The Expansion and Implications of Various Forms of Collective Representation in the United States

Abstract

Before my formal remarks, I would like to comment on the state of LERA. I am pleased to report that LERA is healthy— we experienced strong growth in our membership over the years, including a noteworthy increase in student members. Attendance at this meeting is at a record level. Due to those things and the intelligent hard work of our University of Illinois–based staff and the helpful contribution that you make as volunteers, LERA is now on a solid financial  footing. Yet we should not be complacent. I encourage LERA to continue to strive to be inclusive in its programming and to seek the active involvement of the  diverse parties involved in the world of work.