Rutgers LEARN

10/06/2026

Celebrate 40 Years of WEC
Monday, November 9, 2026 | 6:00 PM
Rutgers Labor Education Center | New Brunswick, NJ
Register: https://njwec.org/

For four decades, the New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) has brought together labor, environmental, and community leaders to advance safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment.

Please join us for the 2026 WEC Annual Awards Dinner as we celebrate this milestone and honor six outstanding leaders whose dedication has made a lasting impact on workers, communities, and public policy in New Jersey and beyond.

HPAE - Health Professionals & Allied Employees Sheet Metal Air Rail and Transportation Workers Chalkbeat Paula Rogovin Melissa McNally AFT New Jersey Rutgers LEARN

10/06/2026

Enroll in our newest online certificate, Labor Relations in Practice. The next course will be held on October 23 with Carla Katz. Mastering Negotiation Soft Skills. https://smlr.rutgers.edu/continuing-education/labor-education-action-research-network-learn/courses-and-certificate-1

10/03/2026

Rutgers LEARN offers online continuing education classes. Next up is Conflict Resolution at the Workplace with Saul Rubinstein, Professor of Labor Studies. October 15 from 12pm to 5pm

Visit our website for more info: https://smlr.rutgers.edu/continuing-education/labor-education-action-research-network-learn/courses-and-certificate-5

09/28/2026

The School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers University is hosting a new edition of the Workers’ Rights (Certificate) Online program (WR Certificate), where students will be required to complete four 3-credit asynchronous online courses (Phase One). Upon completion of the WR Certificate, students will be able to apply to the master's degree (Phase Two). If admitted, they will take nine 3-credit courses to earn the Master's Degree in Labor and Employment Relations (MLER) in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

We kicked off our very first WR Certificate cohort last academic year (2025–2026), and some of them are now completing the MLER.

📣 We will host information sessions on the first Monday of each month at 12:00 pm EST.
2026: October 5, November 2, and December 7.
2027: January 4, February 1, March 1, April 5, May 3, and June 7.
🎯Here is the registration link for the information sessions: http://smlr.rutgers.edu/register-GLU-info-session

09/06/2026

NJ12 reports that New Jersey remains one of the most heavily unionized states in the country, with an estimated 675,000 union members, according to a Rutgers University report released ahead of Labor Day.

The researchers estimate New Jersey has about 22,000 more union members than in a previous Rutgers study. But the share of workers belonging to unions slipped slightly because nonunion employment grew faster.

New Jersey's average unionization rate was 15.47% from 2023 through 2025, ranking sixth-highest among the 50 states and well above the national rate of about 10%.

https://newjersey.news12.com/2026/09/06/nj-remains-one-of-nations-most-unionized-states-rutgers-report-finds/JwQt0FB8VkPsBVEI3DY3S

09/06/2026

New Jersey remains one of the most heavily unionized states in the nation heading into Labor Day 2026.

A new report by the Labor Education Action Research Network (LEARN) at Rutgers University finds that union membership is holding steady in the Garden State, and even growing in some sectors, despite economic and political changes that have reshaped the landscape nationally.

“The labor movement in New Jersey is still going strong in the face of incredible challenges,” said Assistant Professor Todd Vachon, director of LEARN at Rutgers University. “A tough defensive stance against federal attacks on the public sector, along with vigorous organizing efforts, helped unions not only maintain but even add to their membership.”

Read the full report here: https://smlr.rutgers.edu/continuing-education/labor-education-action-research-network-learn/research-and-reports

And have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day!

08/31/2026

Registration is open for the first class in our NEW Labor Relations in Practice online certificate program! Register here: https://smlr.rutgers.edu/continuing-education/labor-education-action-research-network-learn/courses-and-certificate-1

"The Inclusive Workplace: Navigating Dynamics and the Law" is a course designed for Union and HR professionals. Participants will engage in practical exercises to improve communication, collaboration, and workplace interactions within legal frameworks that shape inclusive workplaces. The focus will be on aligning and developing actionable skills that support both employee rights and organizational goals while reinforcing anti-discrimination laws that govern workplace conduct.

Contributes toward completion of the LRIP certificate program. Complete six classes to earnt he certificate from Rutgers University.

08/25/2026

New Jersey remains one of the most heavily unionized states in the nation heading into Labor Day 2026.

A new report by the Labor Education Action Research Network (LEARN) at Rutgers University finds that union membership is holding steady in the Garden State, and even growing in some sectors, despite economic and political changes that have reshaped the landscape nationally.

“The labor movement in New Jersey is still going strong in the face of incredible challenges,” said Assistant Professor Todd Vachon, director of LEARN at Rutgers University. “A tough defensive stance against federal attacks on the public sector, along with vigorous organizing efforts, helped unions not only maintain but even add to their membership.”

A new report by the Labor Education Action Research Network (LEARN) at Rutgers finds that union membership is holding steady in N.J.

08/18/2026

AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus William Lucy’s profound impact on the labor and civil rights movements is an instructive blueprint for today’s union organizers, according to historians who…

08/14/2026

Greetings, LEARN community,

Welcome to the Summer 2026 edition of Learning Together, the official newsletter of the Labor Education Action Research Network:https://smlr.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/Documents/LEARN/LEARN_Newsletter_Summer2026.pdf

In this edition, you will find a recap of some of our programs this past spring, including some of our custom trainings and new programs. You’ll also find important information about our upcoming classes and public programming for the Fall.

The theme for this summer’s newsletter is based upon the recent Tony Mazzocchi Centennial Conference and Archive launch we organized here at the Labor Education Center this past June. Mazzocchi was a visionary labor leader in our local area who fought tirelessly for safe workplaces, good jobs, and a fair economy for all. He pioneered the concept of Just Transition and is responsible for Nixon’s passage of the legislation that created OSHA. In the feature piece, written by SMLR professor and LEARN instructor Rebecca Givan, you will learn a lot about Mazzocchi. Then, hopefully you’ll consider visiting our archive online or in person as it comes to life this fall to learn even more.

For this coming year, we are excited to do a second run of our new Advanced Collective Bargaining Certificate (ACBC) this December. After a very successful pilot run of this three-day in-person program last November, the demand has been high to provide this unique training opportunity again exclusively for labor leaders and staff. We are also launching a new online certificate program for labor relations professionals that focuses on practical skills this fall. The Labor Relations in Practice Certificate (LRIP) will begin with the first class on September 18th and will run one class per month in place of the usual Labor and Employment Law Certificate this year.

As you enjoy the final weeks of summer, we hope that you will take some time to review what we have going on here at the Labor Ed Center and to consider signing up for some classes or spreading the word around to colleagues and friends who might benefit from our unique and practical programs. Without you, there is no LEARN! Thanks again for all your support each year.

In solidarity,
Todd