LEO 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, librarians, archivists, and curators, 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 events 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 Li/Intermittent Caucus, International Caucus and Parents’ Caucus.

  • LEO Member Craig Regester speaks into a bullhorn during a LEO action.

    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.

  • People hold up a large yellow banner with the text "Money Talks: What is your university saying?"

    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.

  • A diverse group of LEO members sit in a large circle having a discussion.

    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.

  • LEO Members sit around a picnic table at an outdoor social event, surrounded by balloons.

    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.

  • An undergraduate student holds up a yellow and red sign expressing support for Lecturers at a Regents' meeting.

    SPACE (Solidarity, Politcal Action, and Community Engagement) Committee

    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.

  • A collage-style diagram representing the LEO governance structure, with four campuses represented by the Campus Councils, which then send representatives to the Union Council.

    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 four campuses (Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Flint & GLAM) has their own council composed of Union Stewards and elected officers from the various academic units of that campus who support, advocate for, and organize their cohort of fellow LEO members.

  • A hand lifts up a protest sign adorned with the image of a black raised fist.

    Organizing Committees

    The Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and GLAM campuses each have a standing Organizing Committee charged with coordinating organizing activities for its members.

  • A pair of black glasses rests on top of black and white text documents on a tabletop.

    Contract Enforcement/Grievance Committees

    Each campus has a Contract Enforcement or Grievance Committee dedicated to handling the grievance process and contract implementation issues.

  • Screenshot of a Zoom screen in which participants are holding up handwritten signs expressing their bargaining priorities.

    Bargaining Committee

    The Bargaining committee is not a standing committee, but is raised before and during a bargaining cycle for each bargaining unit. Its role is to craft the bargaining platform and write proposal language to be presented during contract bargaining.

  • A colorful globe on a wood table.

    International Caucus

    This caucus group discusses issues relevant to international LEO members and works to organize around their needs.

  • Four children wearing coats and rainboots standing in a line.

    Parents' Caucus

    This caucus group discusses issues relevant to LEO members with children and works to organize around their needs.

  • Zoomed in screenshot of the definition of an Intermittent Lecturer.

    LI/Intermittent Caucus

    This caucus group discusses issues relevant to LEO members classified as LI or Intermittent Lecturers and works to organize around their needs.

  • members gathered at a picnic with trees in the background

    GLAM Mutual Aid

    The Mutual Aid committee works to support individual LEO-GLAM members, and build a non-hierarchical support structure among union members and others working in GLAM and/or other campus units. The committee aims to ensure members are comfortable asking for and offering help. We help to facilitate mutual aid of multiple types - person-to-person/direct assistance and sharing of resources, and monetary aid facilitated by the union. Requests or offers can be sent to mutualaidgroup@leounion.org  OR posted in the #mutual-aid-requests-and-offers Slack channel.

Interested in learning more about committee work or getting involved?

Fill out the committee interest form and we’ll be in touch!