Labor Conference Celebrates Life of Jerry Tucker

ST. LOUIS - Sept. 18, 2013 - PRLog -- ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri–St. Louis Labor Studies Certificate Program and Center for Labor Renewal celebrate the life and work of labor leader Jerry Tucker in their upcoming St. Louis Labor Conference. The conference takes place October 11-13, 2013, at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza and the UMSL Millennium Student Center.

For more than 30 years, Jerry Tucker was an inspiring figure in the labor movement. He participated as a rank-and-file worker, union leader, adviser, and mentor to many. His untimely passing in October 2012 was mourned by many in the labor community and beyond.

This conference celebrates Jerry’s extraordinary life through music, videos, and personal testimony. Presenters and participants explore his work within the labor movement and examine the fundamental question that he wrestled with throughout his long career: How do we build a powerful social movement and exercise the collective might of the working class through true solidarity, accountability, and democracy?

“Jerry Tucker wrote the book on creative, inclusive campaigns against corporate power,” said Mark Dudzic, national coordinator, Labor Campaign for Single Payer Healthcare. “This conference is an opportunity to connect this legacy with a new generation of activists and leaders.”

The conference kicks off with a music-filled overview of Jerry’s life and work at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza at 7 p.m., Friday, October 11. Conference discussions begin the following morning, Saturday, October 12, and continue through Sunday, October 13, in the UMSL Millennium Student Center. Topics addressed include:
•    Lessons from the New Directions Movement,
•    Building Working Class Power,
•    Building the Leadership of Women,
•    The End of the Collective Bargaining Regime,
•    and What is to Be Done Going Forward.

Regular registration is $75 and includes the Friday evening reception, conference on Saturday and Sunday, refreshments, and Saturday lunch. Student registration is $35 and includes the conference on Saturday and Sunday, refreshments, and Saturday lunch.

For more information, including the full schedule of events, registration and lodging, please visit the website at http://stllaborconference.com or call (314) 516-6590.