Maryland LERA
Maryland LERA is the local chapter for the LERA National organization where professionals interested in all aspects of labor and employment relations come together to network, share ideas and learn about new developments, issues, and practices in the field.
Maryland LERA’s presentations cover topics that are critical to public and private sector labor relations and employment.
We provide a unique forum where the views of labor, management, federal/state/local governments, academics, advocates, and neutrals are encouraged in a friendly, non-adversarial atmosphere.
LERA members include professionals in the areas of academic research and education, compensation and benefits, human resources, labor and employment law, labor and management resources, labor markets and economics, public policy, training and development, and union administration and organizing.
Join our professional community and become a part of the dialog that will help shape and improve the workplace of the future.
A star is reborn.
The Labor and Employment Relations Association annually recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of local LERA chapters with three levels of LERA Chapter Awards including Chapter Merit Awards, Outstanding Chapter Awards, and Chapter Star Awards.
Maryland LERA was awarded a prestigious 2025 LERA Chapter Award in June and a Merit Award in 2024 for its significant contributions in the areas of Outstanding Programming, Member Innovation, Community Involvement, Chapters Helping Chapters, Chapter Communications, and Chapter to National Relations.
If you are not a current member, please consider joining! In addition to gaining access to the Membership Directory, members pay a discounted rate for Maryland LERA events. Your membership dues help Maryland LERA continue to present important, thought-provoking speakers in a forum that allows Unions, Employers and Neutrals to come together and discuss current issues in a casual environment.
PLEASE JOIN US!
Meetings
The 100-member chapter meets monthly, from September through May, for lunch and a program. These luncheon gatherings provide a stimulating forum for speakers from all parts of the industrial relations arena, including management, labor, government, attorneys, and academicians. Representatives from management, labor, government, attorneys, and academicians bring a variety of perspectives to the group, encouraging lively discussion of current events in employee and industrial relations. The chapter publishes a membership directory, cosponsors workshops and seminars, and holds an annual year-end social event.
SAVE THE DATES
2025-2026 Events Schedule
September 25, 2025 (Thursday)
October 29, 2025
November 19, 2025
December 17, 2025
January 28, 2026 (VIRTUAL)
February 25, 2026 (VIRTUAL)
March 25, 2026
April 22, 2026
May 27, 2026
Except for the January 28, 2026 and the February 25, 2026 “Virtual Meetings,” all meetings will have dinner and presentation from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at:
Chiapparelli’s Restaurant
237 S High Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
Membership
Dues are $50 for professionals, $18 for students. For further information or to be added to the email distribution list, please contact the Chapter at marylandchapter.lera@gmail.com.
Meetings
The Maryland Chapter meets monthly from September through May on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 5:30-8:00 in downtown Baltimore, MD. The meetings include a presentation on the latest trends in labor and employment in addition to dinner in Little Italy. Because of the chapter’s proximity to Washington, D.C. they are often fortunate to be able to book Federal agency heads and national union presidents to speak at their meetings. Dinner and program are $42 for members and $52 for non-members.
Past Speakers Have Included
Allison Dichoso, Commissioner, Maryland Commission on Civil Rights; Shauna Payne-Gold, Towson University Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion; Kimberly Moseley, Executive Director, Federal Impasses Panel; David Rodich, Former Executive Director SEIU Local 500, Ad- am Moore, SAG-AFTRA National Director of EEO & Diversity; Quinton Herbert, Deputy Labor Commissioner, City of Baltimore; Sean Marshall, Regional Attorney, NLRB Region 5; Lawrence E. Dube, Senior Editor Bloomberg Law: Lowell Turner, Professor of International and Comparative Labor, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations; Richard Trumka, President AFL- CIO; Donald Fehr, Executive Director, Major League Baseball Players’ Association (1983-2009); Neil Serotte, Esq., Employment & Labor attorney; Glendora Hughes, General Counsel, Maryland Commission on Civil Rights; Sen. Brian E. Frosh; Ira F. Jaffe, Esq., Professor Michael Hayes, University of Baltimore School of Law, Professor William (Bill) Barry, Director of Labor Studies Community College of Baltimore County; and John Gage, AFGE National President emeritus.
About LERA
The Labor and Employment Relations Association is a singular organization of professionals interested in industrial relations, human resources, labor-management committees, and labor-management partnerships. If you are a professional or an academic in the field of industrial relations and human resources, we invite you to join the National LERA. The National LERA organization provides a network of IR and HR practitioners and academics who share their knowledge and insight through regular LERA publications and at LERA meetings twice a year. LERA was founded in 1947 as the IRRA (Industrial Relations Research Association) and today encompasses more than 5,000 members.
Affiliated with national LERA since 1977.