Labor Summer
General Information
Learn Organizing Skills
Applied Research
Union and CBO Program
FAQs
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June 16-August 8, 2008
The Labor Summer Research Track teaches students applied research skills that are used in unions. Students get the opportunity to learn from union researchers involved in some of the most exciting and important organizing and policy campaigns in the nation that are making a difference for working people, especially immigrants and people of color.
How It Works
The Center for Labor Research and Education at UC Berkeley offers PAID graduate-level internships (must meet GSR Step II qualifications) in applied research and education for students with a commitment
to social justice. Here’s how it works:
- Research interns work on-site with mentoring from the staff of labor unions or community based organizations devoted to worker issues.
- Students learn to use their skills to conduct strategic research, analyze job markets and economic sectors, and develop policy alternatives for pressing worker issues.
- Some unions and community-based organizations also offer research interns the opportunity to learn how to facilitate strategic planning, communications, coalition-building, worker education and training, and campaign evaluation.
- Graduate students as well as undergrads may apply to the research track. However, due to the technical requirements of some of the sites, the advanced training of graduate students may be a requirement for those placements.
Orientation and Mentoring
The Labor Center provides research interns with an intensive orientation early in the summer to introduce the basics of the U.S. labor movement with a special focus on Northern California labor issues. The orientation also covers basics of strategic and policy research in a labor environment, and some labor economics and history. After orientation, students are paired with a Labor Center staff mentor while working independently at their host site.
Career Opportunities
Many students who participate in Labor Summer continue working with the labor movement after the summer is over, either at their host site or in a related organization. Some continue as graduate researchers during the academic year, others find new topics for their masters thesis or doctoral dissertation; still others take permanent staff jobs with labor organizations as researchers, educators and organizers.
Requirements to Participate in Labor Summer
- All applicants should want to work with unions or community-based organizations with a worker-organizing component. An interest in working on social and economic justice issues and the ability to work with a diverse population is essential.
- Applicants must be a University of California student and at least 18 years old at the beginning of the internship placement. Applicants must be enrolled in classes either the semester before or the semester after they participate in Labor Summer.
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All graduate students must meet the GSR requirements in order to be eligible, see link for requirements: see pg. 6 - http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/policies/pdf/apptknow.pdf
- Students must have at least a 3.1 grade-point average; may not have more than two Incomplete grades in upper division or graduate courses on the transcript; and must be in good academic standing. Students on Filing Fee status may not be appointed as GSRs.
- Some placements will require proficiency in a specific language, such as Spanish or Cantonese. You will be tested
in spoken proficiency of such a required language before being placed at a site where that language is needed.
- The internship will run for 8 weeks. You must be available for the entire length of the internship to participate.
Hours and days of work will vary depending on the project.
- An intensive orientation will take place the week of June 18th on the UC Berkeley campus. You must be available to
participate in orientation activities before reporting to your worksite in order to take part in the program.
Salary
Undergraduate interns will be paid at the rate of $12.50 per hour for an eight-week period for a gross amount of $4,000.00
Graduate interns will be paid the UC Graduate Research Step II rate of $2,912 per month pro-rated for an eight-week period for a gross amount of $5,269.27.
How to Apply
We conduct rolling admissions, and students are encouraged to
apply early. The timeline for the application process is as
follows:
Due Date for Applications: Application Deadline Has Passed
Notification of Acceptance (no later than): April 11, 2008
Program dates: June 16-August 8, 2008
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Contact: Angelique Agloro
Phone: (510) 643-0910
Email:
What Students Think About It
Here’s what some past participants had to say about Labor
Summer:
“Many of us had never worked with labor unions before--this
is a great entryway for students! Also, our skills and research
are helping to make a difference in the labor movement.”
“This experience really grounded me and helped me focus
on why I do what I do in school and how important it is for
academia to ground itself outside of the campus walls. If you’re
interested in social change and learning, this is an amazing
opportunity to do both.”
“I loved being in the midst of the staff of a national non-profit organization that is participating in many struggles. The best part was getting to know what the everyday operations were for the Partnership. I feel like I understand how community organizations function. I wish I could have been here longer.”
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