Career Development Program USW Local 1104 2354 6621

We have a wide range of classes to meet any interest or skill level. Instruction ranges from basic skills, such as GED preparation or financial investing, to graduate-level college courses. Steelworkers can also take a variety of classes that teach technical skills, such as plumbing, electrical wiring or small engine repair, and a wide array of computer classes are available as well.

The emphasis is on teaching “portable” skills Steelworkers can use to enhance their existing careers or take with them beyond the steel mills, rubber plants and iron mines should they change jobs. Many Steelworkers use the program to prepare for pre-apprenticeship tests.

Approximately 80 percent of the courses are “customized,” meaning that instructors are hired to design classes specifically for Steelworkers. Most of these classes are taught in learning centers at or near the plants and are offered twice a day – before and after shift changes – to accommodate workers’ schedules. Steelworkers have access to other courses available through a tuition assistance program which provides up to $1,800 annually for tuition, books and fees at accredited institutions.



How is the program funded?



This educational benefit is negotiated by the USW in contracts with participating companies. The companies set aside 15 cents for each hour worked by a Steelworker – or some other contractually agreed-upon amount – to fund the program.

Each site has a Local Joint Committee that oversees spending. The LJC is comprised of both union and company representatives. Depending on the size of the workforce at each plant, budgets range from $10,000 to more than $1 million annually.



What makes the program unique?



Everything is geared toward making learning comfortable and accessible for Steelworkers. Our learning centers are conveniently located, usually on or near work sites or in a union hall. Classes are offered before and after shift changes to accommodate workers’ schedules.

Each site offers classes under the direction of the LJC. The LJC decides what courses to offer by documenting workers’ needs and interests. They do this through surveys or by sending program Learning Advocates to talk to workers on the shop floor. Each Career Development Program is uniquely tailored for the Steelworkers at that location. It’s a “bottom-up” philosophy that enables Steelworkers to drive the program.

Another important aspect of the program is learning confidentiality. Only the Steelworker and the Career Development staff know whether the Steelworker is there to brush up on basic skills or complete a college-level course. Computer-aided instruction supplements traditional classroom settings, small group sessions and one-on-one tutoring.