Building the Union

Support for leadership & committees

The courses below are designed to increase the effectiveness of unions and their standing committees. Courses are offered in a variety of formats and range from 8 to 24 hours in length. For additional information, contact Hal Stack at 313-577-2191, h.stack@wayne.edu; or click here to tell us what programing you need.

Administration of Local Unions
Using Computers in the Union
Union Involvement
Standing Committees
Executive Board Training
Financial Officer Training
Union Education Committees
Community Service Committees
Human and Civil Rights Committees
Women's Committees
Member Assistance Committees
Health and Safety Committees
Veterans' Committees
Chapliancy Committee

Administration of Local Unions

This course examines the role of officers and executive boards in administering the local union, as well as related issues of record keeping, financial reporting, and conducting elections.

Using Computers in the Union

This hands-on course introduces participants to the use of computers in the administration of the union. Topics include: computer basics, database management, developing websites, desktop publishing, e-mail and using the internet.

Union Involvement

This course examines the nature and development of the union and its role in the workplace and the larger society. Among the topics covered are the history and development of the union and the American labor movement; the role of union in the social, political and economic life of the United States; the structure and administration of the union; and an examination of current issues facing the union. Specific topics will vary from year to year.

Standing Committees

This course examines the structure and purpose of standing committees and develops the skills necessary for effective committee functioning. Topics include: the structure and operation of the union, the role of standing committees, meeting management, group problem solving and decision making, program planning and evaluation, and communicating with members. Specific topics will vary from year to year.

Executive Board Training

This course provides union members with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as local union executive board members. Topics include: the roles and responsibilities of executive board members, the constitution and by-laws of the union, the history and the development of the union, the role of the unions in American society, and local union administration. Specific topics will vary from year to year.

Financial Officer Training

This course provides union members with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as local union financial officers and trustees. Topics include: the duties and responsibilities of financial officers and trustees, accounting policies and procedures, preparing budgets and financial statements, preparing audits, and financial reporting requirements. Specific topics will vary from year to year.

Union Education Committees

This course provides members of local union education committees with the knowledge and skills to develop and implement successful educational programs. Topics include: the duties and responsibilities of the education committee, assessing the educational needs of the local union, the principles of adult learning and educational design, basic teaching techniques, and the planning and implementation of educational programs, and emerging issues fro uion education. Specific topics will vary from year to year.

Community Service Committees

This course provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as members of local union community service committees. Topics include: the duties and responsib ilities of community service committees, the procedure for establishing blood drives. and other community service programs, community and governmental information and referral resources, and emerging community and social welfare issues impacting the lives of union members and their families. Specific topics will vary from year to year.

Human and Civil Rights Committees

This course provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as members of local union human and civil rights committees. Topics include: the duties and responsibilities of human and civil rights commit- tees; racism, sexism, and ethnocentrism; other diversity issues - age, religion, sexual preference, disabilities; employment discrimination law; and union strategies to build solidarity. Specific topics will vary from year to year.

Women's Committees

This course is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as members of local union women's committees. Topics include: the duties and responsibilities of women's committees, parliamentary procedure, leadership skills, sexual harassment in the workplace, domestic violence, women's health issues, and legislative issues impacting women. Specific topics will vary from year to year.

Member Assistance Committees

This course provides union members with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide assistance to members with substance abuse problems. Topics include: the duties and responsibilities of member assistance committees, the issues surrounding alcohol and substance abuse in the workplace, appropriate policies regarding substance abuse and employer testing, appropriate approaches to assisting members and their families, and information and referral resources. Specific topics will vary from year to year.

Health and Safety Committees

This course provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to insure a safe and healthy workplace. Topics include: worker rights under OSHA and the union contract, the identification and control of workplace hazards, the reduction of the use of hazardous materials, the use of ergonomics in the workplace, and the role of health and safety committees. Specific topics will vary from year to year.

Veterans' Committees

This course provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as members of local union veterans' committee. Topics include: the duties and responsibilities of veterans' committees, meeting management, veterans' health issues, legislative issues impacting veterans, and information and referral resources. Specific topics will vary from year to year.

Chaplaincy Committees

This course provides union members with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as members of local union chaplaincy committees. A variety of topics maybe included: duties and responsibilities of chaplaincy committees, communication and counseling skills, information and referral resources, the relationship between religious beliefs and union activity, labor and clergy alliances, and emerging issues. Specific topics will vary from year to year

		Educational Programs for Unions
Home Programs & Classes for Individuals Labor Studies Major Educational Programs for Unions Joint Labor- Management Programs Consulting & Technical Assistance for Unions Research Tools & Information You Can Use About the Center Our staff Contact us Map of campus Wayne State University links	Building the Union Support for leadership & committees The courses below are designed to increase the effectiveness of unions and their standing committees. Courses are offered in a variety of formats and range from 8 to 24 hours in length. For additional information, contact Hal Stack at 313-577-2191, h.stack@wayne.edu; or click here to tell us what programing you need. Administration of Local Unions Using Computers in the Union Union Involvement Standing Committees Executive Board Training Financial Officer Training Union Education Committees Community Service Committees Human and Civil Rights Committees Women's Committees Member Assistance Committees Health and Safety Committees Veterans' Committees Chapliancy Committee Administration of Local Unions This course examines the role of officers and executive boards in administering the local union, as well as related issues of record keeping, financial reporting, and conducting elections. Using Computers in the Union This hands-on course introduces participants to the use of computers in the administration of the union. Topics include: computer basics, database management, developing websites, desktop publishing, e-mail and using the internet. Union Involvement This course examines the nature and development of the union and its role in the workplace and the larger society. Among the topics covered are the history and development of the union and the American labor movement; the role of union in the social, political and economic life of the United States; the structure and administration of the union; and an examination of current issues facing the union. Specific topics will vary from year to year. Standing Committees This course examines the structure and purpose of standing committees and develops the skills necessary for effective committee functioning. Topics include: the structure and operation of the union, the role of standing committees, meeting management, group problem solving and decision making, program planning and evaluation, and communicating with members. Specific topics will vary from year to year. Executive Board Training This course provides union members with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as local union executive board members. Topics include: the roles and responsibilities of executive board members, the constitution and by-laws of the union, the history and the development of the union, the role of the unions in American society, and local union administration. Specific topics will vary from year to year. Financial Officer Training This course provides union members with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as local union financial officers and trustees. Topics include: the duties and responsibilities of financial officers and trustees, accounting policies and procedures, preparing budgets and financial statements, preparing audits, and financial reporting requirements. Specific topics will vary from year to year. Union Education Committees This course provides members of local union education committees with the knowledge and skills to develop and implement successful educational programs. Topics include: the duties and responsibilities of the education committee, assessing the educational needs of the local union, the principles of adult learning and educational design, basic teaching techniques, and the planning and implementation of educational programs, and emerging issues fro uion education. Specific topics will vary from year to year. Community Service Committees This course provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as members of local union community service committees. Topics include: the duties and responsib ilities of community service committees, the procedure for establishing blood drives. and other community service programs, community and governmental information and referral resources, and emerging community and social welfare issues impacting the lives of union members and their families. Specific topics will vary from year to year. Human and Civil Rights Committees This course provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as members of local union human and civil rights committees. Topics include: the duties and responsibilities of human and civil rights commit- tees; racism, sexism, and ethnocentrism; other diversity issues - age, religion, sexual preference, disabilities; employment discrimination law; and union strategies to build solidarity. Specific topics will vary from year to year. Women's Committees This course is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as members of local union women's committees. Topics include: the duties and responsibilities of women's committees, parliamentary procedure, leadership skills, sexual harassment in the workplace, domestic violence, women's health issues, and legislative issues impacting women. Specific topics will vary from year to year. Member Assistance Committees This course provides union members with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide assistance to members with substance abuse problems. Topics include: the duties and responsibilities of member assistance committees, the issues surrounding alcohol and substance abuse in the workplace, appropriate policies regarding substance abuse and employer testing, appropriate approaches to assisting members and their families, and information and referral resources. Specific topics will vary from year to year. Health and Safety Committees This course provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to insure a safe and healthy workplace. Topics include: worker rights under OSHA and the union contract, the identification and control of workplace hazards, the reduction of the use of hazardous materials, the use of ergonomics in the workplace, and the role of health and safety committees. Specific topics will vary from year to year. Veterans' Committees This course provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as members of local union veterans' committee. Topics include: the duties and responsibilities of veterans' committees, meeting management, veterans' health issues, legislative issues impacting veterans, and information and referral resources. Specific topics will vary from year to year. Chaplaincy Committees This course provides union members with the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as members of local union chaplaincy committees. A variety of topics maybe included: duties and responsibilities of chaplaincy committees, communication and counseling skills, information and referral resources, the relationship between religious beliefs and union activity, labor and clergy alliances, and emerging issues. Specific topics will vary from year to year	On Site Classes Leading the Union Building the Union