MD: A New Beginning for Progressive Labor Education & Activism as ATU Acquires National Labor College Campus in Silver Spring

Today marks a rebirth and reinvigorated commitment to education and progressive training for organized labor as the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) expands its long-standing union education and activism program to the newly acquired campus of the former National Labor College.

The National Labor College, founded in 1970 by AFL-CIO President George Meany, has been the home to the training of more than 200,000 labor and community leaders. It will now continue and expand on that great legacy as a school for labor, community and social justice leaders.  

“Today the ATU has stepped up and assumed a greater leadership role in the molding of minds, values and progressive reform for both Canada and the United States, where we represent more than 190,000 workers. The state of the art conference and training center will again be a hub of activity for ATU and the entire labor movement,” says ATU International President Larry Hanley. “It represents a new beginning in terms of our capacity to train not only our leaders and members, but also those who work every day to improve the life of our society.”

Over the past four years, ATU has made an unprecedented commitment to training and education to empower its members with the skills, strategies and knowledge needed to strengthen the Union and build community alliances.  ATU, which will train more than 10,000 members this year, will make the facilities of the new “ATU Training and Education Center” available to other unions and progressive groups seeking to educate and train their members, as well.  

“The campus has been the preeminent training facility for organized labor over the past 40 years,” Hanley continues. “ATU will build on and expand that legacy to educate and train new generations of workers and activists across North America and the world who share our values.”

ATU plans to move its international headquarters to the campus.  The Union will be working with other national and international unions, and progressive groups to develop innovative training and education programs designed to re-energize the labor and progressive movement to meet the challenges facing working people around the world.