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.
Upcoming 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
Spring/Summer 2025 Semester
Undergraduate (BAELR) Classes:
- ELR 1110 Work and Democracy: An Introduction
Asynchronous Online- 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 4500 Applied Labor Studies: Employment Relations Law
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: Nowakowski, Michael G.
- 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 7010 Healthcare, Retirement, and Employee Benefit Plans
Asynchronous Online- Comprehensive review for understanding the different approaches and strategems behind negotiating employee benefits and related issues. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- Instructor: Zambardi, Nicholas A.
- Comprehensive review for understanding the different approaches and strategems behind negotiating employee benefits and related issues. 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 G.
- 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 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.
- 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.
Fall 2025 Semester
- ELR 1110 Work and Democracy: An Introduction
Asynchronous Online- 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 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 A.
- 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 4500 [SEC 01] Applied Labor Studies: Collective Bargaining
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. This iteration of the course is listed as ELR 4500 Section 01, and will focus on Collective Bargaining.
- Instructor: Jenkins, Reginald T.
- Practical training for students in various labor relations specialties, such as collective bargaining or labor law, for future employment and/or union work. This iteration of the course is listed as ELR 4500 Section 01, and will focus on Collective Bargaining.
- ELR 4500 [SEC 02] Applied Labor Studies: Employment Relations Law
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. This iteration of the course is listed as ELR 4500 Section 02, and will focus on labor and employment relations law.
- Instructor: Nowakowski, Michael G.
- Practical training for students in various labor relations specialties, such as collective bargaining or labor law, for future employment and/or union work. This iteration of the course is listed as ELR 4500 Section 02, and will focus on labor and employment relations law.
- 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 4700 Senior Seminar
Asynchronous Online- Satisfies General Education Requirement: Writing Intensive Competency. Research, reflection, discussion and analysis of labor relations practice.
- Instructor: Liebler, Michael L.
- Satisfies General Education Requirement: Writing Intensive Competency. Research, reflection, discussion and analysis of labor relations practice.
- 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.
- ELR 5100 Advocacy Journalism in Labor
Wednesday, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Synchronous Online- This class will investigate labor journalism from its origins to its modern state, with a focus on how to write for the labor press. In this course you will learn both how to engage with individual interviewees and understand the nuances of modern trade unionism by engaging with common and ethical practices utilized by labor journalists in history and today.
- Instructor: Grieco, Lou
- This class will investigate labor journalism from its origins to its modern state, with a focus on how to write for the labor press. In this course you will learn both how to engage with individual interviewees and understand the nuances of modern trade unionism by engaging with common and ethical practices utilized by labor journalists in history and today.
Graduate (MAELR) Classes:
- ELR 7450 Employment Relations Law in North America
Asynchronous Online- Federal and state legislation affecting employee-employer relations: discrimination, pension, occupational safety and health, and fair labor standards. Implementation of these policies and effects on worker-manager relations in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- Instructor: Nowakowski, Michael G.
- Federal and state legislation affecting employee-employer relations: discrimination, pension, occupational safety and health, and fair labor standards. Implementation of these policies and effects on worker-manager relations in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- ELR 7550 Selected Topics in ELR: Advocacy Journalism in Labor
Wednesday, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Synchronous Online- Various topics to be offered on a limited basis to meet needs of students with special interests not covered by regular course offerings. This class will investigate labor journalism from its origins to its modern state, with a focus on how to write for the labor press. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- Instructor: Grieco, Lou
- Various topics to be offered on a limited basis to meet needs of students with special interests not covered by regular course offerings. This class will investigate labor journalism from its origins to its modern state, with a focus on how to write for the labor press. 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 7700 Current and Future Trends in Collective Bargaining
Asynchronous Online- Collective bargaining, current and future directions; emphasis on joint union-management approach to developing programs improving the quality of work life through workers' involvement in the decision-making process; examination of practical procedures to initiate and implement such programs. Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
- Instructor: Jenkins, Reginald T.
- Collective bargaining, current and future directions; emphasis on joint union-management approach to developing programs improving the quality of work life through workers' involvement in the decision-making process; examination of practical procedures to initiate and implement such programs. 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.