WHEREAS:
Education is continuous and vital to our members’ ability to keep up with ever-changing job requirements; and

WHEREAS:
More and more community based/non-profit agencies, represented by our affiliates, are expanding their funding sources and programs to include job titles that require additional licensing or certificates, such as state licensing for substance abuse/alcoholism counseling, statutory courses for child/day care, Head Start, home care and direct care workers; and

WHEREAS:
To acquire these licenses and certificates our members must pay tuition; and

WHEREAS:
Many of our members who are day care or Head Start workers, or other human service workers, must acquire a baccalaureate and/or master’s degree through accredited two- or four-year tuition curricula; and

WHEREAS:
Many of our members in these fields are making an average salary of $20,000 - $24,000 and have limited personal funds to pay for tuition; and

WHEREAS:
Many of our members face the serious threat of losing their jobs if they do not acquire the necessary credentials and/or upgrade their skills; and

WHEREAS:
Many AFSCME affiliates don’t have education departments or, those that do have these departments have recently faced severe cutbacks in their programs and are unable to provide these courses for free or at a reduced fee; and

WHEREAS:
Many of these courses can only be provided by an accredited educational institute that requires tuition; and

WHEREAS:
Many AFSCME affiliates do not have a scholarship fund or adequate scholarship funds to assist members with tuition.  The national union currently sponsors several scholarship programs.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That the International and its Department of Education and Leadership Training seek to expand scholarship opportunities for members.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY: 
Lorraine Guest, President
Gina Thomas, Secretary
Glenn Turnbull
AFSCME Local 215, Council 1707 
New York