• UCLA Strategic Labor Research Conference, August 2-4, 2024

About the Conference

UCLA Strategic Labor Research Conference, August 2-4, 2024

Join California’s labor movement researchers in discussions about the future of research and organizing!

Hosted by the UCLA Labor Studies Program, the UCLA Strategic Labor Research Conference (August 2-4, 2024) is an annual event, offered free of cost, that includes workshops on applied skills and discussions about strategic campaigns designed for new and experienced union and labor movement researchers. 

Dynamic keynote speakers and a variety of exciting training sessions will help strengthen and add new skills to your research repertoires. Come join California’s labor movement researchers in discussions about the future of research and organizing!

Applications were due May 17. Sign up to receive updates about future strategic labor research opportunities: here.

Conference Daily Schedule

Entry-Level Track
Workshops marked with ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK are specially designed with content for strategic researchers with less than 2 years of professional experience. Researchers of all experience levels may benefit from the insights in these workshops and are welcome to attend.

Laptop workshops
Some workshops are labeled Laptop required. While no one will be turned away from any workshop, these facilitators have designated that attendees without an individual computer may not be able to fully participate in all aspects of the workshop. Workshops labeled Laptop recommended may be attended without a laptop, but you will miss out on some workshop activities without a laptop.

10:00AM – 11:00AM

Registration

Hallway outside of 2355/2343


11:00AM – 12:15PM

Keynote Speaker – Kim Kelly

Room 2355

Room 2343 — overflow room


12:15PM – 1:15PM

Lunch

3rd Floor Patio


1:15PM – 3:15PM

Workshop Round 1

Room 2343

California Labor Policy Strategies

Room 2355

Private Equity Research Strategies

Room 4357

Researching Individuals

Room 4371

Intro to Strategic Corporate Research (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)


3:15PM – 3:30PM

BREAK


3:30PM – 5:30PM

Workshop Round 2

Room 2250

Sectoral Research & Campaigns (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)(Laptop recommended)

Room 2343

FOIA/PRA

Room 2355

How to Fight Private Equity and Win (Laptop mandatory)

Room 4357

Webscraping with Python (Laptop required)(Basic knowledge of python strongly recommended)


5:30PM – 6:30PM

Plenary Session – FAST Reunion Panel

Room 2355

Room 2343–Overflow room


6:30PM – Late

Dinner, drinks, reception, socializing

3rd Floor patio

9:00AM – 10:00AM

Breakfast

3rd Floor Patio


10:00AM – 12:00PM

Workshops Round 3

Room 2343

Power Analysis (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)

Room 2355

Financial Analysis Part I (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)(Laptop recommended)

Room 4357

Procurement Strategies

Room 4371

Antitrust Strategies


12:00PM – 1:30PM

Lunch/Plenary Lunch Session

Panel: Strategic Campaigning and the Green Economy

Room 2355

Room 2343–Overflow room


1:30PM – 3:30PM

Workshops Round 4

Room 2343

Public Sector Budget Analysis – Fundamentals of Public Budgets (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)(Laptop recommended)

Room 2355

Financial Analysis Part II (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)(Laptop recommended)

Room 4357

Researching Property Ownership (Laptop recommended)

Room 5391

Researching With Workers(Laptop recommended)


3:30PM – 3:45PM

BREAK


3:45PM – 5:45PM

Workshops Round 5

Room 2343

Public Sector Budget Analysis – Advanced Concepts of Public Budgets (Laptop recommended)

Room 2355

Supply Chain Strategies

Room 4357

Researching Health & Safety Issues

Room 4371

Researching Non-Profits(Laptop recommended)


6:00PM – Late

Dinner, drinks, reception, socializing

3rd Floor patio

9:00AM – 10:00AM

Breakfast

3rd Floor Patio


10:00AM – 12:00PM

Workshops Round 6

Room 2250

Researching Litigation & Legislation

Room 2343

Mapping For Research & Organizing (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)

Room 2355

Shareholder and Capital Strategies

Room 4371

Moving From Research to Campaign


12:00PM – 2:00PM

Lunch/Plenary Lunch Session

Panel: The Future of Strategic Labor Research

Room 2355

Room 2343–Overflow room

Keynote Speaker

Kim Kelly profile picture

Kim Kelly is an independent journalist, author, and organizer. She is the author of Fight Like Hell:The Untold History of American Labor. Her writing on labor, class, politics, and culture has appeared in Teen Vogue, The New Republic, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Baffler, The Nation, and Esquire. Previously, she was the heavy metal editor at VICE’s music vertical, and was an original member of the VICE Union. A third-generation union member, she is a member of the Industrial Workers of the World’s Freelance Journalists Union, as well as a member and elected councilperson for the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE).

Keynote Panel

Strategic Campaigning and the Green Economy

Panelists (pictured left to right): Tamina Chowdhury (BlueGreen Alliance), Aly Panjwani (AFL-CIO), Eliza Pan (Amazon Employees for Climate Justice), Grace Regullano (Sunrise Project). 

Moderator: Kent Wong, UCLA Labor Center.

California is a national leader in the development of green technologies, but what kind of jobs these new sites of economic activity will create is still very much an open question. Led by Grace Regullano of the Sunrise Projectpanelists from a variety of backgrounds will discuss their takes on the possibility of running strategic campaigns around green projects, identifying policy leverage points, and the importance of “blue-green” coalitions.

FAST Reunion Panel

Moderator: Nelson Lichtenstein, Labor historian at UC Santa Barbara

In this panel several key FAST alumni will get together and share their thoughts on lessons from FAST for campaigns today. FAST was one of the first collectives within organized labor to take the idea of corporate campaigns seriously. Known for their aggressive take-no-prisoners tactics, FAST researchers hit corporations hard before the organization was disbanded in the early 2000s.

Panelists include: Gene Bruskin (retired union organizer & strategist), Amy Callner (Material Research Lc3), Allen Smith (IUOE Special Projects), and Ann Swinburn (strategic research analyst at CTA).

Confirmed Workshops

Workshop descriptions available for workshops listed in blue. 

Location

UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

337 Charles E Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA, 90095

The Luskin School of Public Affairs is located in the Northeast part of campus and the nearest parking lot is Structure 3. Structure 3 has a limited number of Pay-by-Space spots that can be purchased by machine or on your phone in the parking lot for $15 a day.

Otherwise, you may purchase an all-day permit from any UCLA parking kiosk.

Please Note: Two buildings on the UCLA campus are named after the Luskin family. The Luskin School of Public Affairs is in the northeast corner of campus, near the intersection of Sunset & Hilgard. You can find an interactive map of the UCLA Campus here.

Transportation

The Luskin School of Public Affairs is located in the Northeast part of campus and the nearest parking lot is Structure 3.  Structure 3 has a limited number of Pay-by-Space spots. Otherwise, you may purchase an all-day permit from any UCLA parking kiosk.

Stay Connected

Workshop schedule, announcements and other updates will be updated on this page regularly. 

Join our email list: Sign up here

For general conference questions: laborresearchconference@irle.ucla.edu.

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About the Conference

UCLA Strategic Labor Research Conference, August 2-4, 2024

Join California’s labor movement researchers in discussions about the future of research and organizing!

Hosted by the UCLA Labor Studies Program, the UCLA Strategic Labor Research Conference (August 2-4, 2024) is an annual event, offered free of cost, that includes workshops on applied skills and discussions about strategic campaigns designed for new and experienced union and labor movement researchers. 

Dynamic keynote speakers and a variety of exciting training sessions will help strengthen and add new skills to your research repertoires. Come join California’s labor movement researchers in discussions about the future of research and organizing!

Applications were due May 17. Sign up to receive updates about future strategic labor research opportunities: here.

Conference Daily Schedule

Entry-Level Track
Workshops marked with ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK are specially designed with content for strategic researchers with less than 2 years of professional experience. Researchers of all experience levels may benefit from the insights in these workshops and are welcome to attend.

Laptop workshops
Some workshops are labeled Laptop required. While no one will be turned away from any workshop, these facilitators have designated that attendees without an individual computer may not be able to fully participate in all aspects of the workshop. Workshops labeled Laptop recommended may be attended without a laptop, but you will miss out on some workshop activities without a laptop.

10:00AM – 11:00AM

Registration

Hallway outside of 2355/2343


11:00AM – 12:15PM

Keynote Speaker – Kim Kelly

Room 2355

Room 2343 — overflow room


12:15PM – 1:15PM

Lunch

3rd Floor Patio


1:15PM – 3:15PM

Workshop Round 1

Room 2343

California Labor Policy Strategies

Room 2355

Private Equity Research Strategies

Room 4357

Researching Individuals

Room 4371

Intro to Strategic Corporate Research (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)


3:15PM – 3:30PM

BREAK


3:30PM – 5:30PM

Workshop Round 2

Room 2250

Sectoral Research & Campaigns (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)(Laptop recommended)

Room 2343

FOIA/PRA

Room 2355

How to Fight Private Equity and Win (Laptop mandatory)

Room 4357

Webscraping with Python (Laptop required)(Basic knowledge of python strongly recommended)


5:30PM – 6:30PM

Plenary Session – FAST Reunion Panel

Room 2355

Room 2343–Overflow room


6:30PM – Late

Dinner, drinks, reception, socializing

3rd Floor patio

9:00AM – 10:00AM

Breakfast

3rd Floor Patio


10:00AM – 12:00PM

Workshops Round 3

Room 2343

Power Analysis (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)

Room 2355

Financial Analysis Part I (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)(Laptop recommended)

Room 4357

Procurement Strategies

Room 4371

Antitrust Strategies


12:00PM – 1:30PM

Lunch/Plenary Lunch Session

Panel: Strategic Campaigning and the Green Economy

Room 2355

Room 2343–Overflow room


1:30PM – 3:30PM

Workshops Round 4

Room 2343

Public Sector Budget Analysis – Fundamentals of Public Budgets (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)(Laptop recommended)

Room 2355

Financial Analysis Part II (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)(Laptop recommended)

Room 4357

Researching Property Ownership (Laptop recommended)

Room 5391

Researching With Workers(Laptop recommended)


3:30PM – 3:45PM

BREAK


3:45PM – 5:45PM

Workshops Round 5

Room 2343

Public Sector Budget Analysis – Advanced Concepts of Public Budgets (Laptop recommended)

Room 2355

Supply Chain Strategies

Room 4357

Researching Health & Safety Issues

Room 4371

Researching Non-Profits(Laptop recommended)


6:00PM – Late

Dinner, drinks, reception, socializing

3rd Floor patio

9:00AM – 10:00AM

Breakfast

3rd Floor Patio


10:00AM – 12:00PM

Workshops Round 6

Room 2250

Researching Litigation and Legislation

Room 2343

Mapping For Research & Organizing (ENTRY-LEVEL TRACK)

Room 2355

Shareholder and Capital Strategies

Room 4371

Moving From Research to Campaign


12:00PM – 2:00PM

Lunch/Plenary Lunch Session

Panel: The Future of Strategic Labor Research

Room 2355

Room 2343–Overflow room

Keynote Speaker

Kim Kelly profile picture

Kim Kelly is an independent journalist, author, and organizer. She is the author of Fight Like Hell:The Untold History of American Labor. Her writing on labor, class, politics, and culture has appeared in Teen Vogue, The New Republic, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Baffler, The Nation, and Esquire. Previously, she was the heavy metal editor at VICE’s music vertical, and was an original member of the VICE Union. A third-generation union member, she is a member of the Industrial Workers of the World’s Freelance Journalists Union, as well as a member and elected councilperson for the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE).

Keynote Panel

Strategic Campaigning and the Green Economy

Moderator: Kent Wong, UCLA Labor Center

California is a national leader in the development of green technologies, but what kind of jobs these new sites of economic activity will create is still very much an open question. Led by Grace Regullano of the Sunrise Projectpanelists from a variety of backgrounds will discuss their takes on the possibility of running strategic campaigns around green projects, identifying policy leverage points, and the importance of “blue-green” coalitions.

FAST Reunion Panel

Moderator: Nelson Lichtenstein, Labor historian at UC Santa Barbara

In this panel several key FAST alumni will get together and share their thoughts on lessons from FAST for campaigns today. FAST was one of the first collectives within organized labor to take the idea of corporate campaigns seriously. Known for their aggressive take-no-prisoners tactics, FAST researchers hit corporations hard before the organization was disbanded in the early 2000s.

Panelists include: Gene Bruskin (retired union organizer & strategist), Amy Callner (Material Research Lc3), Allen Smith (IUOE Special Projects), and Ann Swinburn (strategic research analyst at CTA).

Location

UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

337 Charles E Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA, 90095

The Luskin School of Public Affairs is located in the Northeast part of campus and the nearest parking lot is Structure 3. Structure 3 has a limited number of Pay-by-Space spots that can be purchased by machine or on your phone in the parking lot for $15 a day.

Otherwise, you may purchase an all-day permit from any UCLA parking kiosk.

Please Note: Two buildings on the UCLA campus are named after the Luskin family. The Luskin School of Public Affairs is in the northeast corner of campus, near the intersection of Sunset & Hilgard. You can find an interactive map of the UCLA Campus here.

Transportation

The Luskin School of Public Affairs is located in the Northeast part of campus and the nearest parking lot is Structure 3.  Structure 3 has a limited number of Pay-by-Space spots. Otherwise, you may purchase an all-day permit from any UCLA parking kiosk.

Stay Connected

Workshop schedule, announcements and other updates will be updated on this page regularly. 

Join our email list: Sign up here

For general conference questions: laborresearchconference@irle.ucla.edu.

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