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The LABOR School
503 Keller Building
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
EMAIL: laborschool@psu.edu
TEL: 814-867-2287
Who: Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO
What: “The Labor Movement: Honoring Our Legacy and Organizing Our Future”
When: Monday, April 1, 2024 from 7:30-8:30 pm
Where: Freeman Auditorium- HUB Paul Robeson Center (parking is available here)
This event is Co-Sponsored by the School of Labor and Employment Relations and the United Steelworkers.
The Annual Philip Murray Memorial Labor Lecture is a yearly lecture presented to the Penn State University community by a distinguished representative of the labor movement. The lecture honors the memory of Philip Murray (1886-1952), first president of the United Steelworkers of America and second president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Lynn Williams, president of the United Steelworkers of America, presented the first lecture in November 1986.
The purpose of the annual lecture is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas between the University community–students, faculty, and staff—and the leadership in the labor movement. The goal of this interchange is to contribute to a better understanding of the important role the labor movement has played, and continues to play, in a democratic society.
The School of Labor and Employment Relations and the United Steelworkers jointly sponsor this annual lecture series held at University Park.
Speaker Image | Title of Talk | Date |
|---|---|---|
 | Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO
“The Labor Movement: Honoring Our Legacy and Organizing Our Future” | 29th Annual Lecture
April 1, 2024 |
 | Elissa McBride, Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
“A Rising Tide: Student-Worker Solidarity and the Future of Organizing” | 28th Annual Lecture
March 30, 2023 |
 | Kenneth Rigmaiden, General President, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
“Changing times, changing demographics, and changing union” | 27th Annual Lecture
April 16, 2019 |
 | Mary Kay Henry, International President, Service Employees International Union
“Fighting for a Just & Inclusive Economy & Democracy through a 21st Century Labor and Justice movement” | 26th Annual Lecture
March 28, 2017 |
 | Tefere Gebre, Executive Vice President, AFL-CIO
“Changing the Rules to Create Shared Prosperity” | 25th Annual Lecture
April 5, 2016 |
 | Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO
“Wither or Weather Labor” | 24th Annual Lecture
April 15, 2015 |
 | Lee Saunders, President, AFSCME
“Labor’s ‘Fierce Urgency of Now’” | 23rd Annual Lecture
April 15, 2014 |
 | Bob King, International President, United Auto Workers (UAW)
“The United Auto Workers in the 21st Century” | 22nd Annual Lecture
April 12, 2013 |
 | Carol Landry, Organizing Director, United Steelworker
“Change is Gonna Come…But When? Why Progress Takes Time, Even in the Twitter Age” | 21st Annual Lecture
March 15, 2012 |
 | Edwin D Hill, President International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
“Waterloo in the States: Will Labor be Wellington or Napoleon?” | 20th Annual Lecture
March 22, 2011 |
 | Elizabeth Shuler, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO
“From the Real World to Survivor: Labor’s Reality Check” | 19th Annual Lecturer
March 23, 2010 |
 | Stewart Acuff, Organizing Director of the AFL-CIO
“Winning for Workers” | 18th Annual Lecture
September 22, 2008 |
 | Charles Kernaghan, Director of the National Labor Committee
“The Fight to End Sweatshops and Win Workers’ Rights in the Global Economy” | 17th Annual Lecture
April 13, 2006 |
 | Reg Weaver, President, President, National Education Association
“The National Education Association: A Union for the 21st Century” | 16th Annual Lecture
April 4, 2005 |
 | James D. English, International Secretary and Former General
Counsel United Steelworkers of America AFL-CIO
“A Look at the Labor Movement After 40 Years of Involvement” | 15th Annual Lecture
March 31, 2004 |
 | Richard Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO
“Why We Need Unions Now More Than Ever” | 14th Annual Lecture
April 4, 2003 |
 | Sandra Feldman, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
“Labor Looks Ahead: Challenges of a New Century” | 13th Annual Lecture
March 25, 2002 |
 | Leo Gerard, President of the United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO
“Globalization and the New Age of Activism” | 12th Annual Lecture
April 11, 2001 |
 | George Becker, President of the United Steelworkers of America (USW)
“21st Century Activism” | 11th Annual Lecture
March 20, 2000 |
 | John J. Sweeney, President, AFL-CIO Speech
“Good Jobs and Strong Communities: Challenges for Working Families” | 10th Annual Lecture
April 13, 1999 |
 | Linda Chavez-Thompson, Executive V.P., AFL-CIO
“What’s New in the Labor Movement” | 9th Annual Lecture
March 25, 1997 |
 | Gerald McEntee, President, AFSCME
“Working for America’s Men and Women” | 8th Annual Lecture
March 23, 1995 |
 | Vincent Sombrotto, President, National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
“The Labor Movement and the Changing American Workplace” | 7th Annual Lecture
November 17, 1993 |
 | Leon Lynch, Vice-President, United Steelworkers of America (USW)
“Labor’s Continuing Relevance in the 90’s” | 6th Annual Lecture
November 10, 1992 |
| Richard Trumka, President, United Mine Workers (UMW)
“A World to Win: A New Unionism for the 90’s” | 5th Annual Lecture
October 18, 1990 |
 | Thomas Donahue, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO
“The AFL-CIO in the 1990’s” | 4th Annual Lecture
March 28, 1990 |
 | William W. Winpisinger, President, International Association of Machinists (IAM)
“Labor’s Role in America’s Future” | 3rd Annual Lecture
October 24, 1988 |
 | Lane Kirkland, President, AFL-CIO
“The American Labor Movement: Its Role; Its Relevance” | 2nd Annual Lecture
October 6, 1987 |
 | Lynn Williams, President, United Steelworkers of America (USW)
“The Legacy of Philip Murray and the Future of American Unionism” | 1st Annual Lecture
November 13, 1986 |