Union Scholarships: AFL-CIO and Supporting Programs
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and its affiliated unions recognize the importance of education for working families. To support the educational aspirations of students from union backgrounds, numerous scholarships and fellowships are offered at the national, state, and local levels. These programs aim to provide financial assistance to high school students, college students, law school graduates, and those pursuing trade or technical skills.
Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship and Labor Education Program
The Massachusetts AFL-CIO demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting the educational goals of students from union families through its Annual Scholarship and Labor Education Program. This program, now in its 68th year, provides financial resources to high school students pursuing trade union programs or college/university study.
Key Features:
- Financial Awards: The Massachusetts AFL-CIO administers half a million dollars in scholarship awards on behalf of unions and labor councils throughout the state.
- Award Amounts: Individual awards range from $500 to $16,000.
- Eligibility: All Massachusetts high school seniors are eligible to compete for certain awards. Students with a family or personal union affiliation are eligible for awards given by their family’s specific local union or central labor council.
- Labor History Exam: In order to be eligible for a scholarship, students must take the Labor History Exam. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO publishes a Labor History Study Guide, which covers a broad range of the history of working people organizing for justice in the United States. Six short study videos are also available to help students prepare.
- Exam Administration: The Labor History Exam is administered once per year at high schools across Massachusetts. Schools administer the exam online within a specified timeframe.
- Scholarship Committee: Awardees are determined by the Scholarship Committee of the MA AFL-CIO, which consists of current and retired union members.
- Application Process: Applications must be received by a specific deadline to be eligible to take the scholarship exam.
- About 2,000 students take the exam annually to compete for a scholarship.
AFL-CIO Law Fellowship
The Legal Department of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (“AFL-CIO”) offers a one-year fellowship that begins each September. The fellowship provides an excellent opportunity for recent law school graduates to work with experienced union-side lawyers on a wide variety of issues.
Fellowship Details:
- Opportunity: Work with experienced union-side lawyers on litigation, policy, regulatory, and legislative matters.
- Exposure: Assist with organizing campaigns, corporate governance issues, and other AFL-CIO initiatives.
- Union Lawyers Alliance (ULA): Participate in ULA activities, including preparation for attorney conferences and outreach to new labor lawyers and law students.
- Legal Work: Assist experienced lawyers working on cases and regulatory matters that affect the labor movement and the rights of workers.
- Court Experience: May involve appearances before federal Courts of Appeals, the National Labor Relations Board, and state appellate courts.
- Application Window: Typically between October and December of each calendar year.
Other Law Fellowships
Several other fellowships support aspiring labor lawyers.
Murphy Public Interest Fellowship
The Murphy Public Interest Fellowship provides recent law school graduates or judicial clerks with experience litigating important public-interest cases at a dedicated firm. The Fellowship runs each year beginning September 1. Applications are accepted between October and December.
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Greenfield Fellowship
This fellowship, named for the late Doug Greenfield, offers exposure to a national practice representing and advancing the interests of working people. Greenfield Fellows participate as active members of case teams and take on increasing responsibility for factual and legal case development. Applications are accepted beginning in October each year for fellowships starting the following fall.
Peggy Browning Fund (PBF) Fellowships
The Peggy Browning Fund provides fellowships, workers’ rights conferences, networking, and other programs. These opportunities allow law students to work for economic and social justice, increase their understanding of current issues workers face, and promote their entry into public interest labor law.
NLRB Honors Program
The NLRB Honors Program offers select candidates the opportunity to work directly with practicing labor lawyers and technical professionals in its Washington, D.C. Headquarters and Regional Offices. Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career working in the labor movement on behalf of workers’ rights.
Local Union Scholarships
Many local unions and central labor councils also offer scholarships to support students from union families.
H.B. “Scoop” Slack Memorial Scholarship
The Burlington County Central Labor Council offers the H.B. “Scoop” Slack Memorial Scholarship to graduating high school seniors who are children of current or deceased members of a union affiliated with the Council. The program awards scholarships to students planning to attend a college, university, or approved trade/technical school.
Read also: Funding Your Education at Southern Union
Scholarship Essay Contests
Affiliate unions often contribute to scholarship essay contests, providing an opportunity for high school and post-secondary students to learn about the Labor Movement’s important contributions to the social, economic, and political development of our country.
Union Plus Scholarship Program
The Union Plus Scholarship Program, sponsored by the Union Plus Education Foundation, has awarded millions of dollars to students of working families since 1991.
Key Features:
- Eligibility: Current and retired members of unions participating in any Union Plus program, their spouses, and their dependent children can apply.
- Union Membership: At least one year of continuous union membership by the applicant, applicant's spouse, or parent (if the applicant is a dependent) is required.
- Accreditation: The individual must be accepted into an accredited college or university, community college, or recognized technical or trade school at the time the award is issued.
- Evaluation Criteria: Applicants are evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need, and appreciation of labor. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended.
- Award Amounts: Amounts range from $500 to $4,000. These are one-time cash awards for study beginning in the fall of the awarded year. Students may re-apply each year.
- Application Deadline: Applications are typically due by January 31 of the scholarship year.
Isaiah's Award
Isaiah's Award was created to honor the life of Isaiah C., a child fostered and adopted by a Union Plus employee. Applicants for Isaiah's Award must have a special connection to the foster care system.
Read also: Redstone Scholarship Opportunities
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