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Our Mission
The purpose of the SEIU UHW-West & Joint Employer Education Fund is to provide healthcare workers with counseling, education and training opportunities to advance their careers, ensure job security and provide the highest quality of patient care possible.
A Taft-Hartley Trust, the Education Fund is governed by equal numbers of Employer and Union trustees who are responsible individually and collectively for ensuring that the trust's funds are used solely for the benefit of eligible employees. The Trustees reserve the right in their sole discretion to change or discontinue benefits and/or programs at any time.
Some 82,000 healthcare workers who are SEIU members across California and parts of Colorado, Oregon, Nevada and Washington are eligible for Education Fund programs and services. This benefit is obtained through collective bargaining agreements negotiated by SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West and participating employers.
Our History
In the late 1990’s, during the dot com boom, many employers began experiencing difficulty in recruiting staff into entry-level healthcare positions. A group of long-term care employers, in response to Union concerns about understaffing, asked the Union to assist with the recruitment of Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs). The Union responded with a plan to recruit, train and support people from low-income communities in Oakland to become CNAs. Our first programs were funded with grants from the City of Oakland and federal workforce development programs.
This led to the birth of the Shirley Ware Education Center. SWEC worked with employers, such as Kaiser Permanente, to provide training for incumbent workers. This training was funded primarily through public and private grants. At the end of this initial program, 98% of participants successfully completed the training program and were subsequently hired into higher-level positions.
Hundreds of workers benefited from the SWEC grant-funded training programs. A key to the success of these programs was the partnerships of labor and management working together. While these programs were successful, there were limits to what could be done with grants alone. Consequently in 2004, SEIU UHW-West and a number of employers bargained the Labor Management Trust Fund, which became the SEIU-UHW West & Joint Employer Education Fund. SWEC has since been integrated into the Fund.Our Work
The Education Fund benefit has been negotiated through collective bargaining agreements into contracts with 29 employers including seven Long-Term Care systems throughout California and in Denver, CO., Las Vegas, NV., and Portland, OR. The number of participating employers continues to rise as contracts with current and new employers are negotiated. The addition of Long-Term Care employers in 2008 prompted the launch of new programs and services, including our new STEP program as well as academic and college preparation workshops. Existing courses and services also have been expanded.Education Fund programs were fully launched in 2006. Since then, the Fund has reached 19,000 eligible employees, through workshops, Career Days and program applications; enrolled 2,000 workers in college-level science prerequisite, support and continuing education classes; and counseled more than 5,000 eligible employees. In addition, 880 students have received Education Fund stipends – paid time off to go to school.
- 82,000 - Eligible employees
- 29 - Participating employers
- 6 - Participating unions
- 19,000 - Employees reached since 2006 (thru workshops, career days, program applications)
- 8,100 - Training seats offered since 2006
Skills Assessment & Career Counseling - Gateway service includes career seminars and 1:1 counseling.- Over 4,800 employees counseled since 2006
Academic Support Program - Exam preparation and Academic Success Workshops, "Bridge" Courses and Tutoring services.
- 345 Students enrolled since program began in January 2008
Career Preparation & STEP Program (Success Through Educational Preparedness) Core science courses required for nursing or other allied health fields. Includes Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, as well as math and English to help build students' success.
- 2,000 Students enrolled since 2006
- 152 Classes offered since 2006
- 85% - Average completion rate for Physiology classes in Spring 2008
Professional Development Courses - Continuing education and specialty credentialing review, certifications and continuing education courses for licensed professionals including: Registered Nurses, LVN's, C.N.A.s, Behavioral Health Specialists, Dietitians, Audiologists, Speech Pathologists, Radiologic Technologists and Respiratory Care Practitioners.
- 1,510 Students enrolled since Fall 2007 when program began
- 51 Continuing Education Courses offered
Forgivable Loan/Stipend - Allows workers enrolled in school to reduce hours of work to focus on school (Ex. Rad Tech, RN, LVN).- 880 Employees have received stipends since 2006 (avg. $5,600/year/student)
Career Upgrade Program - Medical Coding, LVN-to-RN, Phlebotomy, Sterile Processing.
- 446 enrolled since 2006
- 93% average completion rate
Job to Job Training - Supporting workers in need of redeployment.
- 400 Workers trained since 2006
- 88% Affected workers successfully redeployed since 2006
