Eligibility
The Education Fund is a labor-management partnership that provides education and training to people who work in a participating SEIU bargaining unit for a contributing employer. We offer career counseling, as well as a variety of programs designed to help people succeed in their current position and/or move up into a new job.
Get started by browsing our website, including our Education & Advancement programs and Continuing Education, or request an appointment with a career counselor. Or you can call us at 1.888.872.4606 (Northern CA), or 1.866.804.2250 (other areas).
Participating Unions
Ed Fund Eligibility
- If you are eligible for benefits from your employer, and have completed your probation period: You are eligible for all Education Fund programs & services!
- If you are an “on-call”, “per-diem”, “services-as-needed” and “short-hour” worker who has worked a minimum of two shifts each month, for the most recent six months: Effective June 1, 2020, you are eligible for most Ed Fund programs and services, with the exception of Wage Replacement. (Those who have worked fewer than the required minimum are only eligible for Ed Fund programs and services that are under 40 hours.)
- If you are a non-benefited worker (on-call, per diem, supplemental) who has worked for your employer for LESS than six months: You can take advantage of career counseling and career counseling workshops.
Who Is Eligible for Education Fund Services?
To be eligible for services, you must:
- Work in a participating SEIU bargaining unit position for a contributing employer. (Union-sponsored opportunities are also available for some SEIU 521 and 1021 members: learn more.)
- Have completed your initial probationary period with your employer.
- If you are a benefited regular full or part-time employee who meets the two qualifications above, you are eligible for all our services including career counseling, College Courses, Tuition Support and, for Kaiser Permanente, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette and Legacy Health System employees, Wage Replacement.
- Effective June 1, 2020, “on-call”, “per-diem”, “services-as-needed” and “short-hour” workers who have worked a minimum of two shifts each month, for the most recent six months are eligible for most Ed Fund programs and services, with the exception of Wage Replacement. (Those who have worked fewer than the required minimum are only eligible for Ed Fund programs and services that are under 40 hours.) Read the FAQ below about this expanded eligibility.
FAQ
What eligibility guidelines are changing?
Beginning June 1, 2020, “on-call”, “per-diem”, “services-as-needed” and “short-hour” workers who have worked a minimum of two shifts each month, for the most recent six months, will be eligible for most Ed Fund programs and services.
Why expand eligibility guidelines?
Before June 1, 2020, this group of workers, who have maintained monthly shifts, were only eligible for Ed Fund programs and services that were less than 40 hours long. Therefore, they were not able to take advantage of any Ed Fund programs that support and lead to promotion into a new career.
This new policy reflects the Ed Fund and its affiliated unions’ mission to support advancement opportunities for all.
Does the expanded eligibility apply to all “on-call” “per-diem”, “services-as-needed” and “short-hour” workers?
No. The expanded eligibility only applies to those who have worked a minimum of two shifts each month, for the most recent six months at the time of applying for Ed Fund programs and services. Those who have worked fewer than the required minimum are only eligible for Ed Fund programs and services that are under 40 hours.
What Ed Fund programs and services are not available?
Wage Replacement is not available. “On-call”, “per-diem”, “services-as-needed” and “short-hour” workers will need to modify their work schedules to accommodate their training schedules.
Has eligibility changed for Benefited members?
No. full-time or part-time benefited members will still enjoy the same eligibility and access to Ed Fund programs and services. Additionally, consistent with workplace seniority rules, in the event that an Ed Fund Program has more qualified applicants than space, qualified applicants that are full-time or part-time benefited will have priority and be selected before “on-call”, “per-diem”, “services-as-needed” and “short-hour” applicants.