Twenty-five undergraduate students participated in the 2008 Labor Summer Internship Program (LSIP) to study the experience of workers and the historic role of the labor movement in American society. Through readings, lectures, panels, and discussions, the class focused on topics such as labor and community organizing in Los Angeles, globalization and crossborder solidarity, migration and globalization in Southern California, and ­issues of race and gender in the labor movement.

At the same time, students learned firsthand about the inner workings of unions and other social-justice organizations through their internships, where students had the opportunity to work on such projects as a high school leadership project, a skid row history project, and a ­contract campaign. Students also assisted with research on gentrification and wage claims, voter registration, media outreach and publicity, volunteer training, and community outreach.
This year students interned at AFSCME Local 2712, the AFL-CIO, CHIRLA, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, LAANE, ENLACE, the Garment Worker Center, InnerCity Struggle, KIWA, Los Angeles Poverty Department, Los Angeles Taxi Workers Alliance, NDLON, Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund, SEIU Local 1877, UNITE-HERE Local 11, and the Community Labor Environmental Action Network.

For more information on LSIP or to sponsor an intern, contact Gaspar Rivera-Salgado at 310/206-3910 or grsalgado@irle.ucla.edu.