Workplace Rights & Inclusion   

Course Overview

Dates: Thursdays Sept 10-Oct 15 from 6:00pm-8:30 PM

Instructors: Scontras Labor Center Staff and Expert Guest Speakers

A union is only as strong as its active membership, but it often feels like “no one wants to do anything.”  When engagement stalls, organizational strength disappears. This 6-week course is designed for stewards, activists, and union leaders who seek to increase members’ participation. 

Through a blend of theory and hands-on practice, you will learn how to transform apathy into action. In this interactive course, we will explore tools such as organizational analysis, mapping and charting, relationship building, 1:1 conversations, structure tests, and action planning. Participants will create a customizable toolkit to increase membership participation and build the structural power necessary to win better contracts and respect on the job. 

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

–Identify workplace leaders

—Create trust through relationship building and 1:1 conversations

–Understand, design, and implement structure tests

–Understand, design, and implement action plans 

The Veteran Workforce Integration Workshop, a comprehensive, evidence-based training program developed by the University of Southern Maine in partnership with Maine Hire, Maine Bureau of Veterans Services, and Veterans Affairs (VA) Maine Healthcare System. The program is designed to equip employers, HR professionals, managers, and workplace leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully integrate veterans into civilian work environments.

Through this workshop series, participants will:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of military culture and structure across the six branches of the United States Armed Forces

• Recognize challenges veterans face during civilian transitions, including identity, community, mental health, and financial considerations

• Acquire critical cultural competency skills and practical strategies to create inclusive workplace environments

• Apply best practices for recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and retaining veteran employees

• Build bridges between military and civilian workplace cultures through effective communication strategies

• Understand federal employer incentives and legal obligations related to veteran employment, including the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), SkillBridge, USERRA, and the HIRE Vets Medallion Award

Course Overview 

​​Dates: Thursdays from Nov 5-Dec 17 (No Class on Nov 26-Thanksgiving)

Instructors: Scontras Labor Center Staff and Expert Guest Speakers

Strong unions depend on strong stewards/union reps, yet the role of steward/rep is often a thankless and overwhelming job. Stewards/reps thrive when they understand their roles and have the tools to manage their responsibilities.  This course will teach stewards/reps and future stewards/reps skills such as the rights and responsibilities of shop stewards, basic workplace rights, how to investigate and present grievances, the basics of arbitration, and internal organizing and record-keeping. Students will learn through a blend of lectures, case studies, exercises, and role-plays. 

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the course, students will understand:

-When an issue is and isn’t a grievance

-How to investigate and present grievances

-How to address workplace issues that may not be grievable

–Basic workplace rights

–Basics of arbitration

–Basic record keeping