MINUTES, 2004
Note: All minutes posted here are provisional. They have not yet been accepted by their respective groups.
April 14, 2004: Executive Board
April 15, 2004: Women's Caucus
April 16, 2004: Labor Councils Task Force
April 17, 2004: UALE Business Meeting
April 17, 2004: Executive Board
Draft Minutes of UALE Executive Board Meeting
April 14, 2004
Chicago, IL
Present: Chuck Davis, Nancy Bupp, Michelle Kaminski, Diane Thomas-Holladay, Tess Ewing, Bob Ginsburg, Edgar Moore, Tracy Chang, Elise Bryant
President Chuck Davis called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Mention and concern was expressed over members Peggy Wilson and Dennis Serrette.
A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes for the December 6, 2003 meeting. Motion carried.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the members appointed by the committee to the Editorial Board of Labor Studies Journal. There was a discussion that the appointees were all white males and it was decided that Chuck Davis would draft a letter to Paul Jarley to determine ways to recruit women and people of color to the Board and achieve broader representation from the union community. Motion was carried with the above friendly amendment.
Gordon Pavy requested to put the UALE directory on his AFL-CIO Center for Collective Bargaining website. It was moved and seconded and the motion carried to allow this to happen.
There was some interest in forming a COSH task force. A sign will be put up at the conference to see if any interest is generated.
Union membership for UALE members – Jim Leslie and Charlie Micallef are checking still with the International Association of Machinists to see if this is a possibility.
Steve Sleigh, Director of Strategic Resources (IAM), is the new president of the IRRA (Industrial Relations Research Association) and is interested in collaborating on some joint IRRA-UALE projects. It was moved and seconded and the motion carried to this collaboration.
Election of the new board of the UALE – Positions open:
- VP – University based
- Secretary
- Regional Reps – Southern, Midwest, West
- 3 At-LargeUnion based at-large
Communications – discussion on improving communications – hiring a part-time person? Budget? We need a clearing-house for information. Should we pay someone to do a study on how to improve our communications? Tess, Mike and Elise will draft a description of a research project on this.
AFL-CIO/UALE Education Conference Update – How can E-Board help? Promote and try to get people to sign up for the labor history tour. Spread the word on the costs of the flipchart stands and overhead projectors for the rooms. They are very expensive and if people are not going to use them, please let someone know.
Treasurer’s Report – hand out by Tess Ewing. There is now $25 in scholarship funds. It was moved and seconded that the money should go to the program chair to distribute how they see fit. Motion carried.
Summer Schools – It was moved and seconded to divide the money between the 3 schools or how many schools there are. Motion carried.
Other matters for the Business Meeting –
- Union Membership
- COSH Task Force
- Election
- Regional Meetings
- Task Force Reports
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Draft Minutes
UALE Business Meeting
April 17, 2004
Meeting called to order 2:35 by President Chuck Davis.
A Resolution was read about the ongoing war on Iraq.
Resolution on the Ongoing War in Iraq
Whereas working people, who make up the vast majority of the armed services, are being sent to Iraq to fight and die in a war based on lies; and
Whereas almost 700 U.S. troops have been killed and thousands wounded; and tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed and injured since the U.S invasion; and
Whereas monies spent on the war in Iraq aren’t available for public services such as health care, education and public safety; and
Whereas a significant taboo exists about talking the war and the issues it raises – a taboo that does not serve the interests of workers; and
Whereas labor educators have a unique opportunity and a critical role to play in bringing these important and difficult discussions to the surface;
Therefore be it resolved the UALE call on all of its members to find ways to bring the discussion of war into their labor education activities; and
That UALE create a space on a website where labor educators can share teaching approaches and tools for talking about the war; and
That, if the war/occupation in Iraq is still on-going in 2005, UALE commit to having a part of the plenary devoted to addressing issues raised by the war at its next conference.
A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the resolution on Iraq.
Steve Jones sang an anti-war song.
The subject of Steve Sleigh, the new president of IRRA, wanting to engage in a dialogue and work on some joint projects was mentioned to the membership of UALE.
Minutes of last year: A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the minutes of last year’s meeting.
Vice President/University's Report: Michelle Kaminski, Vice-President, thanked all who helped with the conference. There were approximately 230 registrants this year - that is more than last year. She thinks the conference broke even this year, in part, due to accepting credit cards. There was a discussion about speakers paying, student rates, one-day rates, and exceptions for people who cannot afford to pay.
Secretary's Report: Nancy Bupp, Secretary, reported about the directory and the difficulty in getting all of the information from the directory in one place and finding a union shop to replicate the CDs. It was also mentioned that comments were made that people liked the CD and there was a cost savings associated with the CD over a paper directory. It might be an item for further discussion. The E-Board will discuss this at their meeting on Sunday.
The Treasurer’s Report was given by Chuck Davis in Tess Ewing’s absence. The inflow is greater than the outflow.
A motion was made, seconded and passed to end the debate on the officer’s reports.
A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the officer’s reports.
Committee Reports:
Diane Thomas-Holladay reported on Institutional Memberships.
Kent Wong spoke on the status of his program and is guardedly optimistic that they will prevail.
A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the Committee reports.
Caucus and Task Force Reports:
Helena Worthen spoke on the Women’s Caucus – Midwest and Northeast would be combined at State College, PA, Western would be at UCLA, Southern would be at WVU. There was a discussion about the absence of a Midwest School in Indiana.
A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the report as amended to reflect that the Caucus had decided that the Midwest school would be held at Indiana University.
Rae Sovereign reported from the Lesbian and Gay Caucus and submitted a resolution.
The Resolution/Proposal
Be It Resolved that:
UALE publicly oppose any change in federal, constitution, state, or local ordinances designed to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman
UALE endorses lifting all restrictions and barriers preventing GLBT citizens from exercising their rights to inheritance, federal benefits (i.e. SSI, pensions, FMLA etc.) and all other rights and privileges granted to heterosexual married couples
UALE members will commit to teaching/informing/and advocating the full rights of GLBT citizens within their professions and practices, and
UALE members will work with unions, central and state labor bodies, and union members to promote the equality and full rights of GLBT citizens.
A motion was made, seconded and passed to the resolution.
Central-Labor Council Task Force – Nancy DellaMattera and Barbara Byrd - are working on various curricula and disseminating the voice@work information. A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the report.
Political Economy Task Force – no one there. Elaine Kennedy spoke though. A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the report.
Organizing Task Force – Lynn Feekin – wants another session next year. Passed around a sign up sheet for voice@work. A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the report.
Minority Caucus - Thandabantu Iverson spoke. Edgar Moore and Elise Bryant spoke on organizational memory. Someone spoke on the Pullman Museum. There was a vote to support Pullman Museum. A discussion was held about the Labor Studies Journal not representing people of color. An internal electronic newsletter to reflect on the experiences of people of color will be started. A resolution about labor solidarity and China was discussed and submitted.
Proposed Resolution on Labor Solidarity and China
1. Relations between the U.S. labor movement and other labor movements should be based on principles of solidarity and mutual respect.
2. Nativism, racism, and cold war ideology have no place in U.S. labor movement policy on international labor relations or trade, and should not be allowed to inhibit public discourse and dialogue.
3. UALE encourages more dialogue and communication between labor unions, labor educators and workers in China and the U.S. in the interests of promoting understanding and solidarity.
A motion was made and seconded to adopt the proposal.
An Amendment was made and accepted to add as a #4 point :
4. UALE encourages more dialogue and communication between labor unions, labor educators and workers around the world and the U.S. in the interests of promoting understanding and solidarity.
Motion was passed to adopt the proposal as amended
COSH Task Force – call for proposals around Safety and Health for next year. This task force wants to help review any proposals on this. A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the report.
Labor Studies Journal – Lynn Feekin - everything is going smoothly and the expenses were $744 for the year. Project Muse has helped. A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the report.
Nominations for Offices
The following people were nominated:
- President – Chuck Davis
- Vice President Union – Dennis Serrette
- Vice President University – Dawn Addy
- Secretary – Mike Wisnewski
- Treasurer – Tess Ewing
- University and College Based at Large - Diane Thomas-Holladay
- Union Based at Large – Charlie Micallef
- Community Based at Large – Robert Ginsburg
- 3 at Large – Rae Sovereign, Thantabantu Iverson, Elissa McBride
- Regional Reps
- Eastern – Paul Clark – PA
- Midwest – Skip Turner – MI
- Southern – Mike Matuszak – KY
- Western – Verlene Wilder – WA
There being no contested seats, a motion was made, seconded and passed to confirm the slate as UALE’s Executive Board.
Other Business
Edgar Moore – report from the Midwest.
Howard Kling – proposed the following resolution
Whereas:
- That the UALE recognizes the need to raise the profile of working class concerns in the media on daily and regular basis;
- That one way to do this is through the provision of news and economic information via media to all segments of the population;
- That the UALE members and institutions are in contact with the vast majority of union organizations in the U.S.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UALE urge its members to
- Place the WINS logo on their website as one means of offering news to working people;
- Subscribe to WINS as institutions;
- Do a mailing or contact participants in their programs regarding WINS – for example mailing the WINS brochure to their contacts;
- Work with WINS to get WINS on the radio in their area
A motion was made, seconded and passed to adopt the resolution.
Helena Worthen – proposal to explore a joint conference with the CLC. A motion was made, seconded and passed to form a committee to explore the possibility
New Business
Kim Scipes talked about the war.
Someone spoke about the presidential museums and a labor movement statue in Michigan. He is trying to raise money for this endeavor - $3000.00.
Moved to adjourn at 4:35 p.m.
April 17: Meeting of New Executive Board
Minutes of Executive Board Meeting
April 17th , 2004
Present: Charlie Micallef, Paul Clark, Bob Ginsberg, Mike Wisniewski, Diane Thomas Holliday, Bruce Nissen Rae Soverign, Thandabantu Iverson and Chuck Davis.
Chuck announced that the Midwest School will not be at Indiana it is combined with Northeast School in 2004 it will be in Michigan in 2005.
Promoting UALE: There was a discussion about hiring someone (student?) to research the best ways to promote the UALE. There was no agreement and further consideration is necessary.
Directory: There was discussion about the format of the directory; paper or CD or website.
A motion was made to continue to produce the CD and explore the option of publishing the directory on the web. The motion passed unanimously.
Labor Studies Journal
- Motion was made instructing the LSJ editor to deal with WVU on an issue concerning the publication of the LSJ.
Motion passed unanimously.
- Recruitment for the LSJ editorial board
Recognizing the problem of racial imbalance every effort will be made to recruit people of color to the editorial board of LSJ.
Next year's conference
Suggested Locations, New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
Strategic Planning Committee
Should have a meeting about strategic planning with a facilitator. Invite others outside of the board to participate. Katerina, Tom Juravich, Meany Center rep., Jim Leslie
We need to find ways ground ourselves in communities and society. It was decided that this meeting should be on June4th in Chicago.
Next Year Recommendations:
- Dawn Addy has several suggested topics
- Integrate union educators into the workshops
- 2 sessions on the practice of labor education
Other Topics Discussed
- Promote the innovations section of the LSJ.
- Regular email content to keep members informed
- Create a priority timeline for planning, to coordinate with LSJ publication requirements.
- Need to have a vote on amendment to add LSJ editorial board to UALE Board.
- Archiving records.
- We need to create a nominating Committee for next election.
- Timing of UALE Executive Board meeting after conference.
Submitted by
Michael Wisniewski
Labor Council Task Force Meeting
April 16, 2004, Chicago
1. Participants
| First Name |
Last Name |
Institution |
email |
| Dawn |
Addy |
Florida International University |
addyd@fiu.edu |
| Barbara |
Byrd* |
University of Oregon |
bbyrd@oregon.uoregon.edu |
| Harneen |
Chernow |
Mass. AFL-CIO |
hchernow@massaflcio.org |
| Bruce |
Colburn |
AFL-CIO Field Mobilization |
bcolburn@aflcio.org |
| Stephen |
Cook |
West Virginia University-ILSR |
slcook@mail.wvu.edu |
| Dave |
Cormier |
WVU-ILSR |
drcormier@mail.wvu.edu |
| Mark |
Crouch |
Indiana University |
crouch@ipfw.edu |
| Nancy |
DellaMattera* |
AFL-CIO/UMass Lowell |
ndellama@aflcio.org |
| Bob |
Ginsburg |
Center for Labor Market Research |
rginsburg@igc.org |
| Jeff |
Grabelsky |
Cornell ILR |
Jmg30@cornell.edu |
| Cathy |
Howell |
AFL-CIO- Southern Region |
chowell@aflcio.org |
| Bob |
Jensen |
AFT |
bjensen@aft.org |
| Tom |
Karson |
U of Arkansas |
tdkarson@ualr.edu |
| Elaine |
Kennedy |
IAMAW Local 389 |
Union_maid@hotmail.com |
| Jill |
Kreisky |
Appalachain Institute- WJU |
jkreisky@wju.edu |
| John |
Kretzschmar |
U of Nebraska @ Omaha |
kretzsch@unomaha.edu |
| Mark |
Nelson |
Umass Amherst Labor Center |
nelson@lrrc.umass.edu |
| David |
Reynolds |
Wayne State Labor Center |
aa2589@wayne.edu |
| Nari |
Rhee |
UC Berkeley |
nara@socrates.berkeley.edu |
| Louise |
Simmons |
Univ. of Connecticut |
Louise.Simmons@uconn.edu |
| Jeff |
Vincent |
Indiana Univ. |
Vincent@indiana.edu |
| Susan |
Winning |
UMass Lowell Labor Extension Program |
Susan_Winning@uml.edu |
* Indicate Co-chairs
2. Labor Council Task Force- Our Recent Work
Scope of our work:
Leadership and organizational development to build powerful local labor movements
Partnership with AFL-CIO
In the past four years we have worked in partnership with AFL-CIO Field Mobilization Department.
The AFL-CIO has a national strategy to target approximately 55 CLCs around the country that are strategic and have growing capacity and for these targeted CLCs to pursue a broad strategy of power building in their regions. The national AFL-CIO created a network of these CLCs called the CLC Advisory Committee. This group meets once a year. A smaller group of 17 councils form the Executive Council, which meets twice a year.
This targeted strategy grew out of the Union Cities work, which was NOT targeted, but which outline 8 steps for CLCs to build capacity, and which are still a roadmap for CLCs.
(See chart of strategy)
Part of this strategy is that as the work develops, more CLCs with join the network. Labor Council Task Force worked with the FMD to develop and deliver the Union Cities.
The work that the Labor Council Task Force has engaged in has helped develop materials and research that can be used with councils in or out of the network. The AFL-CIO focuses its resources on CLCs in the network.
Recent Projects
More detailed information on the following projects in which the Labor Council Task Force has been engaged were distributed at the meeting. Please contact Nancy DellaMattera (ndellama@aflcio.org) for copies of these materials.
1. Union Cities Leadership Retreat and Curriculum
This is 2-day curriculum for leaders of an individual CLC. It is available from the AFL-CIO Field Mobilization Department
2. Leadership Institute for state federation, area labor federation and CLC leaders and staff
2004 is the first year of this program. 40 participants are enrolled in this two-session program. The first session was held March 31- April 3 and the second will be held November 30- December 3.
3. Building Regional Power Research Project
See more on this below.
3. Building Regional Power Research Project-
This project was launched at last years meeting. Bruce Colburn, Field Mobilization AFL-CIO and Dave Reynolds, Wayne State University co-chaired a steering committee to identify target locations and create a common outline for the investigations. The goal was to document elements of labor councils and local labor movements’ efforts to build power. Barbara Byrd- U Oregon; Amy Dean, Working Partnerships; Tom Karson- U Arkansas and Stephanie Luce, UMass participated on this committee.
Three sites- Denver, Houston and SanJose – were investigated and analyzed this year by these committee members (Plus Nari Rhee- UCLA and Mark Nelson- UMass). These cases were presented in a workshop at the conference. CLC leaders who participated in this research were commended for their openness and for providing their time and contacts to the researchers
Below are the main points arising from the discussion at the meeting. Please see next steps below if you are interested in participating.
Audiences for cases:
- Local labor leaders/ CLC leaders -- how to
- International Unions -- why a revitalized CLC with a robust power-building program is in their interests.
- Labor educators -- for promotion and for what roles they can play
- Allies
Needed Internal Pieces Consist of:
- A two page highlights of each case
- The full write up of each case for the truly committed
- A short cross-case excitement-building piece aimed for each labor audience. Include photos.
- Cross-case short "pull out" sheets profiling the "how-to" steps of each major element: how to get started, how to move to the next level, etc. Include names and contact info of resource people.
- Short cross-case "pull out" sheets on problem areas, limitations -- pit falls to watch out for. For example: How to reconfigure staff. Alternatively many of these issues could be integrated into the above how to sheets.
All short pieces should aim for "bullet points".
Misc. Ideas
- Need to show how this work is not simply another "flavor of the month campaign," but is a way of building capacity over time. It should integrate with existing AFL-CIO campaigns, not compete with them.
- Use UALE website for sharing information as well as discussion
- Need to coordinate with the CLC training/strategic planning work. Especially the cases and materials used should overlap.
- After November need to integrate our work into future Leadership Institute work.
- Need to get local case people materials about the project ahead of time.
- Researchers should be briefed on case from Field Mobilization staff ahead of time.
- AFL-CIO is surveying the top 55 councils -- we should get the findings and integrate it into our work.
Next Steps:
Current Cases
- Need two-page summaries by June 1st.
- Need finalized case write-ups and shorter 25-30-page journal article by August 1st.
Future Cases
These are being identified right now. LA will be one. Louise Simmons has volunteered to help document the ongoing work coming out of the immigrant workers freedom ride.
Shorter Cases
Many of us work with smaller CLCs that may be engaged in some power building activities that are worthy of sharing, even though their work may not have the breadth or depth of some of these larger councils. The Task Force will be soliciting ideas from you for sharing over the course of the next year.
4. Labor Council Task Force- What’s next?
There were a few suggestions for better communications, sharing more about our work, working with the Organizing committee on Voice@Work, and potentially meeting more frequently as a task force. In addition to the items above in the Building Regional Power Research Project next steps section, below are additional items that were discussed in the meeting and the next steps that the co-chairs suggest:
1) Communications:
- 3 yearly Email newsletters to Labor Council Task Force (as part of this, we will ask all UALE list who would like to get this information and add them to the list
- Use this communication to gather information about what people are doing (also see above under BuildingRegional Power Research Project for specific focus right now)
- Co-chairs decided NO list serve right now- see how the above works first.
- Share emails of all who were in the meeting with Organizing committee- They will email these folks to see if they want to receive information from AFL-CIO on the Voice at Work education and training.
- Email whole list to tell them to get in contact with Lynn Feekin to be added to the Voice at Work email list.
- Proposal for a small "coordinating committee" to meet when the CLC EC meets to steer all elements of the work- linking the research with the education with the need to extend the reach of the work beyond AFL-CIO targeted councils. Coordinating committee would include university and CLC/community-based educators.
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April 15: Women's Caucus Meeting
UALE Women's Caucus Minutes
7-9 pm, April 15, 2004
Huron Room, Holiday Inn Center City, Chicago
Co-chairs Verlene Wilder, Helena Worthen.
Present: Corliss Olson, Adrienne Valdez, Rae Sovereign, CJ Hawking, Elaine Kennedy, Jennifer Sherer, Roberta Till-Retz, Carol Hodne, Maureen Holder, Ruth Needleman, Jane Kiser, Michelle Kaminski, Susan Winning, Katerina Davis del Valle, Lynne Feekin, Judy Ancel, Dawn Addy, Dale Melcher, Barbara Byrd, Katie Quan, Tess Ewing, Yvonne Scruggs-Leftowich, Elise Bryant, Jean Troutman- Poole, Sarah Etherton.
1. Minutes of last year's meeting approved.
2. Reports on last year's (2003) summer's women's schools (Written reports from MidWest, Southern and Northeastern)
Overview discussion led by Corliss Olson (handout, Reasons why the Women's School is not like other Institutes and Program). Issue: the role of advocacy in a university environment. This came up because of Midwest school's Tyson demonstration. All extension depts. have been asked to prepare statements on what they think the role of dept is in advocacy. Issue: Time commitment for School coordinators is really 11% of full year. Need for institutions to understand what the time commitment is. What can this caucus do to relate this commitment to merit, tenure, job loads?
Midwest: Wisconsin. Report by Corliss Olson who was also coordinator. 67 participants, $14,865 in scholarships (Polk and other, and School for Workers funds), net loss of $3,308.91 covered by School for Workers.
Southern: Alabama. (Handout) 63 participants, scholarship $ (UALE and AFL-CIO) went to 9 scholarships, bus transportation. Revenue $22,405, balance of $1,1470.85. Coordinator, Tracy Chang
Northeastern: George Meany Center. Dale Melcher (also coordinator). Took place at George Meany Center. 108 participants, 23 staff. Income $74,005, revenue $3,000. (Correction: net loss of $2,000 loss was communicated to HW after the caucus by Dale Melcher). Four days long.
Western: School held in Victoria, B.C. No final report. Collaboration problem/ No AFL CIO folks invited. Overall, however, a good experience for those who attended.
3. Reports on upcoming 2004 schools. All women's schools should send information ASAP to Tess Ewing.
- Northeast, State College PA - Jackie Rogers, coordinator.
- Western: UCLA, MyMy Lu, coordinator. Note: Western schools are bilingual.
- Southern: Morgantown, West Virginia, Sarah Etherton, Coordinator. Cost will be $375, rooms are $64 per night. Still looking for instructors. Morgantown is 70 miles from Pittsburg.
- Midwest: Ruth Needleman proposes that MidWest be at Indiana, not at State College combined with Northeast School as previously arranged. Wed-Saturday, $212 per person. Caucus agrees with siting MidWest School in Indiana. (Note: This decision was overturned by the Business Meeting. Minutes for Business Meeting not yet availablee)
2005: Midwest school will be in Michgan, Skip Turner and Michelle Kaminski, coordinators.
4. Brigid O'Farrell - Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project. (www.gwu.edu~erpapers or mbofarrell@aol.com). Collecting information about Eleanor Roosevelt; her speeches at union conventions were transcribed, others weren't. B O'F would come to summer schools (possibly Southern? Arthurdale?) Project makes great teaching vehicle.
5. Helen O'Dell Ramirez. Report on CLUW project on Reaching Out Against Cervical Cancer (Working Women ROCC!). Grant from CDC. Screening saves lives; if caught early, cervical cancer is curable. Project will extend over 5 years, assess women's behavior, test means to reach and motivate women to get screened, increase the number of women who get screened regularly. Debbi Halverson has put a bill in Illinois senate (screenings not covered by insurance).
6. Ban on gay marriage issue. Resolved: That the women's caucus opposes any ban on gay marriage. Passed.
7. New business. Helena and Verlene will continue as co-chairs for the next year; no one else volunteered.
ADJOURN 9 pm
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