COMMITTEES

LEO committees exist to ensure that our union thrives, and operate to address different concerns and goals of our organization. As University of Michigan lecturers we all have unique talents, interests, and skills. By bringing these to union committees, we make a real difference in what we can accomplish. 

To stop by a meeting of any of the below committees and check out the work we're doing, see the calendar for the meeting schedule. 

Checking out a meeting is not a commitment to joining, so don't hesitate to start with one meeting and see how you feel. Join a committee or express your interest! 

In addition to the established committees, special ad-hoc committees or caucuses can form to address specific concerns shared by our members. Examples include the International Caucus and Parents’ Caucus. 

CAMPUS COUNCILS

Campus Council is a body of union members that work to build membership, share information, and make decisions according to the needs of their campus. Each of the three campuses (Ann Arbor, Dearborn, & Flint) has their own council composed of Union Stewards from the various academic units of that campus who support, advocate for, and organize their cohort of fellow Lecturers. 

Anyone interested in this work can be trained at any time by another Union Steward, and it's not intimidating—everyone starts out as just another lecturer, like you! Campus Councils are a vital component of our union.

PROJECTS

  • Increasing union membership and participation through 1-on-1 conversations

  • Internal organizing within your academic units, including LEO presentations during New Hire Orientations, facilitating departmental meetings, and contract enforcement

  • Attending monthly meetings with other stewards to build campus solidarity and strength

  • Sharing information between members, committees, and Union Council

  • Increasing turn-out to Union events & actions!

 

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

The Social Committee is responsible for LEO member gatherings. Our work is a critical part of building the union through social events that promote interpersonal bonds, collegiality, and solidarity.

PROJECTS

  • Planning the annual LEO convention

  • Coordinating events like 5Ks, barbecues, trivia nights, and bowling

  • Offering educational workshops on relieving student debt, passing major reviews, and assorted professional-development issues

 

SPACE COMMITTEE (Solidarity, Political Action, & Community Engagement) 

The SPACE Committee, or the Solidarity, Political Action, and Community Engagement Committee, oversees LEO's efforts to connect with our communities via solidarity efforts and political mobilization. SPACE works with our allies including students, other campus unions, and community organizations to ensure that we are supporting one another's causes in productive ways.

PROJECTS

  • Working with elected officials to ensure that our interests are represented in their work

  • Water delivery in Flint to residents with mobilization challenges

  • Arranging town halls with political candidates seeking endorsements from the labor movement

  • Overseeing LEO's role in the All-Campus Labor Council

 

INCLUSIVE LEO COMMITTEE

The Inclusive LEO committee supports practices promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Union and at the University of Michigan. We educate the campuses on the issues affecting our most marginalized members. We advocate for programs and policies that foster a greater sense of belonging, community, and solidarity. We organize lecturers to demand real accountability from ourselves and the employer to actively enforce equity and justice in our collective bargaining agreements and our workplace.

PROJECTS

  • Meet with UM administration to ensure each campus is reaching DEI goals for lecturer faculty

  • Secure resources to promote inclusive teaching (e.g., LEO’s Inclusive Teaching Grants)

  • Facilitate creation of caucus groups of marginalized lecturers (e.g., International Lecs)

  • Reinforce and circulate DEI practices and information that promote inclusive workplaces 

  • Facilitate diversity of participation and perspective in Union actions and leadership

 
Photo Credit to Alec Below, UM Ann Arbor student ally

Photo Credit to Alec Below, UM Ann Arbor student ally

FINANCE COMMITTEE

The Finance Committee oversees the internal financial wellbeing of our union, including the collection of dues, annual budgeting, and the distribution of solidarity funds to allied organizations. The Finance Committee is also responsible for analyzing the university's financial records, including audits and budget documents, as well as data on state appropriations and funding, to help craft a compelling case for LEO campaigns around fair wages, equitable funding to all three campuses, and better affordability initiatives for our students. An example of this work is The Bunsis Report (part of our Power Building Toolkit). 

PROJECTS

  • Managing the union’s budget

  • Conducting the financial analysis that is the backbone to our One University #1U campaign for equitable funding, at the state and university levels, for Dearborn and Flint campuses

 

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

The Communications Committee develops and designs content for internal and external communications. We produce the graphics, videos, and online campaigns that help share our story with the university community, state, and nation. If you would like to share your lecturer story on social media, reach us at communications@leounion.org.

PROJECTS

  • Maintaining this website!

  • Maintaining and expanding our social media presence

  • Designing union posters and fliers

  • Preparing informational handouts for new lecturers

  • Producing member-driven videos about our new contract and our efforts to obtain equity on all three campuses

  • Ensuring that all lecturers are up to date on their union at all times!

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