McBride Lecture

The McBride Lecture is a biennial event inviting a nationally recognized leader to Notre Dame to speak on a contemporary labor topic, addressing both the campus and local communities. Established in 1977 with support from the United Steelworkers (USW) “to promote better understanding of the principles of unionism and our economy," the signature series represents the Higgins Labor Program's commitment to educating students and citizens on enduring questions of workplace rights, economic fairness, and social justice. Honoring the international union's fourth international president, Lloyd McBride (1977–1983), the USW has generously funded the annual McBride Lecture and associated activities since its inception.

Fred Redmond, United Steelworkers Executive Vice President (Human Relations), delivered the 36th McBride Lecture on September 21, 2017 at the Eck Visitor Center.

The 36th McBride Lecture (2017)

Fred Redmond, "Today's Struggle for Racial and Economic Justice"

Fred Redmond has been the United Steelworkers (USW) International Vice President (Human Affairs) since 2006. He joined the USW when he went to work at Reynolds Metals Co. in McCook, IL, in 1973, and he worked his way up through the ranks of his local from shop steward to grievance committee member to local president. A leader in the wide labor movement as well, he holds leadership positions in the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, the AFL-CIO Executive Council, and Working America, and he is chairman of the board of directors of the A. Philip Randolph Institute. He is co-chair of the AFL-CIO's Labor Commission on Racial and Economic Justice, created in 2015 to "facilitate a broad conversation with local labor leaders around racial and economic disparities and institutional biases, and identifies ways to become more inclusive as the new entrants to the labor force diversify." His lecture addressed that committee's conclusions, published in the Racial and Economic Justice Report.

Our next McBride Lecture will take place in 2019. To see the list of illustrious prior speakers, please see the Past McBride Lectures link to the left.