Public Courses

The Washington State Labor Education and Research Center (LERC) provides classes and workshops to union members explicitly aimed at helping them play bigger roles in their union. This includes classes on essential skills, including 1:1 organizing, planning campaigns, handling grievances, and participating in bargaining. Individuals who have completed LERC trainings have often gone on to get elected as stewards, board members, and have led campaigns and committees.

The LERC’s courses are typically offered hybrid, both in-person at South Seattle College’s Georgetown Campus, and online, reaching participants across Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

Examples of Public Courses include:

Spring 2026 Public Training Series: Member Organizing. Three-week deep dive on power-focused approaches to one-on-one member organizing. March 17, 6-8 PM: Power-Based Approach to Organizing. March 24, 6-8 PM: One-on-One Organizing Conversations. March 31, 6-8 PM: Organizing Toolkit for Navigating Difficult Organizing Conversations. Location: Hybrid, in-person at the Labor Center, 6737 Corson Ave South, Georgetown, and online via Zoom. Cost: $30 for all three classes. Register at tinyurl.com/lerc-spring-26-course
Fall 2025 Collective Bargaining 101. Six sessions from November 6 to December 11, 6-8 PM. November 6: Grounding Concepts for Bargaining 101. November 13: Preparing Contract Proposals to Set Up for Success. November 20: Power at the Table: Negotiation Practices and Strategy. December 4: Planning a Campaign of Escalating Actions. December 11: Member Participation in Bargaining. Cost: $25, includes meal and refreshments for in-person attendance. Hybrid format in-person at the WA Labor Center and online via Zoom. Register at tinyurl.com/lerc-fall-25-bargaining
November Labor Education. Labor Then and Now: A Primer on Labor History, Thursday November 14, 6-8 PM. Inoculation Against Anti-Union Propaganda, Thursday November 21, 6-8 PM. In-person and online. Info and registration at WALaborCenter.org or call 206-934-6671
Building Stronger Unions in Our Workplace. Two-part series on building strong unions and taking on management at the bargaining table. October 15 and 29 at 6 PM, in-person and online. Info and registration at WALaborCenter.org or call 206-934-6671