#union summer

[youngworkersvic]

“During the Union Summer Internship Program, I was placed at the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU). I was so thrilled to have an opportunity to directly experience first-hand what actually occurs behind the scenes and the day-to-day operations of the union. 

From going out to the sites and talking to workers, to sitting in meetings and having conversations with the Victorian State Secretary herself, was amazing and insightful in itself. The amount of hard work put into by the organisers for their members, was an inspiring thing to witness. 

Also, meeting with the RTBU women’s group, learning about the EBA, and talking about the legal formalities with the in house lawyer, was some of the many favourite things I had the pleasure of experiencing at RTBU. This internship was a worth-while program, insightful, interesting and something I will never forget doing.”

Union Summer applications close in one week - get on it! www.weareunion.org.au/unionsummer2016

[youngworkersvic]

“My internship with the ETU was an incredibly broadening experience. The breadth of the ETU’s work was the first thing to strike me, the local and global role of the union made for an exciting learning experience. As the representatives of electricians, the unions’ historical role in the roll out of electricity and the creation of world first safety standards is inspiring. As a trade specific union, the ETU has a unique involvement with a fundamental asset to our society that entwines workers advocacy and the basic needs of a society.

The ETU clearly understands its role as an important institution in Victorian society. The importance of the ETU is represented by their outstanding offices in North Melbourne, their building is a testament to savviness of their administrational team. The ETU is run to improve the services provided to its members, this means that their organizers have a great amount of passion and ability.

The ETU’s ability to adapt to the legalese nature of employment law was equally impressive. Despite meeting some lovely people at the ETU, it was impossible to drop the sense that the union was a well-oiled machine. The ETU has legal, communication and financial departments which created a varied and extensive internship.

My second day truly captured the extensive nature of the internship, in the morning I sat in on an employee dispute mediation with the ETU’s apprentice officer, Omar Merhi. The ETU went to great lengths to ensure a young apprentice did not lose his job, and were successful in doing so. This local experience was juxtaposed with the global, as I sat in on a meeting of the ETU executives as they knuckled out the ETU’s response to the Chinese Free Trade Agreement.  It was clear that the ETU was not just representing the electricians, but were keen to participate in the conversation about Australia’s economic future.

The internship at the ETU was combined with training days at VTHC. This laid the groundwork for how to campaign on union issues. The training taught us skills in advocacy and campaigning, it was a valuable experience in communications, as we learnt the importance of targeted messages and social organization. The internship was an extensive yet enjoyable experience and I recommend it to anyone who would like to participate in shaping Australia.”

There’s still time to get involved in Union Summer 2016 - grab an application form from the website and make sure to get them back to us by October 23! 

[youngworkersvic]

Wanna make like Shirl and have a Union Summer? Grab an application form from our website and get cracking - applications close October 23!

[youngworkersvic]

APPLICATIONS CLOSE THIS SUNDAY!

Union Summer is open to anyone under 35, no experience required just a passion for workers rights and social justice. Check out the website and download the application form!  www.weareunion.org.au/unionsummer2015

[ookii]

Union Summer is a 10-week educational internship in which participants are introduced to the union movement. The Union Summer internship will run from June 13 through Aug. 19. It will begin with a weeklong orientation and training, which will be held June 13 to June 17. After the training, interns will work in teams on union organizing drives in various parts of the country. The work could include working on state legislative battles, visiting workers in their homes to find out what workers want to change about their jobs, planning and participating in direct actions such as marches, as well as assisting in building community, labor and religious organizations. Interns will play an important role in helping to build support for workers in their fight to gain a voice in their workplaces. 

Participation in Union Summer is also an ideal way for people to learn about union or community organizing as a career. 

Internship Requirements

Union Summer interns should be dedicated to social and economic justice and have a specific desire to learn about the labor movement.

It is NOT necessary to have union experience or knowledge of the union movement to be accepted as a Union Summer intern, but such a background is a plus in the application process.

Union Summer interns must be:

Flexible;

Adaptable in the face of new challenges and experiences;

Able to work in teams and have excellent communications skills;

Open to living or working with people of different races, ethnic backgrounds, religions and sexual orientation; and

Willing to immerse themselves for 10 weeks in an intensive learning-by-doing experience.

A sense of humor is also a definite asset. In some areas, applicants who are fluent in a language other than English will be given preference, based on the needs of a specific internship site and organizing campaign. The Union Summer program also is committed to achieving diversity among interns, which reflects, as closely as possible, the diversity of the workforce with whom we are working.

The above interests and qualities should be demonstrated clearly in the written Union Summer application and in the interview process.

This is what I am doing over the summer.  I leave for DC on Sunday!