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UFCW Gold Interns met UFCW International President Perrone and Sen. Warren at the U.S. Capitol.

RaShelle Mata is a UFCW GOLD intern from Local 1428. She works at Stater Brothers in Chino, California.

Time flies fast – I can’t believe it’s already the end of my second week in the field as a UFCW GOLD intern.

I am working on an organizing campaign in Washington D.C., called “Just Hours.” The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness about the need for retail workers to be provided with stable schedules and enough hours to make ends meet.

Going to different retail stores in Washington, D.C., has not only shown me that I love organizing, but also that I have a passion for it.

I went to a lot of events this past week. The highlight was going to a press conference at the U.S. Capitol where they re-introduced the Schedules That Work Act. Both UFCW International President Marc Perrone and Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke at the event and I was able to meet them afterwards. I also attended the Make Progress National Summit, where I was able to hear Vice President Biden speak.

As good as the events were, I’m excited about hitting the streets and organizing a lot throughout the upcoming week.

One of my days this past week was a dream. I went into a retail store and approached a worker about the “Just Hours” campaign. The worker wasn’t just interested in the campaign, she was also a manager who was willing to arrange a time for me to meet and talk with everyone who works on the floor.

I’m so looking forward to the rest of my internship here in D.C. and I can’t wait to take everything I learn back to my Local.