Labor in Illinois

Chicago Labor Education Program Update
January 3, 2007

BASIC AND ADVANCED CERTIFICATE CLASSES START JANUARY 16, 2007
These classes meet Tuesday or Wednesday evenings, once a week for six weeks, and cost $100. Books are extra. The Basic Certificate classes are also offered on Tuesday mornings.

BASIC CERTIFICATE
Introduction to Labor Law starts January 16, 2007. This class features five guest speakers who will focus on how union staff and members can use these laws to protect their rights. Lisa Friedheim-Weiss, from the NLRB, will explain ULPs and elections; Shuwn Hayes from the EEOC will explain filing a charge with the EEOC; Hans deKok from the ILRB will explain the public sector bargaining law in Illinois; labor attorney Joel D'Alba on internal union elections, trusteeships and the Members Bill of Rights under Landrum-Griffin, and Julie Bakker will talk about how to use OSHA. Students not only learn about the laws that govern and regulate the workplace but make personal contacts with representatives of agencies or attorneys. This class may also be taught Tuesday mornings from 10:00 - 12:30.=20

ADVANCED CERTIFICATE
Dealing with the Board(s) starts January 17 and focuses on the issues that bring unions before public and private sector labor boards. This advanced certificate class happens on Wednesday evenings, from 6:00 - 8:30 pm, and is open to graduates of the Basic Certificate sequence or by permission of the instructor, for people with significant experience in the labor movement. Call Joe Berry for more information, 312-996-8562.

SPANISH LANGUAGE CERTIFICATE
These Certificate classes are also offered in Spanish on Thursdays, starting January 18.

NATIONAL LABOR COLLEGE CLASSES
National Labor College classes (classes that lead to a BA in Labor Studies, in partnership with the National Labor College) start Monday February 5, 2007. These classes have a considerable on-line element. While we have allowed people to sign up at the last moment in the past, we are asking you to sign up as early as possible for these because
getting you set up on line will take some time.

Comparative Labor Movements: Monday evenings, Feb 5 - April 9, 6-9 pm

Political Economy of Labor: Thursday evenings, February 8 - April 12, 6-9 pm

History of the Labor Movement: Saturdays Feb 17, March 17 and April 14, from 9-4.

We now hold monthly Jumpstarts for people who are working on their portfolios for the Ed Planning class. The next Ed Planning class is January 26 and 27, 2007.

UNITED ASSOCIATION FOR LABOR EDUCATION CONFERENCE MARCH 8-11
This is the annual labor educator's conference, taking place this year at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, MD. www.uale.org

HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE MARCH 18-21, 2007
The annual National Conference for Union Representatives in Healthcare will take place at the Holiday Inn City Center, Chicago, March 18-21. Keynote speakers will include Leo Gerard, President of the Steelworkers, and Stewart Acuff, Organizing Director of the AFL-CIO. Changes in the healthcare industry are happening so fast that it is hard to keep up with them. If you work in the healthcare industry in whatever capacity, and you represent people (meaning if you are union staff or elected representative, from steward to local president or E-Board), you belong at this conference. Please respond to this email if you are interested in working on this conference. The draft agenda is now available; we need people to staff and facilitate the various plenaries and workshops. Registration is $250. Call Maria Hernandez at 312-996-2623 for more information.

NURSES IN ILLINOIS FORUM POSTPONED TO JUNE 22, 2007
This is a repeat of last year's conference for nurses and unions that represent nurses. It will be held June 22, all day, in the Cardinal Room in the Illini Union at UIC, on Halsted Street. The focus is on issues that can be resolved at the state level by nurse's unions working together. All unions that represent nurses in Illinois are expected to participate. Keynote speaker Suzanne Gordon will facilitate the panel. Respond to this email if you are interested in working on this forum. This Forum is supported by the Regina V. Polk Fund for Women's Labor Leadership.

REGINA POLK WOMEN'S LABOR LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE MAY 16, 2007
The annual Polk Conference will take place at Pheasant Run Resort May 16-19. Again, the focus will be on collective bargaining. A mailing to all Polk women including scholarship applications will be sent out soon.

MIDWEST SCHOOL FOR WOMEN WORKERS in IOWA, IOWA CITY, July 30 through August 3. Contact Jennifer Sherer at the University of Iowa Labor Center for more information, 319-335-4144 or jennifer-sherer@iowa.edu. The Polk Fund has provided some scholarships for this 2007 school.

TWO NEW BOOKLETS AVAILABLE
We will soon be able to provide two new informational booklets that will help you. One is a Guide to Workers Compensation, which presents the new Illinois Worker Comp law from the point of view of workers. Written by CACOSH Organizer Emanuel Blackwell and a member of the CACOSH Board, includes questions and answer and a checklist of what to do if you are injured. The other is a Guide to Claiming Unemployment Benefits for adjunct faculty in higher education, written by Joe Berry and Helena Worthen. Both booklets are in production now.

SCHOLARSHIPS

We are making a list of scholarships that are available to students who want to get a BA in Labor Studies. We know of three so far, in addition to our own Debs scholarships which have already been awarded for Spring 2007.

Deadline March 1, 2007. For SEIU members, their children, or SEIU union staff: The John Geagan Scholarship, $5,000 or $2,500 per year for any labor studies program where college credit is awarded (for example, for our National Labor College classes). Information available at www.seiu.org/mbe.scholarships or call Alva Hines, at 202-730-7179 or email her at hinesa@seiu.org. We have some applications here at the
office.

Deadline January 31, 2007. One-time cash award for students attending or planning to attend a college or university for undergraduate study, ranging from $500 to $4,000. Current and retired members of AFL-CIO unions, spouses and dependent children. This is the Union Plus scholarship program. Go to www.unionplus.org/benefits/education/scholarships/up,cfm

Deadline already passed: AFSCME has the Joey Parisi and Nadra Floyd scholarships, which have already been awarded for this year. However, AFSCME members can apply for next year. Applications for both scholarships are obtainable through the National Labor College at www.nlc.edu (new website - the old one doesn't work any more). Use the search box on the website to search for "scholarships" or call 202-429-1250.

Chicago Labor Education Program
Suite 110 The Rice Building
815 West Van Buren Street, Chicago 60607
312-996-8733

CLEP is Part of the UIUC Labor Education Program