PAID Internship - National Labor Relations Board

Student Co-Op Opportunity at National Labor Relations Board (Chicago)

The National Labor Relations Board is currently recruiting graduate students in Industrial Relations or related fields for positions in our Student Educational Employment Program (Cooperative Education Program) in the Chicago Regionnal Office. The graduate position provides for 3month to 6 month periods of employment, involving one or more periods of work. We are seeking your assistance in making information about our Agency and recruitment plans available to your students..

Mission: We are an independent Federal Agency that enforces the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The Act protects the rights of employees to engage in, or refrain from engaging in, union activities or to work collectively to improve their working conditions. It also provides a mechanism for employees to participate in elections to determine if a particular union will be their bargaining representative. It is an Agency where one can make a real difference in the lives of working people.

Role of Cooperative Education Student: Our student co-ops are involved in the investigation of unfair labor practices against employers and unions; they meet with witnesses to gather evidence, analyze evidence and make recommendations as to the disposition of the case. Student co-ops also conduct representation elections. Applicants should possess excellent investigatory, legal research, analytical, writing, and negotiating skills; a general knowledge of the statutory framework of the
NLRA; an ability to deal with diverse parties; and an ability to carry out their functions with integrity, objectivity, and commitment to the public interest. While our student co-ops are quickly given considerable responsibility, there is also careful mentoring and supervision as well as on-the-job and formal training programs. For a sampling of the types of cases the Region processes, please visit us on Facebook (NLRBChicago) or Twitter (NLRBChicago).

Eligibility: Applicants must have a 3.0 or better grade point average and be enrolled on a substantially full-time basis. Applicants should have a valid driver’s license. Full time graduate students in a Master’s program leading to a degree in Labor Relations, Industrial Relations, Labor Law, Labor Economics, Political Science, Economics, Business Administration, Personnel Management, Accounting, or Law any of these fields are eligible regardless of the number of semesters completed. It is expected that students will complete the work period prior to, or simultaneously with, completing their degree requirements. Students must be a permanent U.S. resident or otherwise authorized to be employed and must be able to obtain their U.S. citizenship prior to the expiration of their cooperative education appointment.

Benefits and Opportunities: Starting salaries are typically at the GS-7 (graduate student) level. Student co-ops are eligible for non-competitive career conditional appointments and promotions upon successful completion of the co-op program and achievement of degree requirements. Students must be U.S. citizens to be eligible for conversion and must be recommended for retention by the Regional Director of the Region in which they perform their co-op tour. For additional information on the Agency’s specific wages and benefit programs, please go to our website at www.nlrb.gov and the web site of the Office of Personnel Management at www.opm.gov