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The Labor Education Program (LEP) is based on the strong belief that education plays an important role in helping every American worker realize the promise of economic opportunity.

History

The only state-wide labor education program, LEP was formally established in early 1947 in response to the educational demands of workers belonging to newly-formed unions. Over time, the program’s mission of worker outreach, education and participatory-action research has expanded to serve low-wage and other marginalized workers in addition to union members. LEP made a strategic move to conduct labor education programming outside of the Chicago area to meet the diverse needs of the one million members of the Illinois labor movement.

Programs

With offices in Urbana and Chicago, LEP provides educational programs for over 2,000 union members and other workers each year. Most classes are held in the evening or on weekends in various locations throughout Illinois – including union halls, workplaces, community organizations, worker centers and schools, as well as online. Week-long residential summer programs are held on the university’s Urbana campus.

Research

LEP faculty, through the Project for Middle Class Renewal, also conducts community-based research to support worker struggles and contribute to popular understanding of the issues facing workers and the region’s vibrant labor history.

Contact

If you have suggestions about how the Labor Education Program can be used as a resource to your union/organization, please contact us.

Labor Education Advisory Board

(As of December 2022. Listed alphabetically by union then last name.)

  • Roberta Lynch- Executive Director, AFSCME Council 31
  • Mike Newman- Deputy Director, AFSCME Council 31
  • Mike Perry- Education Director, AFSCME Council 31
  • Toi Bowers- Recording/ Financial Secretary, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241
  • Keith Hill- President/Business Agent, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241
  • Eric Dixon- President/Business Agent, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308
  • Clare Brook- Vice President, American Postal Workers Union
  • Bob Gunter- President, American Postal Workers Union
  • Luke Howieson- Vice Presicent, Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois AFFI-IAFF
  • Chuck Sullivan- President, Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois AFFI-IAFF
  • Mike Macellaio- President, Chicago Building Trades Council
  • James Coyne- Business Manager, Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 UA
  • Bob Reiter- President, Chicago Federation of Labor
  • Dan Allen- Executive Director, CISCO
  • Michael Clemmons- International Vice President, IBEW 6th District
  • Marc Poulos- Exceutive Director, III FFC
  • Tim Drea- President, Illinois AFL-CIO
  • Pat Devaney- Secretary-Treasurer, Illinois AFL-CIO
  • Amy Rueff- Resource Director, Illinois AFL-CIO
  • Frank Manzo IV- Executive Director, Illinois Economic Policy Institute
  • Al Llorens- Vice-President, Illinois Education Association
  • Kathi Griffin- President, Illinois Education Association/National Education Association
  • Dan Montgomery- President/COO, Illinois Federation of Teachers/American Federation of Teachers
  • Julia Bartmes- Executive Director, Illinois Nurses Association
  • Don Finn- Business  Manager/Financial Secretary , International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134
  • James Sweeney- President/Business Manager, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150
  • Jennifer Lee- Director, JCL Strategies
  • James Connolly- Business Manager, Laborers District Council of Chicago & Vicinity – LiUNA
  • Deirdre Darnall- Communications Director, Laborers District Council of Chicago & Vicinity – LiUNA
  • David Frye- Vice President & Regional Manager, Laborers District Council of Chicago & Vicinity – LiUNA
  • Joseph Healy- Secretary Treasurer, Laborers District Council of Chicago & Vicinity – LiUNA
  • Steven Powell- President, Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers Union
  • Maggie Vis- Director of Communications, Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers Union
  • David Frye- President, LiUNA Midwest Region – LiUNA
  • Tim Ryan- Tri-Fund Coordinator, Midwest Laborers – LiUNA
  • Gary Perinar- Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council
  • Elise Foster- President, National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 11
  • Ken Munz- Vice-President, SEIU 1
  • Myra Glassman- Vice President, SEIU Healthcare
  • Greg Kelley- President, SEIU Healthcare
  • Genie Kastrup- President, SEIU Local 1
  • Terrence Hancock- President, Teamsters Joint Council 25
  • Matt Kelly- Business Manager/Financial Secretary, UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 149
  • Christopher Hernandez, Business Manager, UA 597
  • Ron McInroy- Director, United Auto Workers Region 4
  • Chris Kasmer- Business Representative, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
  • Charva Jones- Education Director, United Steelworkers District 7
  • Michael Millsap- Director, United Steelworkers District 7
  • Robert Guy- State Legislative Director, United Transportation Union
  • Karen Kent- President, UNITE HERE Local 1
  • Dan Miller- Organizing Director, UNITE HERE Local 1
  • Clint Drury- Executive Director, West Central Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council