Call for Applications

The UCR Inland Empire Labor and Community Center (IELCC) and the Inland Empire Labor Council, AFL-CIO (IELC) are proud to launch the Bill Perez Labor Scholarship. This scholarship will award up to three scholarships at three thousand dollars each.

Who is Bill Perez?

William J. “Bill” Perez was born and raised in Riverside, California.  He grew up attending local public schools in Riverside County.  Bill and his siblings were raised by their parents, father Joe Perez (deceased) and Virginia Perez (resides in Riverside); his father Joe Perez Former IBEW Local 440 President and Former Executive-Secretary/Business Manager of the Riverside & San Bernardino Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO.  Bill married his wife, Terri over thirty (30) years ago, they have two (2) children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and four (4) amazing grandchildren – all residing in Riverside County.

Bill started his career in the Electrician Apprenticeship Program in 1975.  In 1979 he graduated from the apprenticeship program as a Journeyman Electrician.

In 1995 he became Business Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (I.B.E.W.) Local 440, a position he held for 11 years.

Throughout his career with I.B.E.W. Local 440, he has held many positions, as a Foreman, General Foreman, Estimator, Prevailing Wage Compliance Director, and Organizer.  He also was the Past-President of the California State Association of Electrical Workers and Past-President of I.B.E.W./NECA Statewide Joint Apprenticeship Committee.

In 2006, Bill was appointed the position of Executive Secretary/Business Manager for the Riverside & San Bernardino Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO (IE BCTC).  The IE B.C.T.C. represents over 14,000 skilled craft workers, through 28 skilled construction local unions throughout the San Bernardino and Riverside Counties (Inland Empire).  In this role, he also worked with K-12 and community colleges to adopt the MC3 curriculum to expose our community, especially marginalized community members, to potential careers in the building and construction trades through apprenticeship programs. Bill worked with community members, unions, and electeds to create and pass local policies that would provide good, paying jobs in the region.

As the Executive Secretary/Business Manager for the IE BCTC, Bill was a former board member for the State of California Building and Construction Trades Council AFL-CIO, former board member of the Inland Empire Labor Council AFL-CIO, Past-Member labor representative for the Riverside County Community Action Commission, and Past-Board Member for the Riverside County Workforce Investment Board (W.I.B.).

After 47 years of dedicated service in the Inland Empire labor movement, Bill retired on July 29, 2022. We honor his dedication to advocating to uplift working families in our region regardless of the union and in taking the time to mentor anyone who wants to understand the rich history of organizing in the IE and to advocate for the future that we want our region to have.

Who can apply for the Bill Perez Labor Scholarship?

Any UCR undergraduate student with a major in CHASS, Public Policy, and/or those with a Labor Studies minor.  Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

How do I apply and when is the application due?

Please submit your application through Qualtrics. Applications are due at 11:59 PM PST on April 8, 2024.

Bill Perez Scholarship Application

What do I need to submit:

• PDF Copy of your CV/Resume: Please have it include the following: any past employment, leadership or club activities, volunteer activities related to labor and/or community activities, and on or off-campus community service activities.
• A PDF copy of your unofficial transcript.
• PDF Submission the essay questions below.

Essay Questions (No more than 500 words each):

1. Please write a personal statement discussing your interests, life experiences, goals, and social commitment.
2. Please describe any activism/advocacy that you have engaged in on or off campus?
3. Please describe any coursework you have taken that focuses on labor and/or social justice-type movements. Additionally, please reflect on how those courses have impacted your view on these movements, and how they have shaped your future potential career paths.
4. What are your immediate career goals post-graduation?