The Union Leadership Academy (ULA) was created over 40 years ago to respond to these needs and to provide a long term continuing educational opportunity for unionists and workers. The ULA's curriculum is designed to provide union leaders and activists with information to help them better understand the social, political and economic forces that have an impact on unions and workers and to develop strategies and programs to benefit unions, workers and their communities.

Enrollment is open to members of both AFL/CIO and independent unions, as well as workers who do not yet have union representation. Many ULA graduates have been sponsored by their unions.