With successful Young Workers and Workers' Pride Conferences, we're getting ready for fall to begin! Our Latina/o Workers Leadership Institute is just around the corner, info below!

Medical Rights course at Workers' Pride Conference 2025. Photo credit: Bokey-EFX Photography by Robert A Wade Jr.

Dear Friend of CLCS,

As the end of summer approaches, we're excited to launch a regularly scheduled newsletter! This newsletter will include announcements of upcoming events, media and recaps from past conferences and symposia, and research reports on labor in Michigan. Each newsletter will also have a Labor in the Headlines section, with news items on current events in the labor movement, make sure to scroll all the way through!

It's an exciting time at the Center, as we prepare to move our office to UM-D's main campus. In the moving process, we've unearthed programs and photos from decades' past. Below, a flyer for the 1991 Black Men in Unions conference and a shot from a Michigan School for Women Workers from the same era. Seeing the long and rich history of our labor community has put into perspective the work we're doing together. If you know the people in the picture, let us know!!

If you'd like something included in the newsletter (e.g., an event, news item, group meeting, etc.), don't hesitate to reach out! clcs.labor@umich.edu

Newsletters will also live on our website, under "News".

In Solidarity,

CLCS Staff

CLCS researchers have prepared a report on the current state of labor in Michigan, which looks at effects of union membership across four sectors of the economy. The report will be released around Labor Day!

(The above image is from the Center for Economic and Policy Research)

The authors of the 2025 Michigan State of Labor Report will share their findings, answer questions, and discuss its implications for the future of labor.

The event is FREE and will be hosted remotely over Zoom.

Saturday, September 6, 10-11:30am

Our next labor education conference is just around the corner! Join us in Dearborn for LWLI25! This year's theme is "Protecting our neighbors, Knowing our rights".

Workshops include Know your Immigration Rights, Understanding Union Foundations, and Understanding Labor Law and the FMLA!

Scholarships are available. Registration Deadline is September 11.

September 18-20, 2025 @ UM-Dearborn, Fairlane Center South

Later this fall, we'll host the annual Fall Leadership Institute, bringing together a group of organizers who are ready to be leaders in the labor movement. Workshops will have a focus on leadership development and skill-sharing across industries.

November 20-22, 2025 @ UM-Dearborn, Fairlane Center South

In June, 90 participants joined us for the seventh Young Workers Conference. Led by co-coordinators Ta'nia Flowers (UAW 7) and Pamela Wells (UAW 598), the conference had eight workshops, ranging in topic from Parliamentary Procedure to Conflict Resolution. Two "Rebel with a Cause" awards were presented to Robbie French (UAW 600) and Samantha Bridges (UAW 900).

Click below to see the Conference Newsletter and pictures from the event.

Photo credit: Bokey-EFX Photography by Robert A Wade Jr.

In July, a group of 80 came together for the second Workers' Pride Conference. A one-day event, this conference covered topics like LGBTQ+ Legal Issues, Community Organizing, and LGBTQ+ Medical Rights.

Keynote speakers Jeynce Poindexter (pictured) and Christine Yared spoke about queer resilience and its connection to worker solidarity.

Coordinator BM Folks (Trane Industries) led participants in a Queer Joy storytelling activity to close the conference.

Photo credit: Bokey-EFX Photography by Robert A Wade Jr.

On June 14, Anthony Kaled (SEIU Healthcare MI) and Jennifer Sherer (Economic Policy Inst.) joined us for a discussion on The State of Labor Under Trump.

A recording of the event can be found at the link below.

On May 17, CLCS co-sponsored a panel discussion on Maternal Health Issues and Disparities. Five experts and activists from diverse backgrounds discussed maternal mortality disparities and how we might make health outcomes better for mothers and families.

A recording of the event, as well as a resources document, can be found at the link below.

After several years in the Fairlane Center, the Center for Labor and Community Studies is moving to a new office space! We'll be in the Social Sciences Building  (pictured) starting in late August.

The building is located on UM-D's main campus, where Fair Lane Dr. meets John Monteith Blvd.

The location of the remaining 2025 conferences (LWLI25 and FLI25) remains unchanged (Fairlane Center South).

The Organizer Network is a community for labor organizers to share support, educational opportunities, and a peer network. It can be a place to seek advice, share successes and failures, or hone vital skills for building power. 

The Organizer Network is open to anyone who is doing the very tough job of organizing workers. This includes new organizers fighting to establish a union, existing union rank-and-file members, community and labor leaders, union staff, and more.

Our next meeting will be in September! Sign up for the Organizer Network list below!