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INTERNSHIPS
Labor Studies Minor Internship
The UC-Riverside Labor Studies minor was designed to educate students about issues affecting workers and the history and current state of the labor movement. To enrich students' understanding of the labor movement and the challenges it faces, the minor requires students complete a one-quarter internship with a labor organization. Through this internship, students will gain first-hand experience of the struggle for economic justice and explore possible career opportunities.
What kinds of organizations can I work for?
Most internships will be with a labor union in the local area. Students may also work with community organizations or advocacy groups that are fighting for better public policies for low and moderate-income people, including campaigns for affordable housing, access to health care, living wages, prisoners' labor rights, or better welfare policies. Students can also volunteer for organizations, such as Legal Aide, that advocate on behalf of low-income people. While students are encouraged to find internships that suit their interests, all internships must be approved by the Labor Studies advisor. Most of these internships will not be paid.
How do I get credit for the Labor Studies Internship?
All internships must be completed through a four-unit internship course and approved by the Labor Studies advisor. The requirements for the internship will vary, depending on both the course instructor and the internship. Students can gain course credit for their internship through LABR 198I or an equivalent course. If necessary, students can also complete the internship through an independent study and petition for this course to count towards this requirement. Students are advised to seek approval for their internship from the Labor Studies advisor before they begin.
For more information and/or to seek approval for an internship, please contact the Labor Studies advisor, Professor Ellen Reese. She is located in Watkins Hall 1217. E-mail: ellen.reese@ucr.edu. Phone: 951-827-2930.
Potential Internship Supervisors:
The following people and organizations have expressed interest in supervising Labor Studies internships. You may also choose to work with another labor union or community organization as long as it addresses issues affecting working class people and you request approval from the Chair of the minor.
On-campus & nearby internships (not requiring a car):
Francisco Solas (Latino Voter Mobilization Project): This organization registers and mobilizes Latino voters both on and off-campus, working mostly on electing pro-worker/student/immigrant candidates to local offices, but sometimes on other ballot propositions of interest to Latino voters.
E-mail: fsola@latinoprojects.org Phone: 951-780-7206
Elliot Kim (UAW Local 2865 & Refund California Coalition member): UAW represents academic student employees, including Teaching Assistants, Readers, and Tutors at UCR. They are organizing against the UC budget cuts along with other unions and organizations associated with the Refund California Coalition.
E-mail: kimnahroo@yahoo.com Phone: 951-233-6783
Ricardo Cisneros (United Domestic Workers/AFSCME 3930): UDW represents in-home supportive service workers who provide care to our most fragile citizens of California the elderly and disabled. Union membership is very diverse. The care providers and their clients are currently facing cutbacks in services and jobs because of state budget cuts. In addition to phone banking, volunteers might get involved in mobilizing and registering voters for the fall election in support of pro-union candidates, and in support of ballot propositions regarding the state budget. Spanish, Vietnamese, and/or Farsi language ability is a plus but not required. The union's main office is located in downtown Riverside and easily accessible by public buses.
E-mail: rcisneros@udwa.org Phone: 951-333-9657 Address: 3600 Lime St, Suite 421, Riverside, CA 92501
Janet Jones (California School Employees Association): This union represents staff employees at public schools, including all non-teaching staff, library technicians, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers. They are fighting to defend public education against budget cuts and also mobilizing voters for the fall election in support of pro-union candidates, and ballot propositions 24 and 25. Spanish language ability is a plus but not required. Car is preferred, but some campaign work may be done on campus.
E-mail: JJONES@CSEA.COM Phone: 909.466.2070;
Off-campus internships (Access to a car is required):
Sylvia Bentancourt (Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice): This environmental justice organization organizes the community to improve the air quality, much of which is caused by the concentration of warehouses, trucks, and railways in the region. They also organize to create and defend more "green space" in the region and around other issues affecting the community. Current initiatives include the "Moving Forward Conference" in October, a campaign for cityhood for parts of unincorporated Riverside, and other base-building activities. The office is about 15 minutes west of UCR, so a car is required.
E-mail: Sylvia.b@ccaej.org Phone: 951.360.8451 (office) or 951.892.8453 (cell)
Yesenia Cabral (United Food and Commercial Workers): The 'Two Sisters' campaign is organizing workers that package and process meat products for "Fresh and Easy" stores. These employees are mostly women. Most are Latina, but some are black and white workers. They are working in highly exploitative conditions and the workers have experienced unpaid overtime and health and safety violations. Spanish language ability is a plus but not required. The office is located in the nearby city of Bloomington & they often want to do worker outreach in the community, so a car is required.
E-mail: yes.cabral@yahoo.com Phone: 714-470-5996
Veronica Alvarado (Warehouse Workers United): This campaign is organizing warehouse workers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties and their headquarters is located in Fontana (so access to a car is required). Many warehouse workers are temporary workers and Latino immigrants, about 40% of whom are women. They are paid very low wages with unstable employment. Many are being laid off on short notice and without severance pay or recall rights and women are facing sex discrimination. Spanish language ability is a plus but not required.
E-mail: veronica.alvarado@changetowin.org Phone: 323-206-8254
Eddie Gonzalez (Pomona Economic Opportunity Center & National Day Laborers Organizing Network): This center organizes day laborers in Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, and San Bernardino. They organize against the immigration raids affecting day laborers as well as for their employment and labor rights. The center also provides services and training for day laborers. Spanish language ability & access to a car is required.
E-mail: eddie8807@yahoo.com Phone: 323-422-8107
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