For a quarter century, the Institute for Labor Studies & Research has
been providing a wide variety of worker education programs. Over 50,000 Rhode Island workers have learned the skills they need to adapt to the changing economic and technological environment.
Working in collaboration with unions, employers, and the State of Rhode Island, the Institute has compiled an impressive list of achievements since its inception in 1980. Here is a partial list of the Institute's accomplishments:
Provided literacy programsSpanish, computer training, and adult education for thousands of Rhode Islanders;
Created the Immigrant Workers' Rights Project to help thousands of immigrants understand their rights on the job;
Started the Workers' Rights Project to provide books, pamphlets, and workshops addressing worker rights and health and safety on the job;
Created and staffed the Workers' Rights Hotline to answer the questions and concerns of workers, students and employers on a wide range of workplace topics issues;
Expanded the Labor in the Schools Program to train students and teachers from nearly every high school in Rhode Island about work- place rights;
Broadcast LaborVision, a cable television program, shown three evenings a week, focusing on issues of importance to Rhode Island workers;
Published Your Rights on the Job (brochures in several languages and student editions); Rhode Island Guide to Employment Law; Women in Non-Traditional Careers; Labor in the Schools Cur- riculum Resource Guide; and Steward's Guide;
Designed a new website: RILaborInstitute.org which attracts 30,000 hits annually;
Created Leadership for a Future, a training for new leaders from community groups, unions, and religious organizations, now in its seventh year;
Founded the Rhode Island chapter of Labor Committee for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) to bring together Latino union members to fight for social justice;
Offered the Hospitality Industry Training Program and the Dislo- cated Workers' Program to train hundreds of unemployed workers for new jobs;
Started the Workforce Literacy and Education Project to bring unions and employers together to promote literacy in Rhode Island; and
Conducted many Union Leadership Training programs to provide union stewards and union leaders with the tools to better represent their membership.
ILSR Strategic Plan, Adopted by Board of Trustees, February 22, 2002
MISSION STATEMENT
The Institute for Labor Studies and Research provides education and training that enables working people and the labor movement to have a stronger voice in the workplace, participate more effectively in the changing
global economy and create a more just and equitable society.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
PROGRAM GOAL 1: Every worker has the level of education and skills needed to achieve some control over his or her own employment.
PROGRAM GOAL 2: Every union provides their members with valued educational opportunities.
OBJECTIVES:
By 2003, 300 employees per year achieve a minimum skill level in literacy and numeracy through ILSR programs, growing to 400 employees by 2006.
Union workplaces have the ability to offer job specific education programs through ILSR which will develop programs as needed on request.
100% of participants in ILSR classes understand how labor unions have made and continue to make a difference in the quality of their lives.
PROGRAM STRATEGIES:
Target adult education programs to union workplaces.
Formally and informally survey unions on a regular basis to develop needed programs and build tighter linkages with unions.
Work with unions to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the adult education needs of their members/workplaces Increase the number of adult education programs funded by a joint union/management funding model.
Build labor education into all programs, even specialized job skills programs. Focus on the job specific benefits that have been achieved by labor unions.
Develop and implement outcome measurement systems to assess the impact of ILSR programs.
PROGRAM GOAL 3: Every worker understands his or her legal rights in the workplace.
OBJECTIVES:
100% of teenage workers have a basic knowledge of their legal rights in the workplace.
100% of new immigrant workers have a basic knowledge of their legal rights in the workplace.
PROGRAM STRATEGIES:
Over the next three years, 100% of school districts implement a workplace rights teaching unit. Training programs are developed to target college student workers.
ILSR develops and expands collaborative training and outreach programs with community-based organizations serving new immigrants.
Labor education is mandated for history teachers in Rhode Island as part of their RI history requirement.
Develop and implement outcome measurement systems to assess the impact of ILSR programs.
Expand the reach and impact of Labor Vision and other communications programs (e.g. web, newsletter).
PROGRAM GOAL 4: Unions have the leadership they need to protect worker rights and build the labor movement of the 21 st century.
OBJECTIVES:
The ILSR will assist labor movement leadership in their efforts to ensure that:
100% of union stewards have the skills and knowledge they need to successfully represent workers under the terms of collective bargaining agreements.
100% of unions develop leaders who possess the skills, knowledge, progressive attitudes and broad vision they need to build and lead the unions of the early 21 st century.
PROGRAM STRATEGIES:
Triple enrollment in ILSR labor education programs, with a focus on unions that do not receive significant training from their internationals.
Customize programs for various positions in unions e.g. secretary/treasurer, president, steward.
Ensure multi-union enrollment in training programs to improve communications and idea-exchange across unions.
Build the big idea, the societal mission, into all training programs.
Research and incorporate best practices into all training programs.
OPERATIONS GOAL 1: Create a sustainable funding base which meets program objectives and assures the short and long-term fiscal health of ILSR.
Objectives:
Raise revenues to meet three year budget forecast
Build cash reserve of at least four months of operating expenditures to meet cash flow needs and cushion against unforeseen circumstances.
Develop a fundraising plan which sets three year targets and diversifies ILSR funding base by increasing union support, major gifts, bequests, grants, sponsorships and event income
Funding strategies:
Institutionalize union financial support for ILSR.
Continue to maintain strong relationship with state of RI and legislature.
Expand workplace donations by receiving designation as at least associate member of UW. Actively promote workplace giving to unions.
Institutionalize fundraising at ILSR. Hire a development director to raise $110,000 annually in philanthropic gifts.
Roll out bequest society and other planned giving programs.
Explore and determine the role and potential for building a permanent endowment for ILSR. If approved, develop a plan of action for implementation.
OPERATIONS GOAL 2: Increase investment in staff resources at ILSR to expand programs and improve financial health
Objectives:
Build a reliable volunteer workforce to expand ILSR programs while controlling staffing costs through cooperative union retiree programs
Assure adequate combination of staff resources (paid, volunteer, contract) to meet organizational objectives
Staffing Strategies:
Additions to staff and programs need to produce net revenues for ILSR
Recruit and train retired teachers to teach ILSR adult education programs
Engage retirees, interns and graduate students in research and public outreach programs
Create two new staff positions: labor educator and development director
Engage leadership volunteers in fundraising activities
OPERATIONS GOAL 3: Build a high impact Board for ILSR that enhances the fulfillment of the strategic plan
Objectives:
The Board of Directors will determine and implement revisions that may be needed in its work plan and composition to best contribute to the fulfillment of the strategic objectives of ILSR
OPERATIONS GOAL 4: Build high impact marketing and communications program for ILSR that supports program and operational objectives.
Objectives:
Assure strong engagement of ILSR with every union in RI
Develop and implement a coordinated and strategic marketing plan that meets program and financial objectives of ILSR
Communications Strategies:
Develop more targeted and personalized communications programs to build more effective engagement with unions and union members
Improve effectiveness and reach of existing communications vehicles such as LaborVision, newsletter and web site Enlist volunteers e.g. develop ILSR advocate or liaison in every union.
OPERATIONS GOAL 5: Assure adequate capital investment (space and technology) to support ILSR objectives.
Objective:
Create a Facilities Planning Task Force charged with the task of developing long range strategies for ILSR space and technology needs ( e.g. classroom, storage, office, computers)
