Level-up with LERC spring courses

Opportunities for movement members to grow organizing skills and explore values-based management approaches

SEATTLE, WA (February 24, 2026) — The Washington State Labor Education and Research Center is offering two exciting courses this spring for union members and allied workers looking to expand their skills for building people power. The courses — Power Based Approaches to Union Organizing and Managing with Labor’s Values — convene through March and April and May, respectively.

LERC’s mission is to offer high-quality education and training programs for Washington’s workers, building the skills, confidence, and knowledge that workers need to know, exercise, and improve their rights in the workplace. More details about their spring course offerings are as follows:

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Spring Public Course: Power Based Approaches to Union Organizing

Ready to organize? Join the Washington Labor Education and Research Center for our Power Based Approaches to Organizing series! Together, we will discuss how we build power as workers, how to identify sources of power through mapping our workplaces and communities, and practice techniques to talk to our coworkers about taking collective action. This series will be held across 3 Tuesdays from 6pm to 8pm, hybrid, both in-person at the Labor Center in Georgetown and online via Zoom. We encourage folks to register with their fellow union members!

• Session 1: Introduction to Power Based Approaches to Organizing (Tuesday, March 17th, 6-8 PM hybrid)

• Session 2: One on One Organizing Conversations: Moving Members to Take Collective Action (Tuesday, March 24th, 6-8 PM hybrid)

• Session 3: Organizing Conversation Toolkit: Overcoming Objections and Answering Hard Questions (Tuesday, March 31st, 6-8 PM hybrid)

Registration cost is $30 for all three classes. More information here, and registration here.

Managing with Labor’s Values
(in partnership with Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations)

Not only is it possible to manage staff without compromising on values, it is critical that managers at unions and social justice organizations get the training they need to become effective leaders and make the best use of limited resources. During the 4 day workshop, participants will learn to help staff succeed, foster shared accountability, and respond to common management issues while honoring the values of the labor movement.

• Part One: April 9th & 10th, 9 AM – 5 PM
• Part Two: May 7th & 8th, also 9 AM – 5 PM

This workshop is open to leaders and staff directors with supervisory/managerial responsibilities who are based at labor unions or social justice organizations. Registration cost is $1,500. More details here, and registration here.