Welcome to Labor@Wayne
For over 60 years, Wayne State University has been a resource to workers, labor, and the employment and labor relations community. Labor@Wayne is the home base for these efforts. Renamed in 2009, Labor@Wayne built on the past efforts of the Institute for Labor and Industrial Relations, Labor Studies programs, and the Labor School to carry forward the commitment of Wayne State University to research, educate, and promote labor and employment relations, knowledge about the workplace and workers, and understanding the history, current state, and future of the labor movement in the United States and globally.
We at Labor@Wayne are dedicated to supporting labor research and education and to providing union and community programs designed to promote and support effective labor relations and union representation.
Labor@Wayne houses the Douglas A. Fraser Center for Workplace Issues, a program which fosters and recognizes faculty and student research through annual awards and public lectures. The Center sponsors a range of conference workshops and events designed to bring labor, business, government and community leaders together. Labor@Wayne also provides labor education to address the problems of a postindustrial age and coordinate both graduate and undergraduate degrees in employment and labor relations. The Labor School offers a certificate program that provides union workers an introduction to labor history and economics, labor law, and applied skill courses.
Located in the Reuther Library at Wayne State University, an archive originally built by the United Auto Workers (UAW), Labor@Wayne delves into the past of the labor movement, explores the present moment in its complexity, and works to prepare the next generation of scholars and workers for the future.
Winter 2025 Employment and Labor Relations (ELR) Courses:
Labor@Wayne, in cooperation with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, offers two degree programs to serve the needs of students interested in employee and labor relations. Our programs are interdisciplinary, including elements of labor studies, labor history and economics, and dispute resolution, as well as work in human resource management.
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Click Here for More Information on Our Undergraduate (BAELR) Program
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Click Here for More Information on Our Master's Level (MAELR) Program
Undergraduate (BAELR) Classes:
- ELR 1110 Work and Democracy: An Introduction
Asynchronous Online (Currently Full, Requires Course Override)- This course explores the role that labor and the labor movement have played in shaping democracy in the United States over the past two centuries and the limits of democracy in the workplace. It covers key political achievements of labor and workers' organizations and the contemporary challenges they face today.
- Instructor: McQuaid, Jamie
- This course explores the role that labor and the labor movement have played in shaping democracy in the United States over the past two centuries and the limits of democracy in the workplace. It covers key political achievements of labor and workers' organizations and the contemporary challenges they face today.
- ELR 1110 Work and Democracy: An Introduction (Honors)
Tuesday, 2:30 - 5:00 PM: Roy Wilson State Hall, 2207 (Requires Honors College Enrollment)- This course explores the role that labor and the labor movement have played in shaping democracy in the United States over the past two centuries and the limits of democracy in the workplace. It covers key political achievements of labor and workers' organizations and the contemporary challenges they face today.
- Instructor: Faue, Elizabeth V.
- This course explores the role that labor and the labor movement have played in shaping democracy in the United States over the past two centuries and the limits of democracy in the workplace. It covers key political achievements of labor and workers' organizations and the contemporary challenges they face today.
- ELR 2500 Introduction to Labor Studies
Asynchronous Online- Introduces students to labor and employment relations, and how to successfully navigate them in the twenty-first-century workplace. Learn the essential nature, evolution, and purpose of labor.
- Instructor: Daugherty, Jacqueline Anne
- Introduces students to labor and employment relations, and how to successfully navigate them in the twenty-first-century workplace. Learn the essential nature, evolution, and purpose of labor.
- ELR 3400 The Car in American Life and Labor
Tuesday and Thursday, 10:30 AM - 12:10 PM: Old Main Building, 0165- This course focuses on the history and current role of the automobile in the American economy and society. It teaches students to think about labor and workplace dynamics and develop a historical perspective on current labor questions. The course seeks to expand students’ understanding of what work is, where it happens, and the spectrum of workplace issues by examining automotive manufacturing, advertising, sales, trucking and taxi driving, design, urban planning, and the gig economy.
- Instructor: Milloy, Jeremy
- This course focuses on the history and current role of the automobile in the American economy and society. It teaches students to think about labor and workplace dynamics and develop a historical perspective on current labor questions. The course seeks to expand students’ understanding of what work is, where it happens, and the spectrum of workplace issues by examining automotive manufacturing, advertising, sales, trucking and taxi driving, design, urban planning, and the gig economy.
- ELR 3434 Labor in Latin America
Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM: Roy Wilson State Hall, 0205- The aim of this course is to introduce students to the history of labor and the working-class throughout Latin America from pre-Hispanic times to the present. The class begins by looking at indigenous labor in the pre-Colombian context. This section will include readings on communal labor with emphasis on peasant classes. The second section moves to the Conquest of Latin America. Students will learn how colonialism influenced and drastically changed how people participated in the workforce. There will be readings on slave and indigenous labor. The third section deals with the independence and nation-building periods of the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Instructor: Esquivel-King, Reyna
- The aim of this course is to introduce students to the history of labor and the working-class throughout Latin America from pre-Hispanic times to the present. The class begins by looking at indigenous labor in the pre-Colombian context. This section will include readings on communal labor with emphasis on peasant classes. The second section moves to the Conquest of Latin America. Students will learn how colonialism influenced and drastically changed how people participated in the workforce. There will be readings on slave and indigenous labor. The third section deals with the independence and nation-building periods of the 19th and 20th centuries.
- ELR 4500 Applied Labor Studies: Labor and Health
Tuesday, 5:30 - 8:00 PM: Roy Wilson State Hall, 0207- Practical training for students in various labor relations specialties, such as collective bargaining or labor law, for future employment and/or union work. Consult instructor, specific topic changes every semester.
- Instructor: Swain, Michael J.
- Practical training for students in various labor relations specialties, such as collective bargaining or labor law, for future employment and/or union work. Consult instructor, specific topic changes every semester.
- ELR 4500 Applied Labor Studies: Labor through the Arts
Asynchronous Online- Practical training for students in various labor relations specialties, such as collective bargaining or labor law, for future employment and/or union work. Consult instructor, specific topic changes every semester.
- Instructor: Liebler, Michael L.
- Practical training for students in various labor relations specialties, such as collective bargaining or labor law, for future employment and/or union work. Consult instructor, specific topic changes every semester.
- ELR 4500 Applied Labor Studies: Labor, Advocacy Journalism, and Media
Wednesday, 6:00 - 8:30 PM: Synchronous Online- Practical training for students in various labor relations specialties, such as collective bargaining or labor law, for future employment and/or union work. Consult instructor, specific topic changes every semester.
- Instructor: Grieco, Lou
- Practical training for students in various labor relations specialties, such as collective bargaining or labor law, for future employment and/or union work. Consult instructor, specific topic changes every semester.
- ELR 4600 Internship in Employment and Labor Relations
Arranged- Employment and Labor Relations majors are encouraged to complete an internship at a local public agency, labor union, non-profit, business, or community organization. The internships are individually arranged, in consultation with the director/instructor, the academic advisor, and the organization or agency. Students should align their internship experience with their major focus and/or concentration in the program and their career objectives, including work in the areas of labor and health, culture, communications, non-profit sector, and/or human resources.
- Instructor: Faue, Elizabeth V.
- Employment and Labor Relations majors are encouraged to complete an internship at a local public agency, labor union, non-profit, business, or community organization. The internships are individually arranged, in consultation with the director/instructor, the academic advisor, and the organization or agency. Students should align their internship experience with their major focus and/or concentration in the program and their career objectives, including work in the areas of labor and health, culture, communications, non-profit sector, and/or human resources.
- ELR 4990 Directed Study
Arranged- Students may decide that there is a particular area of study that they would like to pursue.
- Instructor: Faue, Elizabeth V.
- Students may decide that there is a particular area of study that they would like to pursue.
Graduate (MAELR) Classes:
- ELR 7000 Introduction to Labor and Employment Relations
Asynchronous Online- Introduction to the broad and changing field of labor and employment relations. Topics from the nature of work and role of labor in society to current labor and employment laws. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- Instructor: Jenkins, Reginald Terrence
- Introduction to the broad and changing field of labor and employment relations. Topics from the nature of work and role of labor in society to current labor and employment laws. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- ELR 7400 Labor Relations Law in North America
Asynchronous Online- Federal and provincial regulation of union organizing, collective bargaining and union contract administration in the private sector. Content, administration and judicial interpretation of labor relations legislation in the United States, Mexico, and the Canadian province of Ontario. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- Instructor: Nowakowski, Michael Gregory
- Federal and provincial regulation of union organizing, collective bargaining and union contract administration in the private sector. Content, administration and judicial interpretation of labor relations legislation in the United States, Mexico, and the Canadian province of Ontario. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- ELR 7550 Selected Topics in Employment and Labor Relations
Tuesday, 5:30 - 8:00 PM: Roy Wilson State Hall, 0207- Various topics to be offered on a limited basis to meet needs of students with special interests not covered by regular course offerings. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- Instructor: Swain, Michael J.
- Various topics to be offered on a limited basis to meet needs of students with special interests not covered by regular course offerings. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- ELR 7600 Internship in Employment and Labor Relations
Arranged- Experience gained through working closely with those in the field of Employment and Labor Relations, students will transfer their learned skills from the classroom to a practical setting. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- Instructor: Faue, Elizabeth V.
- Experience gained through working closely with those in the field of Employment and Labor Relations, students will transfer their learned skills from the classroom to a practical setting. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- ELR 7990 Directed Study
Arranged- Students may decide that there is a particular area of study that they would like to pursue. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- Instructor: Faue, Elizabeth V.
- Students may decide that there is a particular area of study that they would like to pursue. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- ELR 8500 Strategic Analysis of North American Labor and Human Resources Issues
Monday, 6:00 - 8:30 PM: Synchronous Online- Analysis on micro (game theory) and macro (planning) levels; integration of skills; student teams work as consultants for client organization on strategic labor or human resource problem. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- Instructor: Sandefur, Scott
- Analysis on micro (game theory) and macro (planning) levels; integration of skills; student teams work as consultants for client organization on strategic labor or human resource problem. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.