UMass Boston

The UMass Undergraduate Journal on Work, Labor and Social Movements is a publication of the four labor programs across the University of Massachusetts system. The journal brings together work that displays academic excellence and offers critical insight into the experience of working people and organizations. We encourage submissions that foster an exchange of ideas across disciplines and that deepen the understanding of the ways in which various means of oppression (such as gender, race/ethnicity, country of origin, language and sexual orientation) shape the lives of workers. 

Who Can Submit? 

Undergraduates enrolled at any University of Massachusetts are encouraged to submit. Those who are graduates may submit an undergraduate work within the first twelve months after graduation. Submissions may be co-authored with other undergraduate students. We will accept co-authored work with faculty in which the undergraduate student is the lead author. 

General Submission Rules and Formatting Guidelines 

Submitted articles cannot have been previously published elsewhere. Submitted text files should be 12pt Times New Roman Font, double-spaced with 1-inch margins. All submitted files should be in Microsoft Word Format (.doc of .docx). Any images or figures may be submitted at .jpg or .pdf format. Please include a list of all figures, images or graphics submitted. All submissions should also follow the Chicago Manual of Style. Upon acceptance, it will be the responsibility of the author to format the finalized version so that it adheres to the Author Guidelines. 

For each submitted article, we ask that the author also prepare an abstract of approximately 150-250 words that should be submitted electronically in a Microsoft word document. Each submitted document should include the author(s) full name(s), University, major, expected graduation date, and email address. 

Submission Categories 

Research: Research articles report original research and assess its contribution to our understanding of labor and work. The undergraduate student should be the primary author on the article. If the article was completed in collaboration with a faculty member, please be sure to note that contribution. Research submissions should not exceed 7,000 words, approximately 16 pages, including footnotes. Please consult the 16th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style for proper manuscript form and footnote citation style. 

Creative: The journal is interested in various types of art and written creative expression that offer critical insights into issues of work, labor and social movements. We welcome all forms of written expression including, but not limited to, poetry and short fiction in all forms. Because of space constraints we are unable to publish pieces that run longer than 15 pages or about 5,500 words. 

Artists may submit a single piece or a series. A series may not be longer than 4 pages, however exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. The artwork may be in any medium, but all works must be able to be reproduced in print. The piece should be submitted electronically as we are not able to accept physical copies of any artwork. Images must have a vertical orientation and a resolution of 77ppi. An artist statement should accompany each submission. These statements should be approximately two pages long and are expected to provide context and analysis for the work. 

Activist Reflection: We welcome critical reflection pieces that draw on students’ engagement in a service learning project, or on a work or activist experience. These pieces should describe the experience and offer general reflections on work and labor. Please limit the length to 5,500 words or less. 

Selection and Review Process 

The University of Massachusetts Labor Extension program reviews all submissions and makes final selections for publication. Not all submissions will be accepted for publication. Papers selected for publication will meet the following criteria: 

• Significance to the journal’s mission of promoting an interdisciplinary dialogue on labor and work 
• Well-developed research design and methodology (where applicable) 
• Well-written and developed presentation 

For more information about the Journal or submission process and deadlines, please contact Anneta Argyres 617.287.7229 or anneta.argyres@umb.edu).

Labor Resource Center

laborresourcecenter@umb.edu
Wheatley Hall, 4th Floor, Room 151
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125-3393 USA
617.287.7267

The Labor Resource Center is affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts.