Union workers rally to keep University of Michigan's Labor Studies Center

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/04/union_workers_rally_to_keep_un.html

Posted by Dave Gershman | The Ann Arbor News April 18, 2008 10:43AM

Union members and supporters rallied Thursday to demand that the University of Michigan continue its Labor Studies Center, which offers labor conferences and adult education geared to union workers.

The fate of the center, established in 1957, is in doubt because U-M is reorganizing the center's parent institute on campus. University officials have spoken with schools that include Wayne State University and Michigan State University about taking over the role of providing the labor conferences.

About 40 union members and supporters rallied outside the Fleming Administration Building before the monthly meeting of the U-M Board of Regents, and four supporters of the center later addressed the regents during the public comments period.

U-M's Vice President for Research Stephen Forrest said after the regents meeting that no decisions have been made and that no conferences have been canceled.

"We're working quite energetically to figure out where the best opportunities exist for strengthening the programs," Forrest said.

The center employs four full-time-equivalent people, including a research scientist, though others on campus have a connection to the center, supporters said.

FULL story at link.