Leadership Scholarship Program

The USW has established a Scholarship Program aimed at developing and improving leadership skills among local union activists and officers. By establishing a USW Leadership Scholarship Fund with a substantial initial allocation, our Union is generating sufficient revenues to support the Program without "drawing" from the fund balance itself.

This program is more than four one-week education programs; it is a four-year education project with expected outcomes. Each residence week will provide leadership skills and technical information to support hands-on field activities. Participants are expected to demonstrate "good works" in the Districts between training sessions. Each District Director certifies individual contributions in order for the candidate to qualify to continue in the program.

The program began in 1997 and graduated its first class in 2000. Approximately 100 members start Level 1 of the program each year. Each District Director is entitled to award a specified number of scholarship grants determined on a per capita basis in each district.

Course curriculum is built on the assumption that participants nominated by the Directors have been introduced to the basic tool subjects, based upon service to the Union or their participation in District Education Programs.

The latest changes and challenges which confront union leadership are discussed, along with issues of importance to the survival of the labor movement as a voice for working people, as well as ways of improving our techniques to meet these crucial challenges.