What is Union Summer?
Union Summer consists of unions taking on
union activists in a three week internship to work on organising projects, similar to the Anna Stewart Memorial Project.
It aims to identify young people interested in workers rights and social justice and to develop them as activists.
Aims
- Encourage participants to become activists
- To provide a positive experience for people and their host union
- To provide an opportunity for people to contribute to building the union movement in SA
- To increase the understanding of people about unions and organising
- For unions to learn more about the issues facing workers and strategies to better involve and organise workers.
The Project Should
- Be based on clear and achievable goals
- Link to a union campaign or strategy
- Have steps to reach the goal
Participant Information
In general participants should see themselves as a short term "Trainee" Project Officer. The program has structured training and development both on and off the job. Your mentor will facilitate your "on the job" development. This is seen as a critical aspect of the program.
You will be expected to complete a "project" within the 3 weeks and your host union will provide the resources and support necessary to enable you to do this. Your host union will have some initial discussions with you on the nature and scope of the project before commencing.
Some examples of previous projects completed are:
- surveying young people enrolled in hospitality group training to identify organising issues
- establishing a network for education students at University of SA
- assisting in campaigning in the community services sector
- auditing enterprise agreements in local government
There are 4 days of compulsory and structured training included in the program. The structured training covers basic organising skills and concepts, the role of unions, what's happening in the workplace, expectations of interns and an orientation to the particular union and project to be worked on.
Training generally runs from the end of January for 3 weeks and is timed to fit in with university breaks.
If you are interested or would like some more information contact your union to express your interest or SA UNIONS - saunions@saunions.org.au
Union Information
Unions need to -
- Register interest in participating to SA Unions
- Select their own activists as interns from members, family or friends contacts, student or community activists or ask SA Unions to identify a suitable intern
- Identify an Organiser who can ace as a mentor and develop an organising project
- Pay for the interns scholarship on-costs - contact SA UNIONS for further information - saunions@saunions.org.au
Mentor's Role -
- Ensure that the project is meaningful and achievable, given the short timeframe
- Work with the participants to determine and provide the assistance they need to achieve the outcomes from the project
Assistance is available from SA unions in the development of project aims and objectives.
The Union Summer program is linked as part of the U-Who Young People and Unions Network. Unions can participate as part of their commitment to the SA Union Youth Strategy.
It is designed in addition to, not as a replacement for any other internal union initiatives in union development.
It does require unions to have a project or interesting experience or program for the intern. This could be a specific project around recruitment, surveying, or a basic organising task. It could also be assisting unions in the development of activities or strategies that are relevant to young people.
