News, Notes & Observations collected while covering the Western New York Labor Community over the past several days:

First off - WNYLaborToday.com would like to remind our viewers/readers that the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council is holding an educational meeting this Wednesday (March 16th), beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 463’s Union Hall, which is located at 3365 Ridge Road in Ransomville.  This meeting’s topic is: How to Write a Grievance, which will be presented by Labor Attorney Cathy Creighton from the Buffalo Law Firm of Creighton, Johnsen & Giroux.  For further information and to RSVP for this event, contact Niagara-Orleans Central Labor Council United Way of Greater Niagara Community Services Liaison Bill Jakobi at 716-285-8461 or via e-mail at: bill@uwgn.org.

And from Art Wheaton, Director of Western New York Labor Programs at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations here in Buffalo, who has a special offer for WNYLaborToday.com’s Union Viewers/Readers:

Cornell’s ILR School in Buffalo will be conducting Labor Leadership Skills Workshops that are designed for current and future Union Officers and Staff.  These skills-based workshops help deepen the knowledge needed to build and re-build strong and effective organizations.

The workshops will be conducted in our Workplace Education Center at Cornell University ILR’s Downtown Buffalo Offices, which is located in Suite 1200 at 237 Main Street (which is on the corner of Main and Seneca).  On that note, Cornell is willing to provide a buy one/get one free discount if you directly contact Art Wheaton prior to registering for the classes.  The offer is being made to any Union Officer/Staff Member and is only good for Western New York Labor Organizations and Union Viewers/Readers of WNYLaborToday.com.  And - this offer is only being publicized on WNYLaborToday.com.   Wheaton, an Industry Education Specialist based at the Cornell ILR Office in Buffalo, will serve as the course instructor.  He’s a former AFSCME (American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees) Union Steward and Local Union Executive Board Member.  Art has 11 years experience as a Labor Educator, and has taught courses involving Collective Bargaining, Negotiating and Conflict Resolution for Unions and their Staff Members.  Any WNYLaborToday.com Union Viewer/Reader wishing to obtain additional information on scheduling an on-site credit or non-credit workshop should contact Art directly at 716-852-1444 (Extension 116) or via e-mail at acw18@cornell.edu. 

Here’s some of the courses that the Cornell’s ILR School is offering:

Costing Out Contracts/April 28th-29th (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.): This is a practical, how-to-workshop to give Union Negotiators and Bargaining Committee Members the skills they need to prepare for Contract Negotiations.  Exercises are used throughout the workshop to illustrate how to calculate the projected costs of an agreement.  Training Location: Cornell University ILR’s Offices at 237 Main Street in Downtown Buffalo.  Workshop Fee: $200        

In addition, Cornell ILR will also be offering these Upcoming Classes: Effective Communication & Public Speaking for Union Leaders - May 6th/9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Effective Grievance Handling - May 6th/9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Public Sector Bargaining - June 16th and 17th/ 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

And WNYLaborToday.com would also like to take the opportunity to thank the American Labor Studies Center in Troy, New York - a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to collect, analyze, evaluate, create and disseminate Labor History and Labor Studies Curricula and related materials, aligned to the various state and national standards, to Kindergarten through 12th Grade Teachers nationwide - for coming aboard of a supporter of Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper.  The ALCS features a variety of information on the history, organization, activities and issues affecting the Labor Movement and the political, economic and cultural aspects of workers and their Unions.  The ALSC is located in the Kate Mullany House at 350 Eighth Street in Troy, New York, which was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997 and dedicated by the First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on July 15th, 1998.  There is currently legislation before Congress to make the Mullany House a National Historic Site.  Kate Mullany, a young Irish Immigrant and daughter of a widowed mother, became the leader of the first women’s Union in the Nation and the first woman to hold office in a national Union.  At the age of 24, Mullany organized 200 women and became the first president of the Troy Collar Laundry Workers Union.  In February 1864, the Collar Workers went on strike demanding a 25% increase in wages – and won.  In 1868, she became assistant secretary of the National Labor Union under William Sylvies.  The ALCS, meanwhile, offers a wide variety of curriculum materials for Teachers of virtually every subject and grade level including historical events, music, art, literature, biographies and contemporary issues, among others, that are accessible on the website through direct downloads and dozens of links.  The ALSC also sponsors workshops, courses, conferences and other events to acquaint Teachers with the curriculum and related materials.  The goal of the ALSC is not to indoctrinate or proselytize, but provide students with an opportunity to explore the many facets of a very complex and important part of out Nation’s history and contemporary life.  Teachers are encouraged to use a variety of research and inquiry approaches as they select their pedagogical strategies.  The ALCS is also governed by a Board of Directors and funded by contributions, as well as government grants.  WNYLaborToday.com would also like to offer a special thanks to ALCS Executive Director Paul Cole, who once held the second-highest office in the New York State Labor Movement - Secretary-Treasurer of the 2.3 million-member New York State AFL-CIO - from 1984 through 2005.  Cole was elected Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus in December 2005.  Cole helped to found the ALSC, whose website can be accessed at www.labor-studies.org.  WNYLaborToday.com appreciates the support and acknowledgement from the ALCS and Paul Cole as Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper readies to being our fourth year of providing Labor News Coverage not found anywhere else across the Western New York Region.