extension Program?
Since 1995, the University of Massachusetts statewide Labor Extension Program has provided hands-on training and technical assistance to workers, union members, and community organizations. This program is based on the UMass campuses at Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell. The program's goal is to provide non-credit training and education to workers, their unions, and other workers' organizations. Our focus is on strengthening these organizations and increasing activism. We help build the skills necessary to effectively advocate for the workforce's needs and concerns and to organize the unorganized.
How does the Labor Extension Program Work?
We offer programming in a variety of formats for individual unions, central labor councils, community-based organizations, and individual union members and community activists. Our offerings include short courses, workshops, seminars, conferences, and special programs on a broad range of subject areas. We contract with unions and other workers' organizations to custom-design programs for their members, officers, and staff. We also offer open enrollment programs that anyone may attend for a small fee. We also provide assistance and support to labor organizations in developing and delivering their own educational programs.
What Kinds of Programs do we offer:
See the list below for workshop topics, classes, and technical assistance we offer. If you don't see your subject heading below, contact us, as this list is not exhaustive.
- Stewards Training
- Union officers training
- Leadership Development
- Getting Members Involved: Internal Organizing
- Organizing the Unorganized
- Popular Education
- Contract Bargaining
- Building Effective Campaigns
- Internet Corporate Research for Organizing and Bargaining
- Strategic Planning
- The Future of Work
- Media Strategies
- Economic issues for unions and working people
- Political Issues/Political Action
- The Public Sector
- Globalization/International Issues for Working People
- Immigration
- Diversity/ Fighting Discrimination
- Sexual Harassment
- Workplace Bullying
- Health and Safety
- Labor History
- Public Speaking
- Running Effective Meetings
- Workers' Rights
- Basic Labor Law
- Basic Unionism
Labor Extension Coordinators
Around the state, the Labor Extension Coordinators are divided by region and work jointly across the state.
UMass Amherst
Clare Hammonds
413-545-6166
UMass Dartmouth
Camilo Viveiros
508-296-8267
UMass Boston
Anneta Argyres
617-287-7352
UMass Lowell
Elizabeth Pellerito
978-934-3127
Pam Whitefield
978-934-3127
Additional information and resources
Contact
Senior Labor Educator
Labor Education Center
257 Union Street, New Bedford, MA
508-955-3049
Director
Labor Education Center
257 Union Street, New Bedford, MA
508-817-1851
Explore the materials and videos we created to build your union, which you can use broadly in the community. We have created videos, posters, and other materials. In addition to the member engagement and internal organizing trainings we offer.