AI and Other Challenges
to the Future
of Workers’ Rights
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
11:00 am – 2:00 pm CT
Carpenters Council Hall
12 East Erie, Chicago
Join the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago for Worker Rights Forum III 2026, a timely program examining current developments in labor and employment law. Designed for attorneys and interested members of the public, the forum will explore recent federal policies and executive orders affecting federal employees; court challenges to the National Labor Relations Act and NLRB; and the evolving impact of artificial intelligence on employees.
The Worker Rights Forum III 2026 is the third such program hosted and organized by the Catholic Lawyers Guild. The Forum seeks to educate lawyers and other members of the public about Catholic teaching on worker justice and to stimulate discussion as to how to respond to AI and other trends affecting workers.
This year, our keynote presentation will be about MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS, the recently released encyclical by Pope Leo exploring the challenges to our essential humanity which artificial intelligence poses. Professor Joseph Vukov, associate professor of philosophy at Loyola University in Chicago will share with the audience the insights from the encyclical and societal impact, including questions for how AI is likely to affect the workplace. His presentation will be followed by audience discussion.
There will be a joint presentation by Professor Anne Lofaso, University of Cincinnati College of Law and Professor Heather Beard, teaching Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois College of Law. These professors will update the audience on relevant and important rulings of the Supreme Court (with emphasis on Trump v. Slaughter). Also, they will summarize the status of constitutional challenges to the National Labor Relations Act and executive orders affecting collective bargaining. Following their presentation, we will discuss the impact of these changes on workers, particularly federal employees.
For the third presentation, we will hear a report from Jane Flanagan, Director of the Illinois Department of Labor, regarding her obstacles in enforcing labor laws applicable to low wage and immigrant workers due President Trump’s detention and deportation policies. In addition, two business agents of the Carpenter’s Union will describe their experience with workers in the construction industry.
Registration includes lunch, two hours of general continuing legal education credit for attorneys, and opportunities to connect with fellow participants.
Two-hours of Illinois general CLE credit will be provided for this program. Registration is required to attend, please provide ARDC number during registration to obtain CLE credit.
We hope you can join us!
Sessions
SESSION 1:
MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS: Insights from Pope Leo’s Encyclical Exploring Artificial Intelligence and Essential Humanity
KEYNOTE:
Summary Of the Encyclical and AIs Impact on the Common Good
Speaker: Joseph Vukov
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University Chicago
INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION:
1. How should the Church respond to threats posed by AI in the workplace?
2. How to utilize AI in a way that promotes the common good?
3. What efforts can we take individually to elevate our essential humanity in the face of these technological changes and accompanying economic forces?
SESSION 2:
The Fate of Worker Protections Due To Constitutional Challenges and Trump Administration Policy
PRESENTATION:
1. The Status of Constitutional Threats to the NLRB and NLRA
2. Challenge to Federal Agency Independence: Trump V. Slaughter
3. Impact Of Trump Administration’s Orders on the Rights of Federal Agency Employees
Speakers:
Professor Anne Lofaso
University of Cincinnati College of Law
Professor Heather Beard
Teaching Assistant Professor, University of Illinois Law School, Urbana
INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION:
1. What will protect collective bargaining rights should the NLRA be overturned?
2. What is the damage to our constitutional order if the Executive branch has the authority to decide employer–employee disputes?
3. How should the Church respond if labor union protections under federal law are eliminated?
SESSION 3:
Challenges For Low-Wage Workers and Immigrants
PRESENTATION:
Decline In Enforcement of Labor Laws/Upsurge in Exploitation Due to Immigration Crackdown
Speakers:
Jane Flanagan
Director, Illinois Department of Labor
Tommy Ryan III and Gil Barrigan
Business Agents, Mid-America Carpenters Union
Sponsors
Multiple sponsorship opportunities are available — visit the registration page or contact us for more information!
Registration
Lunch is included with registration.