New School for Union Organizers, bulk: 1988 - 1992

File — Box: 7, Folder: 2-5

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The file contains materials from academic sessions, including course material, graduation, orientation, evaluations, application processes. The file also has some standard Labor Center materials that were utilized in the New School over the years.

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within 1988 - 1992

Creator

From the Collection: Leahy, Dan (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to the public and must be viewed in The Evergreen State College Archives and Special Collections reading room.

Biographical / Historical

The New School was started in 1988 by Dan Leahy, Director of the Labor Center. It was intended for individuals who were sponsored by their unions and interested in becoming union organizers. Between 1989-1994, the New School graduated forty-six organizers from twelve different international unions. Initially, the New School lasted three full quarters, beginning in the winter quarter with graduation in the fall.

In the years 1995 to 1999, the New School consisted of two quarters, winter and spring (once/week for ten weeks) and was open to both TESC students and union or community sponsored students. The first quarter focused on American labor history and the second quarter on structure, strategy and tactics. Helen Lee, Labor Center Director, Clark Gilman, Labor Center Staff and Sarah Ryan, Labor Studies Faculty were the main instructors, along with members of the Labor Center Advisory Committee.