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Dear IRLE Community,
Summer is always a busy time at the IRLE, and this year was no different, despite the unique political circumstances that shadow our work. Our summertime projects highlight the IRLE's role in continuing education.
This summer we held our third Strategic Labor Research Conference, welcoming over 200 union and community organization researchers to the UCLA campus for a weekend of intensive training and networking. Among the highlights of the conference was a keynote speech from Marshall Ganz of Harvard University and a panel discussion by veterans of the Las Vegas culinary workers union.
Also this summer, the UCLA Labor Center kicked off its partnership with Los Angeles County to promote effective workforce development programs. The Labor Center also hosted new cohorts of of fellows in the Dream Summer, Labor Summer, and Freedom Fellows programs that place college students with community organizations to gain hands-on experience in the work of social movements. And the Labor Summer Research Program, a partnership of the Labor Center and UCLA Labor Studies, trained another student research team exploring the challenges of "workers and learners." Two of our graduates from last year's summer research program gave testimony to the Assembly Committee on Economic Development in August.
Since my last quarterly message, we've learned more about the looming legal battle between the federal government and the University of California. Earlier this week, the L.A. Times reported the Trump administration is demanding a payment of nearly $1.2 billion and numerous policy concessions in order to release about $500 million in suspended research funds. Among the projects impacted by the ongoing federal funding freeze is LOSH's grant from the NIEHS Worker Training Program, which supports training initiatives for workers and communities in Southern California and across the Western U.S.
UCLA and UC leaders, state legislators, Governor Newsom, and unions representing UC employees have all challenged the validity of the federal action against UCLA. UC President James Milliken called it "one of the gravest threats to the University of California in our 157-year history." UCLA leaders have called on employees, students, alumni and community members to share personal stories about the positive impact of UCLA research. Unions are calling on the university to reject the demands and fight back. I encourage you to share your stories with friends and neighbors.
In solidarity,
Toby Higbie
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