Leadership School Participants.

Sheena Foster from SEIU 660 reports back from her discussion group.

Black history month ushered in the third graduating class of the UCLA African American Union Leadership School. Tatia Wade of AFSCME Local 3090 says the training inspired and educated her on how to deepen her role in the labor movement: “This program inspired me to be a leader on the executive board of my union and to become more proactive in the workplace when it comes to defending workers rights.” California Assemblymember Karen Bass, State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, SEIU Local 6434 President Tyrone Freeman, and CTA Staff Attorney Brenda Sutton-Wills addressed the graduation audience.

The group of twenty-five union activists from across Los Angeles began the leadership training in November and participated in three monthly reconvenes. “Where else in this Los Angeles labor movement can we come together and understand the history of workers’ rights through our own experiences and then develop a strategy on how to make our own history in terms of our role as leaders in the labor movement and in our community,’’ said ILWU Local 26 Crane Operator Greg Walter.

In addition to exploring historic labor struggles, learning how to develop campaign strategies, and understanding global economic trends and the necessity for organizing, students developed a power analysis of black labor in Los Angeles in order to understand the challenges and opportunities for organizing and strengthening worker rights in the African American community. Participants will host a labor forum this summer to present their power analysis findings and recommendations.