Union Summer is a four-week educational internship sponsored by the AFL-CIO which has graduated nearly 2,000 activists since its beginning in 1996. The results of the influence of this program have been seen through the strong and ever-increasing level of campus activism around sweatshops and other campaigns for workers' rights and social justice. Many Union Summer graduates have joined the ranks of new organizers, researchers and other members of the labor movement across the country. Union Summer 2000 will continue to contribute to union work for the fifth year in a row.

To participate in Union Summer, a person should have a commitment to social and economic justice, as well as an openness to working with people of a different race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation than one's own. Participants also need to be people-oriented, energetic, flexible and willing to work long hours on an unpredictable schedule. A college degree is not required. And while a plus, no previous union experience is necessary.

The bulk of what interns do centers around developing skills and helping workers in their fight for workplace justice: visiting workers at their home or work to find out what they would like to change at their jobs; organizing picket lines or participating in direct actions, such as marches and demonstrations; assisting in building coalitions between labor and community organizations; educating the public or rallying support on an important workers' rights issue or campaign. Whatever interns do will help workers in their fight for workplace justice.

Union Summer is not a job but an educational internship. Participants will receive a stipend of $210 per week to cover meals and other incidental expenses. Taxes will be deducted from the stipend. Transportation to and from the Union Summer site (if necessary) will not be covered by the program; the program, will, however, cover local transportation costs during the internship. Housing is provided in most sites, with interns staying together in a college dorm or similar setting.

To apply for an internship you must be 18 years or older by May 31, 2000. The application must be received by June 1. To apply or ask for more information, write to Union Summer, 815 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006; fax: 202-639-6230; call: 1-800-952-2550 (202-639-6220 in DC); E-mail: unionsummer@aflcio.org; or vist the website at www.unionsmr.org.

Seminary Summer

In conjunction with Union Summer, Seminary Summer is a 10-week internship being sponsored by the AFL-CIO and the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. It will give 25 seminarians, novices, rabbinical students and other future religious leaders the opportunity to witness worker struggles for a voice in the workplace and work with religious, community and union activists to build support for workers organizing unions. Seminary summer participants will convene in Chicago on June 12 for a week-long training and orientation. Then, teams of 2-3 will go to different sites around the country, where they will spend the next nine weeks. They will reconvene for the final weekend in Chicago for reflection and debrief. For more information, contact the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice/Seminary Summer at 1020 W. Bryn Mawr, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60660; phone: 773-728-8400; web: www.nicwj.org; or Union Summer/Seminary Summer at 800-952-2550 or www.aflcio.org/unionsummer. "Love mercy, do justice and walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8.