UCLA Labor Center

This past weekend, the UCLA Labor Center's AARJ Project coordinator Lisa Lei joined Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO for a 3-day organizing institute dedicated to developing participants into changemakers. Here's to the next generation of API union leaders! ????

In Los Angeles, many car wash workers are victims of wage theft. ???? A new WorkingNation film, “The True Cost of a Car Wash (Latino Workers and Wage Theft),” shows what can happen when workers like these and their allies stand up for their rights and features expert insights from Victor Narro and Tia Koonse of the UCLA Labor Center. ?? The film’s out now, just in time for #HispanicHeritageMonth! Watch at: https://lnkd.in/gBcyreyM #WNHispanicWorkers #UCLALaborCenter

?? A huge thank you to our incredible BAJI Dream Summer fellows for their work and dedication this summer! ???? We’ve had the privilege of being a host organization for UCLA's Dream Summer program for the past few years, and each year, we are inspired by the passion and commitment our fellows bring to the fight for racial justice and migrant rights. This year, our fellows dove into workshops and trainings on these critical issues and completed a powerful community project, interviewing Black migrants to amplify their stories. These stories shed light on the urgent need for better healthcare, mental health support, and stronger community connections for Black migrants. We also asked our fellows to envision the world they want to live in as Black migrants—swipe through to read their powerful visions for the future. ???

This summer, FGE partnered with the?UCLA Labor Center for its?annual Dream Summer Fellowship?as a host organization for one of its fellows,?providing paid placements to immigrants across the U.S.?We are so grateful for Yulisbeth’s time with us; she has done an amazing job supporting FGE’s work this summer. Thank you, Yuli, for all the dedication you put into building materials for FGE’s programming and resources that we will continue to highlight! Your 8-week fellowship with us has been a joy and an inspiration for our team.

"We are capable of creating and recreating revolutionary ideas based on the needs of our time, the new conditions that place us in a situation different from that of years ago." This interview forms part of a series of interviews with prominent Mexican labor leaders. ??? Find the full piece at: https://buff.ly/3Tp6v0T??

“More than 17,000 AT&T workers in the US south-east remain on strike as the Communications Workers of America have accused the company of unfair labor practices for attempting to further delay bargaining a new union contract.” https://buff.ly/3XaN2Cd #InTheNews

“United Airlines flight attendants announced the union approved to authorize a strike with a 99.99% vote on Wednesday. This is the first time they've voted on such a proposal in nearly 20 years.” https://buff.ly/3Xl9GZM #InTheNews

Last week, our POWER in Workforce Development team did a gallery walk to share research findings from a survey conducted?with the first cohort of óRALE: Organizing Rooted in Abolition, Liberation, and Empowerment's Economic Liberation program participants to the newest cohort. Together, we're building a brighter future! ?

Big things on the horizon! ?? The UCLA James Lawson Jr. Worker Justice Center is currently undergoing renovations, but by 2025, will reopen as a key hub for worker rights and social justice advocacy in Los Angeles. Last week, UCLA faculty and UCLA Labor Center staff were able to do a site visit. Stay tuned in the coming months to learn more. ??

“A key initiative includes a new rule from the U.S. Department of Labor, which raises the salary threshold for overtime eligibility, expanding the number of workers eligible for extra pay when they work more than 40 hours a week.“ https://buff.ly/4giTqAf #InTheNews