Local unions have an essential role in fighting the Trump Administration’s reclassification of advanced degrees and the student-loan restrictions that come with it. While national unions mount federal lobbying and legal challenges, locals can drive grassroots pressure, educate members, and protect workers on the ground.
Educate Members Quickly and Clearly
- Host a brief webinar or union meeting explaining how the rule affects your members. Make sure they understand that these changes could limit their access to graduate programs, reduce future earnings, and worsen workforce shortages.
Collect and Share Member Stories
- Personal stories—especially from women and women of color—carry enormous weight. Ask members how these loan restrictions would affect their ability to advance their careers, and share them with your national union, state federation, and elected officials.
Mobilize Political Pressure
- Encourage members to contact their Representatives and Senators.
- Strengthen Collective Bargaining Demands
- At the bargaining table, push for employer-funded tuition reimbursement, paid professional-development time, and educational stipends.
Build Coalitions in Your Community
- Partner with local organizations to build broad alliances that demonstrate this fight is about workforce stability, community health, and economic fairness—not just loan policy.
Keep the Issue Visible
- Use your local’s website, social media pages, newsletters, and bulletin boards to keep members informed and energized. The more attention these changes get, the harder they are to quietly impose.
Local unions are on the front lines of this fight. By organizing, speaking out, and supporting members directly, they can help ensure that caregiving professions remain accessible, respected, and truly professional.
