About Union Summer
In 1996 American Unions first ran a Union Summer, asking students and community activists to help organise workplaces. It was a great success, helping to organise campaigns and producing skilled and committed activists. Union Summer also helped to kick start the anti-sweatshop movement in American Universities. The ACTU and Unions NSW borrowed the concept and ran a pilot program in NSW in 2001.
In February 2004 the Young Unionists Network and Victorian Trades Hall Council ran the first Union Summer Program in Victoria. A total of 13 unions and 16 interns participated, the programme has run annually since then.
About Victorian Trades Hall Council The Victorian Trades Hall Council is the peak council of over 40 affiliated unions or union divisions, representing 350,000 union members in Victoria.
The Young Unionists Network is auspiced by the Victorian Trades Hall Council and is a network of young workers who are union members. The network has been established to bring together young unionists from all different industries to organise collectively to fight for the rights of young workers. The network in run by young unionists and is open to all young unionists who are interested in getting active, sharing skills, information and organising.
Union Summer (US) gives people committed to social justice and workers rights the opportunity to do an educational internship working in trade unions with organisers and union activists.
US aims to encourage participants to become activists in their workplaces, universities or TAFE colleges and support workers organising in strategic sites and industries. US aims to increase the amount of young people that become strong union members.
To find out more about Union Summer 2010 or to apply, email darcher@vthc.org.au.