Student Testimonials

She says, “that no-one can take away.” For the past 13 years, Letter Carrier Carmen Atencio has taken classes at Trade-Tech. About to earn her A.A. in Labor Studies, she credits the Labor Center for giving her the confidence to help members and build her union.

Goals are dreams and dreams come true. If you can think it, you can achieve it. Labor Studies has given me a new look on life.

We need to be communicating to the public about our issues so that when we need public support for a strike or negotiations, it’s not out of the blue.

I learned about my own worker’s rights and how to stand up for them. Everyone has had workplace issues and the classes were a safe space to address them. I also gathered a network of support – teachers, other students — that I know will continuously be there for me as I grow as a student. Thank you to all!

I realized how important it was to know the history of unions and the laws protecting workers, she says. Labor Center classes taught me all that and more.

After taking part in the 2003 Southern California supermarket strike, Diane Hacker was eager to learn all she could about the labor movement.

The classes equip you with the skills necessary to be more involved in your union and the larger labor movement. You learn how important it is to talk about Labor to everyone, even to your family.

I know I have the heart for social justice work, the classes gave me the tools to work smart — how to do the work and do it well.

The best part of the program is the teachers who have “hands-on” experience and other students who are from all kinds of unions, so you learn how different unions do things.

The Labor Center classes made it possible for me, working with too much on my plate, to be educated. I learned effective public speaking, how to run a committee; really how to be a leader. Thank you.

When I had to step up suddenly to replace a departing president, it was my L.A. Trade-Tech Labor Studies family of instructors and classmates whose support and nuts and bolts know-how helped me grow into my new position, and better serve my members.

You learned what your rights are. The teachers are down to earth, tangible, touchable, they explain what your rights are so you can get them.

My managers know I’ve been taking classes and now graduated. They used to treat me like a peon but now they respect me because they see that I know what I’m doing.

Victoria wasn’t involved at all until she became a Strike Captain in the 03/04 grocery strike and lockout. That Front Line experience inspired and motivated her to get involved, get educated. She became a Steward and recently a Labor Studies Graduate