The Workers in Solidarity and Education Conference 

Presented by Labor@Wayne, Wayne State University

Thursday, April 20 - Saturday, April 22, 2023
Hollywood Casino Hotel in Greektown, Downtown Detroit

 

 

Conference Agenda

Thursday, April 20th - Opening General Session and Reception

• 5:00 pm - Registration opens, 6th floor ballroom
• 6:00 pm - WISE Kickoff Reception
  • Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails (Cash/Credit Bar)

• 7:00 - 8:30 PM - General Session I

  • Acknowledgements
    • Jerome Buckley, Co-Chair, Civil Rights and Elections Committees, UAW Local 22
  • Introduction
    • Stephen Kennedy, Member, UAW Local 140
  • Welcome
    • Gayle Hamilton, Associate Director, WSU Labor School
  • "Excerpts of Forgotten:  Murder at the Ford Rouge Plant"
    • Bill Myer Band
  • Introduction
    • Jerome Buckley, Co-Chair, Civil Rights and Elections Committees, UAW Local 22
  • Remarks
    • Mark Gaffney, Chair, Board of Governors, Wayne State University
  • Introduction
    • Richard Mack, Partner, Miller Cohen PLC
  • Remarks
    • Elizabeth Kerwin, Regional Director, National Labor Relations Board
  • Closing- Stephen Kennedy, Member, UAW Local 140
• 8:30 - 9:30 pm - Reception continues / networking opportunity

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Friday, April 21st

• 7:30 am - Registration opens, 6th floor ballroom

• 7:30 - 8:30 am - Breakfast, 6th floor ballroom

• 8:30 - 8:40 am - Morning Welcome
  • Introduction - Stephen Kennedy, Member, UAW Local 140
  • Remarks - Jerome Buckley, Co-Chair, Civil Rights and Elections Committees, UAW Local 22

• 8:40 - 9:45 am - Voices of Union Leaders:  Lessons from the Past and Moving Their Organization Forward

  • General Session II, 6th floor ballroom
    • Moderator, Gayle Hamilton, Associate Director, WSU Labor School

    • Panelists:

      • Al Byrd, President, UAW Local 163

      • Noah Cope, President, United Steel Workers Local 2-1005

      • LaShawn English-UAW International Regional 1 DireCTOR

      • Andrea Hunter-President, United Steel Workers Local 1299 

      • Donna  Jackson, President, Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals, AFT

• 9:45 - 10:00 am - Organizational Notes

  • Jerome Buckley, Co-Chair, Civil Rights and Elections Committees, UAW Local 22

• 10:00 - 10:15 am - Break

• 10:15 am - 12:00 noon - Concurrent Classes

  • Representing Many: Collective Bargaining Immersion, Room A
    • Ed McNeal and Al Byrd
  • Mobilizing to Build Power, Room B
    • Lisa Wilkes and Cleo Wynn
  • Discipline and Discharge Grievances, Ballroom G
    • Dennis Albers and Aletha Smith
  • Planting Seeds: Developing New Leaders, Room F
    • Donna Jackson and Charlesetta Wilson
  • Getting Down to Union Business: Using Parliamentary Procedure to Run Effective Meetings. Room E
    • Junetta Wynn and Noah Cope
  • Labor Politics and Collective Strength, Room C
    • Victor Gibson and Andrea Hunter
  • Intersection of FMLA, ADA and MI Workers Compensation, Room D
    • Richard Mack, Bob Fetter, Andrea Hamm
  • WISE Women Lead, Ballroom H
    • Jackie Daugherty and Shunte Sanders-Beasley

• 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm - Lunch, ballroom

• 1:00 - 2:30 pm - Concurrent Classes

• 2:30 - 2:45 pm - Break

• 2:45 - 4:30 - Concurrent Classes

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Saturday, April 22nd

• 7:30 am - Registration opens, 6th floor ballroom

• 7:30 - 8:30 am - Breakfast, 6th floor ballroom

• 8:30 - 9:45 am - Social Movement Unionism

  • Gayle Hamilton, Associate Director, WSU Labor School

• 9:45 - 10:00 am - Break

• 10:00 am - 12:00 noon - Concurrent Classes

• 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm - Lunch, ballroom

• 1:15 - 2:45 pm - Concurrent Classes

• 2:45 - 3:00 pm - Break

• 3:00 - 4:30 - Concurrent Classes

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Important Information

Location

Hollywood Casino Hotel 6^th floor
555 East Lafayette St.
Detroit, MI 48226
313-223-2999

Parking

Free parking is available in the Hotel's self-parking structure.

Conference Registration/Check-In is available at the registration table on :

• Thursday afternoon, April 20, beginning at 5:00pm
• Friday/Saturday morning, beginning at 7:30am 
• You will be provided with a WSU lanyard and nametag that you must wear while attending conference events including classes, general sessions, and meals. 

Conference Fee Due March 31, 2023

Upon registration, you must pay any outstanding balance due at the time of check-in.  This includes your meal payment fee ($80) and conference tuition fee ($520) in order to be admitted to the conference classes and events.  You may pay with credit/debit card online prior to March 31, 2023. 

Meals, Food and Drinks

A $80 meal fee MUST BE PAID by all attendees for Friday and Saturday.  This includes:

• Two (2) breakfasts and lunches provided on Friday and Saturday.
• Labor@Wayne will host the Thursday evening "Opening Session/Reception" on Thursday, March 20.  Hors d'oeuvres will be provided at the opening reception beginning at 6pm. A short program will follow.    
• A cash/credit/debit card bar will be available for beverages/cocktails purchases during the reception/meeting beginning at 6:00pm.

WSU Certificate of Completion

Upon completion of your selected course, you will be provided with a "Certificate of Completion" issued by Wayne State University's Labor Studies Center.  Completion of your labor course will count as a course completed in the Labor School leadership certificate program. 

Hotel Guests-Hollywood Casino Hotel at Greektown

Check-in begins at 4:00pm daily.
Check-out time is 12:00 noon.

WISE Conference Administrative Staff and Contact Information

Labor@Wayne, Wayne State University
3244 Faculty Administration Building, 656 W. Kirby
Detroit, MI 48202
Office: (313) 577-2191

Gayle Hamilton Associate Director, WSU Labor School, ghamilton@wayne.edu
Jill Pruitt Administrative Assistant, Labor@Wayne, jill.pruitt@wayne.edu
Jackie Daugherty Program Coordinator, Labor@Wayne, j.daugherty@wayne.edu

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2023 WISE Conference Sponsors