Why Membership

Everyone who works hard to make an honest living deserves respect from their employer, both on and off the job. That means being guaranteed safe, suitable working conditions, fair treatment and the family-sustaining wages and benefits necessary to survive as the cost of living continues to rise.

As a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 17, these basic human needs, which for too many are only a dream, are guaranteed to you through a collective bargaining agreement. You do have the right to stand with your fellow workers and hold your employer to a higher standard, without fear of repercussion.

Scholarship Information

• All applicants must be a child, grandchild or spouse of an active or retired Local 17 member in good standing.
• Children or grandchildren of deceased Local 17 members are also eligible.
• Suspended, forfeited or withdrawal card members are not eligible to apply.
• Only one (1) entry form per applicant will be accepted. All applicants must be accepted into an accredited college at the time the award is issued.
• Please note: All current and previous 4-year scholarship award winners are not eligible to apply for a scholarship until their 4-year scholarship award is fully disbursed. 

2020 Local 17 Scholarships

Labor History Exam — Sponsored by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS ONLY

1. High School Seniors interested in taking the Labor History exam must register online at https://www.massaflcio.org/scholarships.
2. Online registrations will be accepted through Friday December 20, 2019. Once the student’s application has been submitted to the Mass AFL-CIO, it is the student’s responsibility to notify their guidance office that they plan on taking the Labor History exam on Monday February 10, 2020. This is very important, especially for high schools that are out of the state of Massachusetts. All schools will receive a letter after the winter break with a list of registered students from their respective school.
3. December 1, 2019, the study guide and the new interactive study website will be available at https://www.massaflcio.org/scholarships.
4. The completed bottom half of this letter STILL NEEDS to be emailed to dholmes@smw17boston.org or mailed to Sheet Metal Workers’ LU #17 1157 Adams St 2nd Floor Dorchester, MA 02124 Attn: Debbie Holmes, to be registered for the Local 17 Scholarship Lottery drawing.

The last day to apply online for the Labor History Exam will be Friday, December 20, 2019 at 5pm.
The last day to apply for the Local 17 Lottery Scholarship is Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

College Students or High School Seniors not taking THE Labor History Exam

Return the completed bottom half of the below letter to: dholmes@smw17boston.org or mail to Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union #17
1157 Adams St 2nd Floor Dorchester, MA 02124 Attn: Debbie Holmes no later than Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

The last day to apply for the Local 17 Lottery Scholarship is Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

APPLICATION FOR BOTH LABOR HISTORY AND LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIPS

Additional Scholarships

The scholarship programs listed below are not affiliated in any way with the Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 Lottery Scholarship or the Mass AFL-CIO Labor History Exam. For more information on these scholarships, please contact the scholarship programs directly.

Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association College of Fellows (SMACNA)

1. The SMACNA College of Fellows Scholarship program is open to eligible students from the SMACNA extended family, seeking to further their undergraduate education by attending an accredited four-year college or university. Eligibility extends to SMACNA’s extended family, which includes SMACNA contractors, employees of SMACNA contractors, SMACNA Fellows, employees of local SMACNA Chapters, employees of National SMACNA, SMACNA National Associate Members and members of the families of any of these groups. The applicant may pursue any course of study, however it is hoped that a career in a field related to the sheet metal industry will be considered.
2. College of Fellows Scholarships will be in the amount of $4,000 per academic year not to exceed $16,000 for four years of undergraduate study. The SMACNA scholarship is also offered at $2,000 per year not to exceed $8,000 for four years of undergraduate study.
3. Applications are available at https://www.smacna.org/about-us/college-of-fellows-scholarship.
4. Applications for scholarships must be postmarked by February 28.

SMART-UNION Two Scholarship Programs (formerly S.M.W.I.A.)

1. Scholarship Fund awards 34 scholarships in the amount of $6,000 per year for up to four years for full-time undergraduate study at an accredited college or university.
2. Scholarship Foundation awards (20) $4,000 one-year scholarships and (1) $5,000 one-year Joseph J. Nigro and (1) $5,000.00 on-year Joey Nigro Jr. Scholarship for undergraduate study.
3. Applicants must be an active member of a SMART or SMWIA local union, a covered employee or a dependent spouse or a child under the age of 25 of a SMART/SMWIA member or covered employee.
4. The applicant must be a fulltime student or have been accepted to be a fulltime student at an accredited college or university. 
5. Our 2020 contest will be open between 9/1/2019 and 2/15/2020. Download the fillable Request for Application Form at https://smart-union.org/sheet-metal-scholarship-fund.

Union Plus Scholarship Program

1. Amounts range from $500 to $4,000. These one-time cash awards are for study beginning in the Fall of 2020. Students may re-apply each year.
2. Current and retired members of participating unions, their spouses and their dependent children (as defined by IRS regulations). Note, grandchildren are not eligible unless the grandchild is a legal dependent (as defined by IRS regulations) of the union member. At least one year of continuous union membership by the applicant, applicant’s spouse or parent (if applicant is a dependent). The one-year membership minimum must be satisfied by May 31, 2020.
3. The applicant must be accepted into a U.S. accredited college or university, community college or technical or trade school at the time the award is issued. Awards must be used for the 2020 — 2021 school year. Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible.
4. Your application must be complete and received by 12 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, January 31, 2020. Applications are available at https://unionplus.org/college-education-financing/union-plus-scholarship. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.