Open Enrollment Classes on Campus
The Labor Center’s on-campus open-enrollment classes bring together union members from across Iowa to learn about the workplace issues of today. Classes are taught by Labor Center staff, University of Iowa faculty and other invited guest instructors. A five-day Labor Short Course is also offered annually. This course covers a wide variety of issues ranging from communication and leadership skills to legal tools, labor history, and key labor public policy issues.
On Campus Course List
Advanced Steward School
Oct. 22-23
Designed for experienced union stewards. Will include a labor law update and cover use of arbitrators’ standards in investigating grievances, handling and preparing grievances for arbitration, mobilizing around tough grievances, and establishing a strong steward system in your local union.
Leadership and Administration Skills for Local Union Officers
Nov. 19-20
Designed for local union presidents, vice presidents and executive board members. Focus on leadership skills including planning and running effective meetings, communicating with members, board members, and/or staff, and acting as a spokesperson. Administration skills will include essential database management, filing skills, and basics of legal reporting requirements.
Download Flyer (pdf) / Register online
Financial Officers’ School
Dec. 17-18
The essential class for union financial officers. Covers accounting basics, private and public sector union financial record-keeping, political reporting requirements, and Department of Labor, PERB and IRS forms.
Download Flyer (pdf) / Register online
Newsletters & Communications
Jan. 14-15
Keep your members informed and build a more active union with a vibrant, informative local newsletter. Learn how to integrate your publication into a larger local communications plan that runs the spectrum from face-to-face to electronic communication. Separate tracks will cover basics of starting a newsletter (for new editors) and giving your newsletter a makeover (for experienced editors).
Collective Bargaining
Jan. 20-22
Designed for union negotiating committee members who want to improve their skills. Topics covered will include major bargaining issues of the day, along with tips on research and preparation, crafting proposals, table techniques, costing methods, and contract campaign strategies. Hands-on experience includes a bargaining simulation.
Unions 101 for Spanish-Speaking Workers
Feb. 4
Introduction to the labor movement for emerging activists, touching on Common Sense Economics, labor history, basic workplace legal rights, and the structure and function of unions in the workplace and society, and immigration issues from a union perspective.
Unions 101 for Young Workers
Feb. 5
Introduction to the labor movement for emerging activists, touching on Common Sense Economics, labor history, basic workplace legal rights, the structure and function of unions in the workplace and society, and young workers in today’s labor movement.
Four-Part Legal Tools Series
Attend any class in the series or send someone from your union to all four at a reduced rate.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
Feb. 12
ADA legal provisions and enforcement mechanisms, “reasonable accommodations” in the workplace, ADA in relation to contractual grievance procedures, and union strategies for protecting disabled worker rights.
FMLA (Family & Medical Leave Act)Feb. 18-19
Intensive review of worker rights under the FMLA, hands-on practice in handling FMLA questions and problems, bargaining tips, and recent trends in Department of Labor enforcement and court decisions.
OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Act)Mar. 12
Review of legal rights to safe work under OSHA and labor law, understanding OSHA enforcement procedures, and building a strong union health and safety committee.
Workers’ Compensation in IowaMar. 18-19
An in-depth review of Iowa's workers' compensation system, workers' compensation developments and trends, and strategies for unions to use in advocating for injured workers.
Labor Short Course
May 10-14
A week of classes designed to inspire and educate new union activists and reinvigorate experienced union leaders. Includes sessions on organizing, labor/employment law, labor history, public policy, political action, communications, and more.