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Tag Archives: Labor Studies

A Tale of Two Unions: Workers at Volkswagen, T-Mobile Workers Tap into Global Labor Movement

01 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by NLCcommunity in General

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Faculty, Labor Studies

By Diane F. Frey, PhD
Assistant Professor of Labor Studies and Director of the Labor Studies BA Degree Program

Volkwagen Assembly Plant Employee & T-Mobile Workers

Sometimes even I can’t help but wonder, who cares or has time to worry about labor struggles in other parts of the world when working families here in the U.S. are so busy trying to get by?  But how workers organize across the globe really does matter for the U.S. labor movement.

Case in point:  two union organizing drives currently in the news are taking place in corporations owned by German parent companies – companies with strong unions and worker representation.  Meanwhile here in the U.S., workers at companies like T-Mobile and Volkswagen are seeking to form a union and are reaching out to their German counterparts and German “work councils” for assistance in their campaigns. Continue reading →

Happy Labor Day and NLC Highlights by Dr. Paula Peinovich, President

30 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by NLCcommunity in College News

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

associate's degree, bachelor's degree, Labor Day, Labor Studies, National Labor College, online degree, online learning

President Paula Peinovich

President Paula Peinovich

Greetings! In honor of Labor Day and the traditional start of the academic year, I am writing to share highlights from the past year and our goals for the upcoming year.

Since February, NLC community members have engaged in an ambitious planning process designed to chart the next phase of the College’s development. In characteristic NLC style, the conversations about our future have been spirited and inclusive. These ideas have been distilled into our strategic plan for 2013-2016.

We continued to make progress on a number of existing priorities, including:

The introduction of the Associate of Arts degree program which had its official launch on July 1, 2013, with Professor Candace Archer as the first director. The AA degree program will provide students with the foundation to succeed in NLC’s bachelor degree programs or at any other 4-year college or university.

In response to demand from labor union members, we created a certificate in arbitration and grievance handling.

We had an outstanding year for faculty hiring, including the successful recruitment of three leading academics:

  • Dr. Deborah Robinson, Director, Emergency Readiness and Response Management Program
  • Dr. Candace Archer, Director, Associate of Arts Degree Program
  • Dr. Diane Frey, Director, Labor Studies Program

Major administrative recruitments include Kia Kuresman, Academic Advising; Lucas Sifuentes, Enrollment Management; D Denny, Financial Aid; Jacinta Kelly, Finance; and Jeff Bria, Registrar.

Several faculty members took on new leadership roles at the College: Dr. Dan Katz was appointed Provost; and Julie Mendez-de Leon was named Assistant Dean for Special Academic Programs.

We also had some changes to our dedicated Board of Trustees. The terms of several members of our Board of Trustees ended and we give the following individuals our heartfelt appreciation.

  • Gerald McEntee, AFSCME
  • John Gage, AFGE
  • Leo Gerard, USW
  • Edwin Hill, IBEW

We also welcomed several new members:

  • David Durkee, BCTGM
  • Matthew D. Loeb, IATSE
  • Fred Redmond, USW
  • Jack Marco, The Marco Consulting Company
  • Carrie Biggs-Adams, Student Representative

The College is continuing the process of moving its offices to downtown Silver Spring. We are finalizing the lease, with the intention of moving in December or January.

NLC has also signed on with real estate broker CBRE to undertake a new marketing campaign to sell the campus property. Since relisting, 34 different entities have signed non-disclosure agreements with us which allow them to review documents and materials pertaining to the property. We have already given tours of the property to many of these entities and have more tours scheduled.

National Labor College continues to build our student body. Enrollment in our degree programs is up more than 65% in the past two years with students from almost every union. This year’s graduating class of 83 represented 23 unions. Our students work in a variety of fields and plan to use their degrees to advance in their current jobs, go into new professions, or continue with higher education at institutions such as Concordia University, Catholic University, and University of Maryland – Baltimore County.

We are able to fulfill our mission making higher education available to workers, to prepare union members, leaders and staff for the challenges of a changing global environment; and to serve as a center for progressive thought and learning largely because of the generosity of our supporters. Preliminary reports indicate that fundraising efforts were strong last year. It was particularly gratifying to receive a gift of $3 million from American Income Life.

Once again, many thanks for a memorable year marked by notable achievements. National Labor College is a remarkable institution, with students, faculty, staff, and alumni distinguished by their intellectual curiosity, dedication to the mission, and desire to build the labor movement one student at a time. I have been honored to meet so many members of the community this year, and I look forward to many, many more such opportunities.

Sincerely,

Paula E. Peinovich

President

Sheet Metal Workers Union Assistant to the General President Named NLC Alumni of the Year

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by NLCcommunity in Alumni Spotlight

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

bachelor's degree, Labor Studies, National Labor College, online learning, SMART-UNION, SMWIA

National Labor College’s Alumni Association has named Marc A. Norberg – who graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Labor Studies – Alumni of the Year. Marc is the Assistant to the General President of SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Union).Marc Norberg

Among his other duties, Marc coordinates the International’s interface with renewable energy sources, green energy and combined heat and power organizations. Formerly, he was the President and Business Manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and also served as a Labor Trustee on the SMWIA National Pension Fund. Marc and his wife Linda have two sons, both SMWIA members and third generation journeymen sheet metal workers.

The alumni of the year was chosen based on involvement with the alumni association and dedication to promoting NLC. Continue reading →

Diverse Student Body Learns from Each Other at NLC Spring Residency

19 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by NLCcommunity in College News

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Tags

AFL-CIO, bachelor's degree, IBEW, Labor Studies, National Labor College, residencies

IMG_0434This past President’s Day weekend, National Labor College students pursuing their degrees in the School of Labor Studies spent four days together in the intensive residency component of the Living Labor History class – a class which introduces students to the major developments of working people, their organizations, and their communities over the course of American history.

Continue reading →

Vigorous Discussions Highlight NLC Residency Program

26 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by NLCcommunity in College News

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labor history, Labor Studies, National Labor College, residencies

Image

Students research the 1949-50 attempt by the United Tobacco Workers to organize workers at RJ Reynolds.

National Labor College students from numerous unions across the country spent Veterans Day weekend learning from their classmates at the Living Labor History class held at Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies.  The four-day course is part of the requirements for students pursuing degrees in the School of Labor Studies.

The intensive class consisted of small and large group discussions, labor film review and discussion, a labor history lecture, an archives review exercise at University of Maryland’s Hornbake Library, and a night of singing labor songs with Joe Uehlein.  Many of the discussions looked at current labor issues and what lessons can be learned from the past.  Continue reading →

Union Degree Helps Firefighter Blaze Ahead

16 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by NLCcommunity in Alumni Spotlight

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Tags

bachelor's degree, Graduation, Health and Safety, IAFF, Labor Studies, National Labor College

Mark Fuller diploma photoOne of the biggest difficulties that union members face is that people don’t understand who we really are, says Mark Fuller of Kansas City, MO. “People don’t realize that we’re their neighbors, we’re in the car behind them picking up our kids at the same schools, we buy groceries at the same place,” says Mark.

“It’s because we don’t tell our story enough. In fact we don’t tell it at all. But we can’t tell our story if we don’t know it ourselves.” Continue reading →

Keeping Up and Reaching Out at NLC: Class President Post 2 of 2

13 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by NLCcommunity in Student Profiles

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CWA, Labor Studies, NABET, National Labor College, online degree, online learning, student government, Student Profiles

Since 1976, Carrie Biggs Adams has been a proud member of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-Communications Workers of America (NABET-CWA), first as a member and now as a Staff Representative working for the National to serve her membership.

Recently her “members” have grown to include the students of NLC with her recent election to class president. The class president works with the Chief Steward and Newsletter Editor to serve the student body for a year-long term. Carrie will work with alumni and faculty to provide the student perspective to help inform and enrich the College’s academic environment. Current students can join in on the conversation here.

Closing the Gap from 1970 to 2012

For the 59-year-old Labor Studies student of Colmar Manor, Maryland, returning to school after being away from the classroom for 30 years was a challenge. Continue reading →

Meet Your New Class President: Post 1 of 2

10 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by NLCcommunity in College News, Student Profiles

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Labor Studies, National Labor College, online degree, online learning, student government

Photo of Carrie Biggs-AdamsEach time Carrie Biggs-Adams enrolls in a new class, she can’t wait to see who she knows from prior classes and who else she’ll get to meet. So it’s no wonder that when 2011 Class President Mark King graduated this spring, Carrie was ready to step up and represent her classmates as the 2012 Student Class President. Continue reading →

Still “Raising Hell” at 61 – One Graduate’s Journey

17 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by NLCcommunity in Alumni Spotlight

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Commencement, graduate, Graduation, Labor Studies, National Labor College, online degree, SEIU

Helen Foreman-Hines Walks across the stageAs the 61-year-old grandmother walked across the stage at commencement, a large contingent of family and friends jumped out of their seats, hollered and snapped pictures with their cameras and cell phones.

It was graduation day and Helen Foreman-Hines had finally achieved her lifelong dream of earning her bachelor’s degree in labor studies from National Labor College.

After years of being a single parent, devoting all her energy to her family, her work and her union brothers and sisters, Helen decided it was finally her chance to finish her degree. Continue reading →

Did You See Dean Katz on MSNBC?

16 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by NLCcommunity in College News

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Labor Studies

Screen shot of videoOn Friday, July 13, NLC’s Dean of Labor Studies and School of Professional Studies Daniel Katz, PhD. appeared on “Now with Alex Wagner” on MSNBC.

If you missed it, check it out to see what Dean Katz had to say about Occupy Wall Street, the decline in union membership and “The Second Bill of Rights.”

Continue reading →

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