Diverse group of people with different jobs standing together.
  • Labour Studies Program: Meet and Greet

    Thursday, April 11, 2024
    4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
    108 St. John's College

    This “meet and greet” gathering is for our students and representatives from a range of organizations that may be helpful for making connections to future opportunities. Past events have been great successes, bringing Labour Studies students into contact with organizations they should know about, including some potential employers, co-op and field placement sponsors. We anticipate that this year’s event will be equally successful.

    Invited guests will speak for a maximum of two minutes each about their organization and its activities. This will be followed by a reception where students can network with invited guests in an informal setting.

    Students are not required to RSVP, but if you plan on coming, feel free to email labour_studies@umanitoba.ca to help us estimate numbers for food and beverages (one free drink per person).
     

  • Female student looking over her should at the camera. She is standing in a crowd of professionals, networking.

Programs of study

Student resources and opportunities

As a Labour Studies undergraduate student, you can take advantage of opportunities and supports from academic focus areas to student groups.

LABR 4510 and 4520 - Labour studies field placement courses

Take advantage of the Labour Studies field placement courses to gain valuable work experience and networking opportunities in unions, professional associations, community-based organizations, government departments and agencies, private sector companies and more.

Students take LABR 4510 and LABR 4520 concurrently. LABR 4510 is the seminar portion in which each student will relate theory and practice. LABR 4520 is the placement portion where the student will work in the field.

Undergraduate research awards (URA)

Undergraduate students have the opportunity to work with our leading faculty researchers and gain valuable experience. 

Hannah Guenther-Wexler didn’t let a lack of in-person research activities dampen her enthusiasm as she searched newspapers, periodicals and archival collections for pieces of Manitoba history.

The third-year political studies student in the Faculty of Arts was a 2021 Undergraduate Research Award (URA) recipient and worked under the supervision of Dr. Julia Smith, an assistant professor in labour studies. Together, their research shed light on the importance of strike action in advancing gender equality in the workplace.

Learn more an apply for a UM URA

Writing tutor

The Labour Studies program funds a writing tutor to work directly with labour studies students. Tutor sessions will begin again in Fall 2022. Check back here for information on how to book an appointment.

Student resource room

All Labour Studies students and other students enrolled in Labour Studies courses are invited to use the Labour Studies resource room at 115 Isbister.

The resource room has a small library and is a quiet space for studying and reading. If the door is locked, please check with Rina Orlov, Program Assistant during office hours.

The books and other materials in the Labour Studies resource room are for use in the room only. Please do not remove them from 115 Isbister.

Further studies (graduate and professional programs)

Graduates of Labour Studies are welcomed into law schools across Canada and Industrial Relations and Labour Studies programs including:

  • McMaster University (Hamilton)
  • University of Toronto
  • Queen's University (Kingston)

Labour Studies Students Association (LABSSA)

LABSSA presents talks to explore research, graduate studies and careers. They also offer fun events to help students connect.

Events and membership are open to any student interested in fairness and equality in workplaces, not just students doing an advanced major, major or minor in Labour Studies.

Follow LABSSA on Instagram

Explore your career options in Labour Studies

Graduates of the advanced major program have careers as:

  • health and safety educators and officers
  • human resources staff
  • immigrant services agency staff
  • union representatives, researchers and organizers 
  • employment standards officers
  • lawyers
  • worker advocates 
  • various positions in government

Others work as lawyers, in social agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or businesses.

Meet some of our Labour Studies alumni

Get the information you need for academic planning and connect with experiences to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes that employers are seeking.

View the Labour Studies Career Compass

Financial aid and awards

Learn about scholarships, bursaries and awards given to students who best meet the requirements.

Charles Biesick Memorial Scholarship

In memory of Charles Biesick, longtime editor of the Manitoba Commonwealth, his friends and associates have established an award fund at UM. Established in 1985.

Each year, one scholarship will be offered to an undergraduate student who:

  1. is enrolled full-time (minimum 60 per cent course load) in the second year of study or higher in a general major, advanced major or minor program in Labour Studies;
  2. has achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.0; and
  3. has successfully completed at least six credit hours in the Labour Studies Program with a grade of C+ or higher.

John Urkevich Memorial Bursary in Labour Studies

The bursary provides financial support to undergraduate students in the Labour Studies program who have demonstrated a commitment to local union and/or labour issues. The bursary is for a part-time or full-time student in the second year of study or higher with a declared major or minor in Labour Studies in the Faculty of Arts who has achieved a minimum degree GPA of 2.5 and has demonstrated financial need.

People's Co-op Award

The Wind-Up Committee of the People's Co-operative Limited established a fund at the Winnipeg Foundation to support an annual award to encourage and reward interest and excellence in progressive labour studies, including co-operatives. The fund was established as a legacy to the Co-operatives immigrant founders, who saw education as an important aim of the Co-op (1928-1992). The first award was given in 2001.

The award is for a student in either a general major or advanced major in Labour Studies who has successfully completed at least 9 credit hours in courses leading toward the degree and has demonstrated proficiency in and commitment to progressive labour studies. Preference in selection shall be given to students whose work includes a study of the role/contribution of co-operatives and/or application of co-operative principles.

William Robert Kernaghan Memorial Scholarship in Labour Studies

This award is for a full-time student in the Faculty of Arts with excellent academic standing who is enrolled in the major or advanced major of the Labour Studies program and has completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of Labour Studies courses.

William Robert Kernaghan Memorial Bursary in Labour Studies

The bursary, established in 2014 by William Robert Kernaghan [BA/02], supports undergraduate students in the Labour Studies program. The bursary is for a full-time student in the Faculty of Arts with good academic standing who has completed a minimum of 9 credit hours in the Labour Studies program and has demonstrated financial need.

Labour Studies resources

Access library information, media and industry associations.

UM labour studies liaison librarian: Donna Sikorsky

Shift Work, a free weekly newsletter

Labour/Le Travail, the journal of Canadian labour studies

Our Times, a quarterly Canadian labour magazine

Canadian Association for Work and Labour Studies

Our alumni

Contact us

Labour Studies Program
115 to 119 Isbister Building
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

204-474-8356
204-474-7869
Monday to Thursday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Friday 9:00 am to 1:30 pm.