2010 Summer Schools

More information will be posted as it becomes available

The Western Regional Summer Institute for Union Women will take place July 6-10, 2010, at Reed College in Portland, OR. Download a Save the Date flyer here. For information, contact Helen Moss

The Northeast Regional Women's School will take place at Penn State University in State College, PA, during the last week of July, 2010. Click here for a Save the Date flyer. For more information, contact Cheryl Reynolds,  Julie Sadler or Amy Dietz.

The Midwest School for Women Workers will be hosted by the University of Minnesota Labor Education Service in Minneapolis, from July 28-August 1. The Coordinators will be Mary Bellman and Deborah Rosenstein. For Save the Date flyer, click here.

The 2010 Southern School for Union Women will be held at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, MD, from Aug 19 -22.  Details will be posted as they become available. For now, contact Elise Bryant or Barbara Miller for more information .

 History of the Union Women's Summer Schools

Now in their 34th year, the Union Women's Summer Schools began in the Northeast Region and expanded to the Midwest, Western and Southern Districts of the United States. Their conception was rooted in the  traditions of early worker education,as exemplified by the Bryn Mawr summer schools for Women Workers of the 1920;s and the WPA worker education programs of the 1930's, Courses of study were tailored to the needs and interests of working people. Barbara Wertheimer, Director of Cornell' Institute of Women and Work, introduced the idea to colleagues in the University and College Labor Education Association (precursor to the UALE). Encouraged by the the rising feminist movement and the founding of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the UCLEA launched its first school in 1975 at the University of Connecticut. Designed by a committee of labor educators, the residential school s bring together rank and file women  workers , officers and staff to strengthen their knowledge of the labor movement and develop skills which will enable them to become more active and influential in their unions. The schools are a place where women unionists can share experiences and give one another support. As Gloria Johnson, past President of CLUW and frequent speaker at the schools' graduations ceremonies pointed out, "We have to create "old girls" networks to be able to support each other and advance. "The schools contribute to this objective, as evidenced by the record of participants. Over the past 34 years, the schools have educated thousands, many of whom have become leaders of their unions

Current union women summer schools are coordinated by the UALE Women's Committee and rotate in location as they are hosted by university labor education programs in each region. Scholarships are available.  Classes are supplemented with   networking opportunities. Often participants engage in demonstrations relating to  local labor struggles. Visitors from unions in other countries frequently  participate.

For more pictures of past summer schools, go to our Photo Gallery pages

2008 Summer Schools The Western Regional Summer Institute for Union Women was held at the University of Victoria on Vancouver Island,BC, July 9-13.  To download the brochure, click here. The Midwest and Southern Regions held a combined Women's School at the University of Missouri in St. Louis, from July 10-13. For brochure, click here. The Northeast Women's School took place at the University of Connecticut at Storrs, CT, August 3-8.  For brochure, click here. Pictures of the 2008 Northeast Women's School can be seen on our Photo Gallery page.   2005 Union Women's Summer Schools Sitting outside     Orange and Proud   In the hallway   Graduation lunch Photos from Northeast Summer School by Cheryl (Poet) Minor

2003 Union Women's Summer Schools   A rousing chorus of "Solidarity Forever"...    ...at the Northeast Women's Summer School