When school secretary Irene Stark heard that she had been selected the first PSRP to participate in the New York State United Teachers' (NYSUT) labor-relations intern program, she "literally jumped out of the chair" with excitement.

Stark, who was president of her local union when she began the internship program about a year ago, is hoping her successful experience will open the way for other New York PSRPs to participate in what had traditionally been a program for teachers. During their year-long internship, candidates work closely with a NYSUT labor-relations specialist--in the state federation's Jamestown office, in her case. They spend one week a month at NYSUT headquarters in Albany learning about everything from health and safety issues to how to conduct arbitrations.

Over time, the interns also work more on servicing the local unions in their own region, whether negotiating a contract, offering health and safety training, or advising them on whatever local issues might come up. Her background as a PSRP and local union leader has been a plus in dealing with PSRP locals. "They love it," she says. But she also has had no problem working with teacher locals either. (Stark does point out that she has a slight advantage, having been married to a teacher and fellow local union president for years.)

Stark, who was scheduled to finish her internship in February, is now in line to apply for a regular labor-relations position in one of NYSUT's offices. "My hope is that NYSUT will open up the program so that more SRPs [as PSRPs are called in New York] can enter it, too," she says. Stark adds that she does feel like somewhat of a pioneer. She undertook the program not for personal reasons but to help open opportunities for her PSRP colleagues throughout the state.