Labor Summer Program

The Labor Summer program, hosted by the Center for Labor and Community at the University of California, Santa Cruz, is an eight-week, full-time (40 hours/wk) internship that brings together student leaders and unions who share a vision for building worker power, advancing social justice, and expanding labor rights along the Central Coast.

The Labor Summer program, hosted by the Center for Labor and Community at the University of California, Santra Cruz, is a PAID, full-time (40 hours a week), eight-week, in-person internship for graduate and undergraduate students at UC, CSU, and California Community Colleges. Interns will receive a $7,000 stipend to be placed with a local labor union or labor-adjacent community organization to learn the basics of workplace and community organizing.

Labor Summer runs from Monday June 15th to Friday August 7th, 2026. By the end of the program you will gain valuable organizing skills that will support your success in future jobs with the labor movement. This is a great opportunity for graduating students who are preparing to work full-time, or for students who want to learn more about the labor movement.

Bilingual Spanish/English students are encouraged to apply!

Application requirements

Have you ever organized a meeting? Researched an issue? Volunteered in your community? Taught a class? Do you have the willingness to knock on a door and listen to someone’s story? Can you imagine a better future for working families? Are you graduating and searching for a full-time job after graduation? If your answer to any of these questions is “yes” or if you want to learn how to do these things, then Labor Summer is for you! Applications are now open and are due: February 28, 2026

Requirements to participate in Labor Summer

Applicants must be available for the entire length of the internship to be eligible. Labor Summer runs from Monday, June 15, 2026 to Friday, August 7th, 2026
Interest in working on social and economic justice issues with unions or community-based organizations
Ability to work with diverse communities
Applicants must be graduate or undergraduate students at UC, CSU, or California Community Colleges
Since this is a full-time internship, interns are not permitted to take summer classes. Some placements will require proficiency in a specific language, such as Spanish.

Other Labor Summer details

Compensation: All students will receive a $7,000 summer stipend for participating.
Internship modality: All internships are scheduled to be in-person for the full eight weeks.
Equipment provided for internship placement: Labor Summer fellows are NOT provided with any equipment such as a laptop or mobile phone from the UCSC Center for Labor and Community.
Time commitments for interns with host organizations: Interns will commit to working 40 hours per week with their host organizations. Additionally, all interns will be entitled to request days off from their placements for any personal needs or sick leave.
Cost of relocation of Labor Summer interns: Labor Summer does not cover any relocation costs for interns.
Labor Summer mentors: Labor Summer mentors are UCSC Center for Labor and community staff and community members that support interns throughout the duration of their placements. Mentors have biweekly check-ins with their assigned mentees to support their professional development.
Labor Summer retreats: The opening retreat for Labor Summer serves as an orientation for all fellows. Some topics that are covered include: organizing basics, race and labor, and a cursory overview of regional labor struggles. The closing retreat allows fellows to reflect on their experience in Labor Summer. Both Labor Summer’s opening and closing retreat are set to take place in-person. With the ongoing uncertainty of COVID-19 and its different variants, please note, this is subject to change.

Organization participation

We are seeking to partner with unions and worker organizations that address the range of issues facing working people today. We are especially interested in campaigns relating to migrant justice, housing, healthcare, environmental justice, mass incarceration, and other social justice-related issues. All stipends for Labor Summer are paid by the UCSC Center for Labor and Community.

General responsibilities of a host organization

Host interns at the organization from June 16 to August 8, 2025.
Provide an organizational orientation to ensure the fellows’ successful transition into the organization. Please ensure your team is aware of Labor Summer interns’ participation in your organization, and communicate with your interns about orientations and first-day logistics prior to their first day of work.
Develop a workplan with clear roles, responsibilities, activities, and expected deadlines.
Submit a work plan to UCSC Center for Labor and Community staff so we can review the work plan with the interns.
Maintain consistent communication with interns.
Maintain communication with UCSC Center for Labor and Community staff as needed.
Be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of interns.
Recommended weekly check-ins with interns to ensure progress on their work plan, as well as discuss overall experience and other items.
Provide mentorship, leadership, and/or professional development opportunities.
Submit a post-internship evaluation of Labor Summer to provide feedback to our staff and strengthen the program.

Host organization timeline

February 28, 2025	Host organization applications due at 5:00 PM PST.
April 2025	Host organizations are notified of selection.
Early May	Intern placement at host organization confirmed.
June 15th, 2025	Host organizations submit work plan for fellow(s).
June 16-June 20	Retreat for interns hosted at UC Santa Cruz
June 23, 2025	First day of work for fellows at their host organizations.
August 7, 2025	Last day of work for fellows at their host organizations.
August 8, 2025	Graduation

If you are interested in becoming a host site for UCSC Labor Summer please email Sarah Mason at saemason@ucsc.edu. Learn more about the most recent Labor Summer program experience by checking out the UCSC Magazine “Hot Labor Summer” article.