UAW’s Fellowship Program: An Opportunity to Become a Local Union Discussion Leader
2026-27 Applications Are Being Accepted
DETROIT, MI – Are you an energetic member who is passionate about engaging in conversations with other members, deepening their knowledge of our union and the labor movement, and empowering them to become active members themselves? An opportunity awaits you!
The UAW Education Department will host its Fellowship Program beginning in October 2026 and conclude in the spring of 2027. The Fellowship Program is an intensive work-study program designed to develop dedicated UAW members into strong leaders and effective union educators. Graduates of the Fellowship join our roster of Local Union Discussion Leaders (LUDLs), serving as activists in their local union education programs while also assisting our regional and national education programs.
The 2026-2027 Fellows will participate in a rigorous training program that consists of a mix of in-person and virtual touchpoints from October 2026 through May 2027.
This program requires a serious commitment from the Fellows to complete assignments at home, in addition to attending the following scheduled training touchpoints:
- Touchpoint 1: Oct 18-23, 2026 (Black Lake) & Oct 24-30, 2026 (Detroit)
- Virtual Check-In: Dec 4, 2026 (12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET)
- Virtual Check-In: Feb 3, 2027 (12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET)
- Touchpoint 2: March 14-20, 2027 (Region 9A, New York City)
- Touchpoint 3: May 2-7, 2027 (Region 4, Pat Greathouse Center)
In some regions, Fellows will also be invited to an additional touchpoint in their own region, to be scheduled sometime between January and May 2027.
Candidates must be able to take a union leave of absence to attend all touchpoints in the Fellowship Program. The International Union, UAW does not provide compensation or reimbursement for lost-time wages. Fellows will receive an honorarium of $1,000 per week or $100 per session, in accordance with LUDL Guidelines and Procedures. Travel, per diem, and expenses are paid in accordance with the UAW Travel and Expense Policy.
Since its beginning in the late 1970s, over 600 UAW members have completed the Fellowship Program and gone on to serve as strong educators and leaders in our union. This is a remarkable opportunity to develop your skills to engage and inspire other union members through education. If you’re ready and willing to commit yourself to this prestigious union education program, please submit your application online no later than August 10, 2026.
Note: New for this year, as we work to improve language access across our union, we are also actively recruiting bilingual Spanish/English speakers to participate in this program. Bilingual Spanish/English speakers are strongly encouraged to apply!
Application Form: https://uaw.jotform.com/form/UAWFellowship2026
Questions can be directed to your regional Education Representative or the Education Department at education@uaw.net.
WHAT’S THE COMMITMENT?
This is a prestigious program that requires a serious time and energy commitment from each Fellow. To successfully complete the program, Fellows must participate fully in all scheduled training sessions, in addition to completing some assignments at home between touchpoints.
After you graduate from the Fellowship, the real work begins! Our Local Union Discussion Leaders (LUDLs) are expected to be an integral part of their local union’s education program and assist with regional and national education activities.
HOW CAN I APPLY?
The UAW Fellowship is a small national cohort program. Each UAW region is authorized to select the Fellows that will participate in the program on behalf of that region.
To be considered for the Fellowship, you must be an active member in good standing in the UAW, and you must apply using the online application form linked below.
All applications are shared with their respective regional office for review and consideration for the Fellowship Program.
Candidates who are selected for the program will receive an email from the UAW Education Department in early September 2026.
WHAT’S THE DEADLINE TO APPLY?
Candidates must apply through the online application link by:
