The class offerings have varied over the years depending on the interests of students and the issues facing labor organizations. Following is a list of typical classes that are available. It is possible to arrange classes on related subjects or on topics that are not listed below.
- Advanced Contract Administration
- Arbitration
- Bargaining Benefits
- Bargaining Contract Language
- Bargaining Health Care
- Collective Bargaining
- Committee Effectiveness
- Employment Discrimination Law
- Ergonomics
- Financial Officer Training
- High Performance Work Systems
- Interest Based Bargaining
- Job Evaluation
- Labor History through Film I
- Labor History through Film II
- Labor Law
- Microcomputers in Collective Bargaining and Union Administration
- New Compensation Systems
- Occupational Safety and Health/Safety Committees
- One-on-One Campaigns
- Organizing
- Pensions in Crisis
- Steward Training
- Strategic Planning
- Time Study
- Union Administration
- Unions and The Media
- Workers Compensation
If you are interested in arranging a class, please contact the education coordinator of your local union, central labor council or regional labor body. The education coordinator should then contact:
Carol Graham, 608.262.4496 or carol.graham@uwex.edu
Advanced Contract Administration
Handling grievances in the upper steps of the procedure; preparing for arbitration; principles for handling key problems, like discipline or absenteeism; and using grievance information in negotiating new contracts.
Arbitration
Understanding the legal basis for arbitration; structuring and preparing the case; preparing witnesses; developing opening statements, examining and cross examining witnesses; making closing statements and preparing briefs.
Bargaining Benefits
Analyzing healthcare plans; principles of healthcare cost containment; analyzing pension plans; ERISA and pension law; other benefit topics.
Bargaining Contract Language
Learn the tasks associated with developing and negotiating rules, rights and procedures.
Bargaining Health Care
Going, Going, Gone? Winning and Keeping Affordable Health Care Benefits: This class will focus on gaining and holding on to your health insurance. Topics covered include the health care crisis in the US, where it is going, what is driving it, and what possible solutions exist. Learn to cost out and compare plans.
Collective Bargaining
Surveying and involving members in developing bargaining positions; collective bargaining law; bargaining table strategy; costing contract demands; writing contract language; pressure tactics--strikes, workplace strategies and one-on-one.
Committee Effectiveness
Applying the principles of organizational development and small group effectiveness to union committees; listening skills; meeting roles-- chairing, facilitating and scribing; idea generation--brainstorming; consensus decision making and conflict resolution.
Employment Discrimination Law
Americans with Disabilities Act; Sexual Harassment; other forms of illegal discrimination.
Ergonomics
Principles of work physiology and job design; environmental problems--noise, lighting, air quality--and their abatement; OSHA and ergonomic problems; operation of ergonomics committees; industrial and office ergonomics.
Financial Officer Training
Principles of union bookkeeping; legal responsibilities under Landrun-Griffin; LM-2 reporting; auditing and budgeting procedures.
High Performance Work Systems
Principles of work reorganization; just-in-time, cellurization, product centered work organization; total quality management, statistical process control; computer-integrated manufacturing, skill based automation; employee involvement, team concept and labor-management committees; new pay systems and other contract changes.
Interest Based Bargaining
Review of the principles of interest based bargaining as they apply to contract negotiations, grievances and problem-solving.
Job Evaluation
Principles of analyzing jobs, preparing job descriptions and specifications, and evaluating jobs; hands-on experience in ranking, classification, and factor point systems of evaluation; handling job classification grievances.
Labor History through Film I
Labor in the 19 th , 20 th , and 21 st Centuries
Labor History through Film II
Labor since World War II
Labor Law
Review of the key provisions of labor law as contained in the Wagner Act, Taft Hartley and Landrum-Griffin; regulation of union recognition--election procedures and organizing law; unfair labor practices; regulation of collective bargaining--duty to bargain in good faith, mandatory vs permissive issues, duty to provide information; regulation of strikes and workplace strategies; regulation of union elections, administration and finances.
Microcomputers in Collective Bargaining and Union Administration
Introduction to word processing, spreadsheet, database management; applications from union administration and collective bargaining; hands-on computer experience; design of computer systems for local unions.
New Compensation Systems
Analyzing, designing and bargaining gainsharing, profit sharing, pay-for-knowledge, 401(k) plans and other new compensation systems.
Occupational Safety and Health/Safety Committees
Legal rights under OSHA; hazard recognition and walk-arounds; filing OSHA grievances and complaints; operating procedures for safety committees.
One-on-One Campaigns
Using surveys and one-on-one contacts to recruit members in open shop situation, mobilize support for contract negotiations, involve members in political activities, etc.
Organizing
An overview of internal and external organizing techniques for local unions; emphasis on developing skills for volunteer organizing committees.
Pensions in Crisis
Learn about how plans work, how secure they are, and how much they really cost the employer. Negotiate improved defined benefit and 401(k) pension plans.
Steward Training
Identifying, investigating, writing and negotiating grievances; carrying out the organizational responsibilities of the union steward.
Strategic Planning
Applying the principles of strategic planning to a labor organization.
Time Study
Principles of setting a production standard; hands-on experience in performance rating, using a stop watch and standards and incentive calculations; handling standard grievances.
Union Administration
Responsibilities of officers; parliamentary procedure, organizing and running a meeting; committee structure and effectiveness; internal organizing, one-on-one.
Unions and The Media
Principles of dealing effectively with print and electronic media; preparing news releases; cultivating relations with reporters and editors; being effective in radio and TV interviews; understanding media operations and gaining access.
Workers Compensation
Rights under State Law; important claims--back injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, hearing loss; third party lawsuits; union action programs.