The UCLA James M. Lawson, Jr. Worker Justice Center is the university's front door to the city of Los Angeles. Since 2002 the building has been downtown home of the UCLA Labor Center, the university's nationally-recognized research, education, and community engagement hub. The neighborhood surrounding the Worker Justice Center is home to many unions and social justice organizations.
In earlier years, the building was the headquarters of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) in Los Angeles at a time when the union a leader in organizing new immigrant workers. The building also housed the Jobs with Peace campaign (1986), a Labor Immigrant Assistance Project site (1987), the campaign of Maria Elena Durazo to lead HERE Local 11 (1988-89), and the offices of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (2000s).