Region 9A News

Apply Now for the UAW Region 9A 2025 Summer Brigade

Vail Kohnert-Yount
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The UAW Region 9A Summer Brigade is a 5-week full-time intensive training program for Region 9A members which will prepare them to become effective labor educators and organizers in their local unions. As part of the UAW Education Department’s Fellowship Program, participants will receive formal labor studies education at the City University of New York School of Labor & Urban Studies and training on the Education Department’s national curriculum guidelines and standards. Upon completion of the fellowship, participants will be certified as Local Union Discussion Leaders (LUDLs) and are able to conduct UAW education programs at locals and Black Lake with International resources, in coordination with the education representative.

Among other activities, participants will benefit from:

  • In-house training on the UAW’s effective educator curriculum.
  • Accredited learning (graduate or undergraduate) at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies on Contemporary Labor Issues.
  • Integration with regional departments and locals in ongoing projects and campaigns, and day-to-day issues building worker power.
  • Intensive training on the Education Department’s national curriculum guidelines and standards at the UAW’s Walter & May Reuther Family Education Center at Black Lake.
  • Collaboratively planning and executing the UAW Region 9A Summer School.

Program: UAW Region 9A Summer Brigade
Dates: June 23 to July 25, 2025
Location: New York City and Onaway, Michigan* (housing provided for non-NYers)
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
Eligibility: All members of UAW Region 9A in good standing and on active status (see more below)
Program Contact: UAW Region 9A Education Rep, Alexi Shalom ashalom@uaw.net

Eligibility:

All members of UAW Region 9A in good standing and on active status (not on layoff, etc.) are eligible for the Summer Brigade.

Additionally, in order to be eligible participants must:

  • Have the ability to receive time off from their employer to engage in the summer brigade through a union leave provision in their contract or other means;
  • Meet the eligibility requirements, including any English language requirements, to enroll as a student at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies at either the undergraduate or graduate level;
  • Receive the approval of their local union including the payment of the registration fee and their agreement to pay all costs on a reimbursement basis;
  • Currently live in or have the ability to relocate to New York City (housing and travel to NYC will be provided) for the duration of the program;
  • Commit to return to their local and participate in, or build an Education standing committee;
  • Be willing to use any employer-provided or contractually-guaranteed tuition assistance program towards this program.

Location:

The UAW Region 9A Summer Brigade program will be based out of the 9A New York Sub-Regional Office located at 350 W 31st Street, New York, NY 10001. Participants will additionally travel for one week to the Walter & May Reuther UAW Family Education Center at Black Lake in Onaway, Michigan. For a more detailed schedule, see the call letter.

Housing:

Participants who are selected who do not already work or live in New York City or live within commuting distance of New York City will be provided with housing at no cost for the duration of the program.

Participants who require housing will stay at The Towers at City College of New York located at 401 W 130th Street, New York, NY 10027, which is a 30 minute commute to the New York sub-regional office by subway. Each participant will stay in a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom suite, with their own bedroom and a shared kitchen. Additionally, participants who require housing will receive a per diem. The per diem is $55 per day, subtracting any meals which are provided per UAW policy.

Attendance:

Participants are expected to work and attend class in person each day (except most Fridays and Sundays). See schedule outline for more details. Some night and weekend work will also be required.

Honorarium:

You will be paid $1,000 weekly for your participation in this program. Additionally, if necessary, the UAW will cover the cost of COBRA payments, should your employer not provide healthcare during the program, where the participant normally receives coverage from their employer.

Travel:

For those who are relocating to NYC for this program, the UAW will cover the cost of travel to NYC at the beginning of the program and from NYC back home at the end of the program. Additionally, the UAW will cover the cost of travel to and from Black Lake and housing at Black Lake during the program. Finally, each participant will be provided with an unlimited metrocard for travel within NYC for the duration of the program.

Tuition & Classes:

Each participant will enroll in “Contemporary Labor Issues”, a 4-credit undergraduate (LABR 302) or 3-credit graduate course (LABR 669) at the City University of New York School of Labor & Urban Studies (CUNY SLU). All CUNY tuition and fees will be covered by the UAW. In order to enroll in CUNY, participants must present their high school diploma or college transcripts along with other required documents. Classes will take place at the CUNY SLU campus located at 25 W 43rd Street, near the UAW Region 9A New York sub-regional office. Class will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30pm-8:00pm and Saturdays from 11:00am-4:00pm.

Local Approval and Registration Fees:

Once a participant has been accepted their local must pay a one-time registration fee of $500. Additionally, locals will be responsible for transmitting all honoraria payments, purchasing flights, and all other expenses upfront on behalf of participants for their local, to be reimbursed by the UAW International.

Applications:

Complete the application and return it to Education Rep Alexi Shalom at ashalom@uaw.net no later than March 31, 2025.