2026 Illinois Postal Workers Education Conference
Conference | Available
Illinois Postal Workers Education Conference
January 15-17, 2026
Holiday Inn | 101 Trade Center Drive Champaign, IL
Agenda Subject to Change
Thursday, January 15
Registration 8:00am - 9:30am
Opening Remarks 9:30am
Opening Plenary 9:45am
Lunch 12:15pm
Workshops 1:30pm
Break 3:00pm
Workshops 3:15pm
Break 4:45pm
Dinner & Cash Bar 6:00pm
Friday, January 16
Workshops 9:30
Break 11:00
Workshops 11:15
Lunch 12:45
Workshops 2:00
Break 3:15
Workshops 3:30
Raffle Drawing 5:15
Saturday, January 17
Closing Plenary 9:15
Certificates & Raffle Drawing 11:45 (Must be present to win)
Opening & Closing Sessions
• Opening Plenary "Workers Over Billionaires: Economic Democracy for All" | Prof. Robert Bruno, University of Illinois
• Closing Plenary “Union Tactics the Law Tried to Kill” | Prof. Kay Emmert, University of Illinois
Workshop Sessions Include:
• New Contract Information
• Introduction to Steward Training
• Advanced Steward/Grievance Preparation
• Excessing
• Discipline
• Maintenance Training
• O.W.C.P
HOTEL:
All participants must make and pay for their own room reservations. The Holiday Inn is holding a room block at a discounted rate of $110.00 per night (plus tax) until December 15th. Rooms will also be available at the above rate for Wednesday, January 14. To reserve your room in the block, call the Champaign Holiday Inn 217-398-3400 and reference the “IL Postal Worker Conference”.
CONFERENCE FEE:
The $235 fee includes conference materials, the Thursday night banquet, and the Friday sundae bar, as well as snacks and beverages during the breaks. All meals are on your own, there are many restaurants in the area.
Robert Bruno
Prof. Bruno is Director of the Labor Education Program and a Professor of Labor and Employment, as well as the director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal in the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois, Urban-Champaign. In addition to publishing numerous scholarly articles on a diverse range of labor relations subjects, Professor Bruno has also co-authored numerous research reports on labor unions, workplace practices and labor and employment policy topics.
Kay Emmert
Prof. Emmert is a Lecturer in the Labor Education Program, where she teaches labor law, grievance processing, arbitration, collective bargaining, communication and leadership skills to union members, unrepresented workers, and university undergraduates. As Lead Negotiator and bargaining advisor for the Non-Tenure Faculty Coalition at UIUC, she successfully negotiated multiple contracts, securing significant gains in wages, job security, and benefits. An expert in contract research, writing, and enforcement, she develops engaging, real-world curricula that empower workers with the knowledge and skills to advocate for fair labor practices and workplace protections.