Labor Studies Program

New York City

Winter 2008 – Course Offerings

To register for the Winter2008 term, please fill out the form below. Tuition is $175 per credit, or $525 per 3-credit course. Please send the registration form and payment to the following address: Labor Studies Program, Cornell University-NYSSILR 16 East 34^th Street, 4^th Floor, NY, NY 10016 or fax: 212.340.2822. For more information, call Stacy Reynolds at 212.340.2809.

Name (first, Middle, Last) ____________________________________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________________________________________________

City__________________________________State____________________Zip_________________________________

Telephone (work) ____________________(home)________________________(cell)_____________________________

Email _________________________________________________

Social Security Number ________________________________________Date of Birth ___________________________

Signature of Registrant ______________________________________________________________________________

Union________________________________________________________ Local #______________________________

Union Address______________________________________________________________________________________

City_____________________________________State______________________Zip____________________________

Telephone_________________________________________________________________________________________

Fill out the following section ONLY if Cornell is to bill the union directly.

Contact Person_____________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone_________________________________________________________________________________________

Check appropriate course(s) for enrollment.

The History of Black Workers in the US	6:00 – 9:15 p.m.	Mondays (12 weeks)
Contract Administration	6:00 – 9:15 p.m.	Mondays (12 weeks)
Defending the Individual Worker	6:00 – 9:15 p.m.	Tuesdays (12 weeks)
Labor Law	6:00 – 9:15 p.m.	Tuesdays (12 weeks)
Leadership within Unions	6:00 – 9:15 p.m.	Wednesday (12 weeks)
Arbitration	6:00 – 9:15 p.m.	Wednesdays (12 weeks)
Legal Rights of Injured Workers	6:00 – 9:15 p.m.	Thursday (12 weeks)

The History of Black Workers in the United States

Mondays, January 7 – March 24, 2008

Instructor: Russell Rickford

Over the course of the trimester students will gain an understanding of various themes in African-American labor history. We will examine changes in wage and labor structures and industrial production while exploring strategies and patterns of organization, protest and negotiation of black workers since emancipation.

Contract Administration

Mondays, January 7 – March 24, 2008

Instructor: Debra Bergen

The contract lies at the center of day-to-day union practice. But how is it interpreted and enforced? How can union leaders, stewards, and rank and file members ensure that the contract is honored and not circumvented? This course explores the history of contract-based unionism, the advantages and disadvantages for unions, and alternative approaches.

Defending the Individual Worker

Tuesdays, January 8 – March 25, 2008

Instructor: Gabrielle Semel

This course is designed to assist union officials, staff and stewards understand the rights individual workers have under the “just cause” provisions of collective bargaining agreements and various employment related statutes. Students will develop an in depth understanding of all aspects of just cause and will learn how to investigate a case covering all potentially pertinent issues. Students will also learn the basics of unemployment insurance, workers compensation, workplace discrimination, fair labor standards, family medical leave laws and other related workplace issues.

Labor Law

Tuesdays, January 8 – March 25, 2008

Instructor: Ivan Smith

This course surveys the major areas of the law as it applies to workers and unions. It focuses on unions’ right to organize and the ground rules for collective bargaining and strikes. Students will concentrate on major provisions of the National Labor Relations Act, examining how the NLRB and the Federal Courts have interpreted the national labor laws.

Leadership within Unions
Wednesdays, January 9 – March 26, 2008

Instructor: Sally Alvarez

This course prepares students to play a leadership role within their own unions. It develops the abilities necessary for effective leadership such as decision- making, planning, motivating membership, and improving communication. Organizational structure and group dynamics in unions will be discussed. Opportunities to apply theories and concepts of leadership and organizational dynamics to the student’s current union work will be provided.

Arbitration

Wednesdays, January 9 – March 26, 2008

Instructor: Josh Bienstock

This course will provide students with case studies in arbitrations covering various issues such as discipline, contract interpretations, past practice, wages, hours, and working conditions, in order to develop practical case-handling skills and to develop effective techniques and strategies for being an effective advocate in labor arbitration hearings.

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Legal Rights of Injured Workers

Thursdays, January 10 – March 27, 2008

Instructor: Robert Grey

Each year, more than 150,000 of New York’s working men and women are injured on the job. This course offers in-depth education about the legal rights of injured and disabled workers. We will discuss ways to improve collective bargaining agreements and occupational safety and health programs so that workplace injuries are reduced, injured workers return to work more quickly, and benefits are improved. Course material will include the Workers’ Compensation Law (including the 2007 changes), New York State disability benefits, Social Security Disability benefits, unemployment insurance, long term disability benefits, disability pensions, No-Fault insurance and third-party actions.