Labor Leadership Certificate Program

The Labor Leadership Certificate Program is taught by the DePaul University Labor Education Center. Through progressive coursework, the six-course program develops the skills and leadership abilities of activists, student leaders, members, stewards, officers, and staff from unions, worker centers, and community-based organizations. Each course helps you gain a deeper understanding of labor issues and builds your skills to achieve economic justice for fellow members and your broader community. Classes are taught virtually by highly-trained instructors with real-world labor and organizing experience.
 
You will leave this program with the knowledge and skills to engage in enforcement of contractual and labor law, effective organizational communication (visual, written, verbal, and social media based), arbitration, organizing, bargaining practices and strategies, and a knowledge of labor history and political economy. Earning a Certificate indicates you have essential training to fulfill your roles more effectively and to better support your fellow peers, members and co-workers while you strengthen your respective organizations. Completion of the certificate program also certifies that you are equipped to move into higher levels of leadership or employment in your union, worker center, or community-based organization.
 
Please note: Each of the courses can be taken individually or all together to earn the full Labor Leadership Certificate.

Courses in this Program

Advanced Labor Leadership: Arbitration
Advanced Labor Leadership: Collective Bargaining and Labor-Management Relations
Advanced Labor Leadership: Labor History and Economics
Advanced Labor Leadership: Skills for Organizing and Basics of Health & Safety
Introduction to Labor Leadership I - The Role of the Steward and Labor Law
Introduction to Labor Leadership II: Written & Verbal Union Communications and Meeting Facilitation

 

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For More Information, Contact:

Jessica Cook-Qurayshi
Email: JCOOK18@depaul.edu

Advanced Labor Leadership: Arbitration

In this class, students will learn how to prepare for arbitration. Skills include direct examination, cross examination, and opening and closing statements. Students will also participate in a mock arbitration hearing. In addition, students will learn about the relationship between unions and the political world, and how to engage in it effectively.
Location: Remote/Chicago

Advanced Labor Leadership: Collective Bargaining and Labor-Management Relations

Students will learn about the many aspects of collective bargaining including researching employers, costing out the contract, surveying members for contract priorities, preparing contract language and proposals, tools for effective negotiations, interest based bargaining benefits and hazards, recognizing surface bargaining, internal organizing, strike preparation and alternatives to strike, and ratifying the contract. An overview of labor-management relations during and after negotiations will also be covered. In the final weeks, students will participate in a collective bargaining role-play.
Location: Remote/Chicago

Advanced Labor Leadership: Labor History and Economics

Through an expansive overview, students will gain a greater understanding of the history of the United States labor movement. This includes learning about the history of U.S. labor markets, labor leaders, mass movements, the strengths and weaknesses, and mistakes and triumphs of unions and other labor focused organizations. Intertwined with this history, students will be introduced to economic trends and policies, from the federal deficit to the minimum wage law, to see how national and international economics affects workers.
Location: Remote/Chicago

Advanced Labor Leadership: Skills for Organizing and Basics of Health & Safety

Students will learn organizing skills and strategies for internal and external organizing, in both union and non-union workplaces. In addition, students will learn how to organize members around health and safety issues, including through their rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).
Location: Remote/Chicago

Introduction to Labor Leadership I - The Role of the Steward and Labor Law

Learn about the roles and rights of being a steward, how to write and handle grievances, how to deal with management, and how to keep your workplace organized. Additionally, learn the rights of workers and union members under various labor laws including the National Labor Relations Act, Illinois public sector laws, the Family Medical Leave Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Location: Online Synchronous

Introduction to Labor Leadership II - Written & Verbal Union Communications and Meeting Facilitation

Location: Online Synchronous