Four faculty members represented the department at the 2026 Labor Notes Conference, one of the nation’s leading gatherings of union activists, labor educators, and worker-organizers. Through workshops and panel discussions, they shared expertise on organizing, bargaining, strategic planning, and workplace power.
- Michael Childers presented “Challenging Production Standards and Understaffing,” exploring strategies workers can use to address excessive workloads and inadequate staffing levels.
- Lola Loustaunau facilitated the panel discussion “Assessing Our Power: Faculty and Staff Organizing on Campus,” which examined collective organizing efforts and labor relations in higher education.
- Don Taylor led two workshops: “Bargaining Tactics: Using Unfair Labor Practices Strategically” and “Fighting the Wrongs of Management’s Rights,” focusing on effective bargaining approaches and responding to management challenges in the workplace.
- Ericka Wills presented “How to Build Power: From Acting Tactically to Thinking Strategically,” helping participants consider long-term approaches to strengthening worker organizations.
Their participation reflects the department’s ongoing engagement with labor education, worker advocacy, and scholarship that connects academic research with real-world organizing and collective action.