Many Universities are providing ways for union members to earn college degrees as they transition from building trades to the next phase. Jesse Russell reports:

With an uncertain economic future, many union workers are finding themselves looking for ways to enhance or add new skills. Some University’s around the country provide specialized programs that work with labor unions to assist members in transitions to new careers or earn new required certifications. The City University of New York has such a program. Deborah D’Amico is with the school’s Murphy Center:

[D’Amico1]: The range of workers and union members who are interested in and fell it necessary to get a degree…I mean…building trade union members who are making good salaries sort of are seeing the writing on the wall, like, how many years can I do hard physical labor and what’s going to be there for me afterwards?

She said such programs help provide a way for workers to ease into the college world.

[D’Amico2]: What we’re trying to do with unions is build on the fine training and education that unions are providing and building pathways into college, which for many union workers is the next step and is a necessary one.