ITHACA, N.Y. -- "Social Justice and Campus Activism" is the theme of Union Days, April 2-4, at Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Ives Hall.

The events, which are free and open to the public, look at how labor and students intersect today on such issues as the war in Iraq, the anti-sweatshop campaign and organizing campus workers.

Richard Trumka, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO -- the youngest person to hold that

position in the labor organization's history -- is the keynote speaker Wednesday, April 2, at 1 p.m. in 305 Ives Hall. "He is an eloquent and passionate speaker whose life has been devoted to workers' rights, democracy and social justice," said ILR Assistant Professor Jeff Cowie, Union Days organizer.

Trumka, who holds a law degree from Villanova University Law School, is a third-generation coal miner who began working in the mines at age 19. He became an activist in the Miners for Democracy reform movement and rose to become president of the United Mine Workers of America, leading two major strikes that resulted in improved job security, pensions and benefits for mine workers and better employer-employee relations. In 1994, he was chosen by President Clinton to represent the interests of working families on the Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and Tax Reform. He received the Labor Responsibility Award from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in 1990.

On Thursday, April 3, at 3 p.m. in 280 Ives Hall, a discussion, "Organizing on Campus: Exploring Students, Youth and Labor in the Struggles for Social Justice," includes these panelists: Ben McKean, United Students Against Sweatshops and Harvard Living Wage Campaign; Sonya Mehta, Young Worker Project, San Francisco; Bob Muehlenkamp, national coordinator, U.S. Labor Against the War; and Ellen Thomson, national lead organizer, Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees' campus food-service workers organizing campaign. Breakout strategy workshops with panelists follow at 4:45 p.m. in Ives Hall classrooms 103, 107, 108 and 112.

On Friday, April 4, a Social Justice Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Smithers, Cleary and AFL-CIO lobbies, Ives Hall, is offering career options in labor and non-profit organizations. It is followed by a reception at 1:30 in 280 Ives Hall, honoring Cornell alumni in labor, and an informal discussion about careers in the labor movement.

In conjunction with Union Days, a Thursday movie double feature at Willard Straight Theatre sponsored by Cornell Cinema features a 7 p.m. showing of "Occupation: The Story of the Harvard Living Wage Campaign" and an 8:15 p.m. showing of "Real Women Have Curves." Tickets are $3 and include both shows.