Seizing Their Dreams
Members, across the country, are participating in union-supported educational programs that help them improve their lives — on and off the job.
By Susan Ellen Holleran
Lucretia Smith dreamed of becoming a nurse, but life got in the way. A single mother with no job skills, she eventually turned to public assistance. Today, with discipline, determination and help from District 1199C, National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, Smith is a licensed practical nurse — with plans to become a registered nurse in 2002. She is also taking computer courses at the 1199C-operated Breslin Learning Center.
Smith is one of thousands who have moved from entry-level jobs into professional careers through the union’s comprehensive upward-mobility program. It is funded by negotiated contributions from Philadelphia-area health care facilities.
FULL CIRCLE. Training programs took Mary Clark up and out of the union; then they brought her back.
Clark worked for 13 years in Philadelphia’s Jefferson Hospital laundry. In fact, she helped organize the workers to join 1199C.
She first used the Training and Upgrading Program to get her GED (General Education Diploma). She then earned her degree — making the dean’s list — and worked as a social worker and family therapist. Then she saw a newspaper ad that brought her — as she puts it — "back home."
Today, Clark is lead caseworker for 1199C’s 16-week welfare-to-work program. Philadelphia’s Department of Social Services refers welfare recipients. Many of them have no work experience.
"I try to get the program participants started off right," she says. "They meet with me first. I let them know the rules." The reward — and it’s a big one — unionized jobs as certified nurses’ aides "with sick leave, vacation, benefits and pay of $8-to-$10 per hour." Once they are in the union, the workers are eligible for all its other education programs.
HAPPY CAMPER. Robin Endicott is enjoying life. A 12-year employee at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU), Endicott felt stuck in a dead-end maintenance job. He liked his work but wanted something more challenging and a chance to advance.
Local 328 (Council 75) has an ongoing labor/management cooperation program coordinated by longtime union activist Gary Rowell, who is Council 75 second vice president. Rowell has gathered first-hand experience working his way up from his original job as administrative assistant in kidney dialysis.
Among his current duties, Rowell teaches a three-week program on "career resiliency." He knew about Endicott’s frustration, and when OHSU’s staff plumber needed a helper, Rowell encouraged Endicott to apply for the job. That was just the boost he needed.
Endicott moved quickly from plumber’s helper to apprentice. In addition to the on-the-job experience, he is also enrolled in the plumber apprentice program at the Clackamas Community College, where he is on the dean’s list. "My father is beside himself with happiness," says the self-described "Joe Average student" in high school. He’ll be a full-fledged plumber this summer.
Endicott has a philosophical take on his new occupation. "Plumbers are our planet’s custodians," he says. "We help get rid of waste and supply good, potable water."
TEACH THE CHILDREN. Pat Booker has worked with the students in Bridgeport’s (Conn.) public school system for 31 years. She is a born teacher, rooted in the community, and parents find it easy to approach her for help when their children have problems. A para-professional teacher’s assistant, she is one standardized test away from being a certified teacher.
"I have worked in pre-K, first and second grades, and as a reading assistant," says Booker, who currently teaches math to third and fourth graders. "I would like to teach in the first three grades."
It has taken her years of part-time study — while raising two sons — to earn a master’s degree in early childhood education. Local 1522 (Council 4) has been there for her all the way. In addition to helping with course costs, the union has negotiated with area colleges to grant credit for workers’ life experiences. Booker encourages her fellow "paras" to use these educational programs and move into teachers’ positions that will more than double their pay. She has become a role model to the paras and to the many children whose lives she has touched.
STARTING OVER. At an age when U.S. children are attending high school, Pisay Kong was in the Cambodian army. He came to the United States unable to speak, read or write English — and without a high school diploma or job skills. Fortunately, he got a job as a maintenance worker at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst.
Thirteen years ago, Local 1776 (Council 93) and the university began the Workplace Education Program. Its literacy program has been very popular with the university’s immigrant staff. Kong’s supervisor encouraged him to take an English class. "I had to learn a new language and a new alphabet," says Kong, who "had trouble with the alphabet, grammar and phonics."
His new language immediately made things easier "when I went to the doctor and brought my car to be fixed," says Kong. But his biggest joy is being able to read to his 5-year-old daughter. "When she comes back from class, I read stories to her and help her with homework."
UNION MAID. As a young woman, Barbara Follmann had no occupation firmly in mind until — after earning her degree while working full time — she considered postgraduate study. "I realized I wanted to work as a union staff rep," she says.
A Local 82 (Council 24) member, Follmann had been active in her union for years as a steward, executive board member and chairwoman of its organizing committee. The council represents state workers throughout Wisconsin, and encourages hands-on leadership by its local union officers.
"I did get credit for union work through an independent study," she says. And when she earned her M.A. in Industrial and Labor Relations, Follmann let people know she was looking for full-time union work.
She had just completed serving as a member of Council 24’s statewide bargaining team when AFSCME’s area director in Wisconsin called her about a job in Ohio.
Now Follmann is a union representative with the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association/AFSCME Local 11. "They have only had collective bargaining since 1986. The process is constantly evolving," she says. "In Wisconsin, we had generations of people to learn from. This job has really made me appreciate all they taught me."
AFSCME Affiliate Scholarship Programs
Many AFSCME affiliates have special scholarship programs designed to help their members pursue educational opportunities to advance on the job and/or enrich their daily lives. Public Employee surveyed AFSCME affiliates about such programs, and we list their responses below. Many individual local unions also have educational support programs for their members.
If you are interested in continuing your education, ask your local’s officers what union-supported options are available. The union also works with employers to provide educational opportunities and funding for employee advancement. Check the choices through your human resources/personnel office.
Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME Local 52
Anchorage chapter: scholarships for its members only.
Hawaii Government Employees Association/AFSCME Local 152
Charles Kendall Scholarship Fund: scholarships and educational programs for members.
Illinois Council 31
Larry Marquardt Scholarship Awards: two $1,000 scholarships per year for full-time study — open to members or their children.
Minnesota Council 6
Robert Norberg Scholarship: one $250 scholarship annually for members.
Minnesota Council 65
Duke Skorich Memorial Scholarship: one $250 scholarship annually for members.
New Jersey AFSCME Women’s Committee
$500 scholarships for committee members, their children and grandchildren.
New Jersey Council 52
Four $500 scholarships for undergraduate study and one $1,000 scholarship for post-graduate study — open to members or their children.
New York, Civil Service Employees Association/AFSCME Local 1000
LEAP Program (Labor Education Action Program): higher education tuition benefits for state workers. Another LEAP component advises local government employees on making career decisions and seeking financial aid.
Northern New England Council 93
M. Michael Botelho Scholarship: $1,000 annually — open to members, their spouses, children, stepchildren, grandchildren or legal dependents.
Ohio Civil Service Employees Association/AFSCME Local 11
Les Best Scholarship: eight to 12 scholarships annually totaling $6,000 — for members, spouses and children.
Pennsylvania Council 13
Scholarship Program Only For Members: offers 48 $500 scholarships for undergraduate study; four of them will receive an additional $1,000. There is also one $500 scholarship for graduate study.
Washington Council 2
Four $500 continuing education awards for members and one scholarship to the Summer School for Trade Union Women.
Washington Federation of State Employees/Council 28
Norm Schut Scholarships — three $1,000 awards annually (one for members; two for members, spouses and children). Parr, Younglove Scholarship — one $1,500 prize, open to members and members’ families. Neville B. Crippen Grant-in-Aid — quarterly grants help members advance their education or improve skills. Two $500 scholarships to attend the Summer School for Union Women.
Wisconsin Council 24
Jim Boyd Memorial Scholarship: one $2,000 renewable scholarship (up to four years); one $1,000, one $750 and two $500 awards — available to members and/or their IRS-defined dependents.
Wisconsin Council 40
Memorial Scholarship Program: one $1,000 scholarship renewable for two years, plus four at $1,000 and two at $500; in addition, two $500 special scholarships for members, their spouses and children.
Virtual Learning
The Internet has provided more opportunities and flexibility for workers seeking continuing education opportunities. Excelsior College (formerly Regents College), works extensively with public employees. It even helps students prepare for and take advanced placement exams. For more information, check out the college’s Web site at www.excelsior.edu.
