The Guild Wraps Up 134th Term

by Sean Lundergan, Boyle Fellow

The Labor Guild’s 134th term has come to an end. On Monday, November 4, the students who earned certificates were honored in a graduation ceremony at the Archdiocese’s Pastoral Center in Braintree.

The graduation featured as keynote speaker James L. Donovan, Jr., Executive Director of Training for Teamsters Local 25, and as valedictorian of the 134th term, Katie Mullen, a Barn Captain with Carmen Local 589. Jim discussed the ongoing strike at Republic Services in Marshfield, and how the Guild’s founding values fit into our current struggles for social and economic justice. Katie has been a student at the Guild for four terms, and she is a dedicated member of the Labor Guild Youth Caucus. She was also appointed to a position within the Amalgamated Transit Union on the Next Generation Committee at ATU’s international conference in September.

The ceremony marked the end of a term that saw a promising uptick in registration and completion—the 78 students graduated represented a 30% increase from the previous term.

The courses that ran this fall were Advanced Steward Training, Health and Safety in the Workplace, De-Mystifying Municipal Government, Collective Bargaining Negotiations Workshop, Building Effective Coalitions, Burning Issues, and Worker Empowerment. Each class enjoyed high enrollment, and the diversity of course options ensured a valuable experience for all students.

Thanks to our wonderful faculty for their time, insight, and commitment to the Guild’s mission.

Tom Breslin, Retired Associate Director of Labor Education, Massachusetts Nurses Association — ADVANCED STEWARD TRAINING

Elissa Cadillic, President AFSCME 1526 and Chair of the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Coalition of Safety and Health (MassCOSH) — HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE

Lisa Field, Associate Director in the Division of Legislation and Governmental Affairs for MNA; Richard Staiti, Zoning Attorney and Former Selectman and Town Moderator in Town of Canton — DE-MYSTIFYING MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

Paul F. McCarthy, Union Educational Consultant, Collective Bargaining Associates — COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS WORKSHOP

Payton Corbett, Trustee, Teamsters Local 122; Jennifer Doe, Field Representative, SEIU 509 — BUILDING EFFECTIVE COALITIONS

Sean Sweeney, Vice President, National Postal Handlers Union, Local 301 — BURNING ISSUES

Tom Raiche, AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison, Merrimack Valley Central Labor Council — WORKER EMPOWERMENT