The LMC applauds UMKC Chancellor Guy Bailey for reversing the decision to pull out of--effectively eliminating--the Institute for Labor Studies and allowing the ILS advisorty board to come back with a plan for its longterm future.
The ILS was formed in 1985 after Labor Beacon Communications--then owner of the Kansas City Labor Beacon newspaper--had begun offering labor education programs but saw the need for academic partners. The Beacon had been involved with the Labor School offered by Rockhurst University (then College) in the 1950s. After offering several programs, the Lsbor Beacon forged a partnership with Longview Community College and UMKC to offer a slate of educational courses and programs for union members. Walter Pearson, who had been executive director at SEIU Local 96, became the first director. The ILS initially was housed at the Labor Beacon offices, then moved to Longview and eventually to UMKC. Pearson later left to become education director for the Bakery, Confectionary and Tobacco Workers International Union and Judy Ancel became director. In 1997 the ILS became a part of UMKC's Economics Department.
During the past 22 years, the ILS has offered nuts-and-bolts courses helping build the knowledge and skills of union members and particuarly of up and coming leaders. Such education benefits management as well, as better informed union leaders are better to deal with just as informed and educated managers often are preferable for union leaders to work with.
The LMC wrote to Chancellor Bailey asking him to keep the program, and we are grateful that he did.
A thank you is also in order for KC Mayor Mark Funkhouser, who did not accept the free Honda offered him by a local dealership, as the LMC had requested.
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