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Industry Councils

Impacting Industries Nationally

Industry Councils represent a bold initiative for the LERA, building on a long tradition of industry-focused analysis and publications by the Association. A network of tri-partite industry councils is organizing, with efforts already underway in

Enabled with a major grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, this initiative represents a key structural addition to the Association - complementing the work of the National Organization, the Local Chapters, and the various Sections that have been established.

Certainly, the competitive and employment dynamics of different industries warrant industry-specific analysis and action. This is a been a key motivation behind the efforts of the Sloan Foundation to establish a broad range of "Industry Centers" in different universities, as well as other support for the concept of "Industry Studies." In speaking to the LERA National Executive Board, the Sloan Foundation Program Officer for this initiative, Gail Pesyna, urged our Association to be bold in our efforts so that each Industry Council can have a positive impact on competitiveness and other societal outcomes in each industry.

To form a council, a charter needs to be submitted to the LERA National Executive Board with labor, management and third-party (government, neutral, academic) leadership, along with a list of charter members. The activities of the Councils will include a number of relevant LERA activities, such as meeting during the pre-session before the annual LERA national meeting, proposing one or more industry panel sessions for the Annual Meeting and the National Policy Forum, promoting dialogue on industry-specific issues on the LERA electronic listservs, contributing articles to the LERA newsletter or Perspectives on Work, and working with local LERA chapters on programming relevant to a given industry. In addition, the Councils may link with the Sloan Industry Centers and help advance key workforce issues in the industry, such as training, safety and quality.

The Industry Councils initiative is complementary to the various sections that have been established, including the Work and Employment Relations Network, which was also set up with support from the Sloan Foundation. This initiative is also well aligned with current efforts by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), the United States Department of Labor and other Federal agencies to address industry-specific matters. Where appropriate, an Industry Council may seek funding from foundations, its constituents, or other sources - with the aim of sustainable operations by each Council.

Members of the LERA interested in participating in a Council or helping to form a Council are encouraged to contact the LERA National office.

 

Airlines, Railroads, and Trucking (Transportation Services)

PURPOSE:
We are committed to promoting constructive dialogue and action on issues of policy, practice, theory and research that lie at the intersection of the interests of labor, management, government, neutrals and scholars in the Aerospace, Airlines, and Trucking industries.

 

Our overall focus is on workforce, organizational and institutional challenges and opportunities associated with the four core missions of the transportation sector, which are:

 

  • Enabling the global movement of people and goods
  • Enabling the global acquisition and dissemination of information and data
  • Advancing national security interests
  • Providing a source of inspiration by pushing the boundaries of exploration and innovation in transportation.

 

LEADERSHIP:
Morris Kleiner, University of Minnesota, Academic Co-Chair
Neil Gladstein, International Assn of Machinists, Labor Co-Chair
Dennis Kuhl, The Boeing Co., Management Co-Chair

 

Automobiles and Aerospace (Manufacturing) Industry Council

PURPOSE:
The Automobile Industry Council Charter is in Development. If you are interested in joining this council as a charter member and helping to determine the direction of its work, please contact the LERA National Office.

LEADERSHIP:
John Paul MacDuffie, University of Pennsylvania, Academic Co-Chair
Linda Ewing, UAW, Labor Co-Chair

Construction Industry Council

We are committed to promoting constructive dialogue and action on issues of policy, practice, theory, research and education that lie at the intersection of the interests of labor, management, government, neutrals and scholars in the Construction Industry.

Our scope is all sub-sectors of the national and international construction industry. Our focus is on workforce, organizational and institutional challenges and opportunities associated with the core missions of this industry. These missions are:

  • Building quality projects which provide the highest value for their investment
  • Providing safe employment that provides income and benefits sufficient to support a family
  • Advancing the industry through the use of new technology, business practices and work organization

LEADERSHIP:
Dale Belman, Michigan State University, Academic Co-Chair
James M. O’Neill, Hill International, Management Co-Chair
TBA, Neutral/Government Co-Chair

Health Care Industry Council

The LERA has called for management, union, neutrals, and academics to collaborate on Health Care Industry Council. This Council will bring together administrators and labor leaders with a common interest in creating a network for sharing research and best practices on labor and employment relations in our field.

Chairs

  • Ariel Avgar, Cornell University
  • Sidney Seligman, Rutgers University
  • Tony Saguibo, Quantum Health

Hospitality Industry Council

This industry council is currently in formation. Please contact [email protected] with your interest.

K-12 Education Industry Council

The LERA has called for management, union, neutrals, and academics to collaborate on K-12 Education Industry Council. This Council will bring together administrators, labor leaders and intermediaries with a common interest in creating a network for sharing research and best practices on labor and employment relations in our field. 

Chairs

  • Saul Rubenstein, Rutgers University
  • John McCarthy, Cornell University

Higher Education Industry Council

PURPOSE:
The LERA has called for management, union, neutrals, and academics to collaborate on forming a Higher Education Industry Council. This Council will bring together administrators, labor leaders and intermediaries with a common interest in creating a network for sharing research and best practices on labor and employment relations in our field. The Harvard University Office of Labor Relations has been working with the LERA to initiate this Council, and extends a sincere thank you to all of those members of labor, management, and academia across the country who have expressed an interest in the HEIC.

LEADERSHIP:

Co-Chairs
Judith Stilz Ogden, Associate Professor, Clayton State University (Management)
William A. Herbert, Hunter College, CUNY (Academic)
Tobias Schulze-Cleven, Rutgers University (Academic)

Advisory Board

Management

  • Rob Gannon, Director, Academic Budgets and Personnel, The University of Montana, Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
  • Bill Murphy, Director of Labor Relations, Harvard University
  • LaMarr Q. Billups, AVP, Business Policy and Planning, Georgetown University
  • Barbara Lewis Johnson, Associate Vice President, Human Resources Services, University of Vermont
  • Harry Agnostak, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Union

  • Carl J. Levine, Esq., Partner, Levy Ratner, P.C., New York, NY
  • Bill Jaeger, Executive Director, Harvard Union of Clerical & Technical Workers (HUCTW)
  • Eric Marshall, Labor Relations Specialist, New York State United Teachers
  • Rachel Hendrickson, Ph.D., Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, National Education Association

Neutral

  • Karen Jalkut, District Vice President, American Arbitration Association (Boston)
  • Judith Stilz Ogden, J.D., LL.M., MST, Assistant Professor of Business Law, Clayton State University (GA)
  • Gregory M. Saltzman, Aris Professor and Department Chair Department of Economics and Management, Albion College
  • Mary Ellen Benedict, Professor, Bowling Green University
  • Adrienne Eaton, Professor, Rutgers School of Industrial and Labor Relations

SUBCOMMITTEES

Labor Issues in International Development
Management
LaMarr Q. Billups, AVP, Business Policy and Planning, Georgetown University
Neutral
Gregory M. Saltzman, Aris Professor and Department Chair Department of Economics and Management, Albion College

Public, four-year institutions
Management
Rob Gannon, Director, Academic Budgets and Personnel, Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, The University of Montana
Barbara Lewis Johnson, Associate Vice President, Human Resources Services, University of Vermont
Harry Agnostak, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Neutral
Judith Stilz Ogden, J.D., LL.M., MST, Assistant Professor of Business Law, Clayton State University (GA)
Mary Ellen Benedict, Professor, Bowling Green University

Private, four-year institutions
Management
LaMarr Q. Billups, AVP, Business Policy and Planning, Georgetown University

Tenured Faculty
Neutral
Mary Ellen Benedict, Professor, Bowling Green University

Gender Issues
Management
Donna Scally, Associate Director of Labor Relations, Harvard University
Neutral
Mary Ellen Benedict, Professor, Bowling Green University

HEIC Issues and Topics for Discussion

Research Opportunities

  • A Survey of Campus Union Populations
  1. Public v. Private
  2. Is There Evidence of Union Avoidance in Higher Ed
  3. The Effects of Collective Bargaining on Benefits at Organized Institutions v. Unorganized Institutions
  • The Harvard-HUCTW Negotiations (2007): A Case Study in Interest-Based Bargaining
  • The Use and Effect of Campus Ombudspersons
  • Labor Arbitration in Higher Education

Discussion Topics

  • The Effects of Reopening Contracts Due to General Economics
  • Legislative Developments affecting Higher Education Labor Negotiations
  • Alternative Collective Bargaining Models
  • Union-Management Collaboration
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution Models for the Campus Workforce
  • Staff Representation at Colleges and Universities
  • Adjunct & Part-Time Faculty (Non-Tenure Track) Organizing
  • Retraining Opportunities in Workforce Reorganizations
  • Faculty Members as Supervisors of Staff and Adjunct/Part-Time Instructors
  • Shared Governance: The Use and Effect of Staff Councils, Staff Senates and Employee Associations
  • Professional Staff
  • “Academic Professionals” (Librarians, Counselors and Administrators) as a Growth Group in Organized Labor
  • Unemployment Insurance for Academic Employees
  • Impacts of the “Little Hatch” Act

LERA Membership
Those parties interested in becoming HEIC members should also be members of the Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA) in good standing.  To inquire more about membership at LERA and all of the benefits that come with membership, please contact Emily Smith at the LERA office, at [email protected] or (217) 244-5419.

For All Other Questions
Please contact Bill Herbert, Co-Chair, should you have any further questions about the HEIC mission, membership or program.

Public Sector Industry Council

We are committed to promoting constructive dialogue and action on issues of policy, practice, theory and research that lie at the intersection of the interests of labor, management, government, neutrals and scholars in the federal public sector. The Federal Public Sector Industry Council will focus on how the dynamics of human resource management and labor-management relations affect the capability and performance of federal public organizations. It will assess how alternative approaches can affect such capability and performance.

Among some of the substantive issues to be addressed are:

(1) the changing rules of human resource management and labor-management relations in the federal public sector;
(2) the role of unions and collective bargaining in the federal public sector;
(3) the impact of human resource management and labor-management relations on organizational effectiveness and efficiency; and
(4) competing principles, values, and norms in federal public sector personnel policy.

Chairs

  • Jeffrey Keefe, Rutgers University, Academic Co-Chair
  • Janet Gillman, Oregon Employment Relations Board

Social Impact (Non-profit) Industry Council

This industry council is currently in formation. Please contact [email protected] with your interest.

Sports and Entertainment Industry Council

This industry council is currently in formation. Please contact [email protected] with your interest.

Chairs

  • Susan Schurman, Rutgers University, Academic co-chair
  • Michael LeRoy, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Utilities Industry Council

We are committed to promoting constructive dialogue and action on issues of policy, practice, theory and research that lie at the intersection of the interests of labor, management, government, neutrals and scholars in the utilities industry.

Our overall focus is on workforce, organizational and regulatory challenges that face the utilities (Electric, Gas & Water) industry as a means to insure an adequate supply of energy and water resources in a reliable, secure and affordable manner over the long term for both the public and private sectors. Among some of the substantive issues to be addressed are:

(1) An examination of the current legal, political, structural and community barriers the Utilities Industry face in providing (a) low cost, (b) “clean” and environmentally sound, (c) reliable, (d) safe and (e) secure supplies of electricity, gas and water;
(2) The role labor-management relations can play in enhancing industry efficiency and productivity; and,
(3) The role of human resource management and labor-management relations in securing the safety of the network systems that transport energy resources.

Chair

  • Thomas J. Schneider, President/CEO, Restructuring Associates, Inc., Neutral Co-Chair

 

Social Impact Organizations (NGO's, Foundations, Unions)

 

Sports and Entertainment

 

Hospitality Industry Council