You Belong in BHM After Graduation: Choose a Union That Protects Your Interests
Translation: Helgi J. Price
Graduating from university and entering the workforce is a big step in the life of every student. At such a turning point, it is crucial to choose a powerful union that unites members based on profession and education. A reliable union offers personal advice and services throughout one's employment journey, upon signing employment contract until its termination, and provides access to a wide range of benefits and financial support.
BHM (Bandalag háskólamanna), consists of 28 associations and over 17,000 members of diverse backgrounds, education and knowledge. BHM unites professions and unions of university-educated people in the Icelandic labor force, championing ingenuity, specialist skills and education. You can find your own union within BHM regardless of your field of work, employer or form of employment and whether you’re employed, self-employed or an independent specialist - the only condition is to have completed a university degree (BA or BS degree or its equivalent). Many member associations of BHM also offer student membership, e.g. Fræðagarður which grants student membership to those who have completed 60 ECTS credits. You can learn more about student membership with BHM’s unions on their website (see the attached QR code).
BHM Grants and Funds
In addition to being a powerful overall association of university graduates, BHM runs various funds that provide grants to associations. Karitas Marý Bjarnadóttir works as a fund advisor at BHM. She says the main role of funds and grants is to attract members in as many ways as possible. Many people are surprised at how diverse the grants are and how useful they can be.
“We put a lot of emphasis on accommodating people at different points in life, whether that includes providing grants related to body and soul treatments such as physical therapy, psychological services or cancer treatments, or sponsoring a lawyer who wants to become a yoga teacher.”
Credit: BHM
BHM Medical Fund:
Is intended for members working in the public sector
The role of the health fund is to cover loss of income due to unpaid absence from work related to illness and accidents
The fund covers many different forms of rehabilitation
BHM Scholarship Fund:
Is intended for members working within the private sector, public sector or municipalities
A variety of grants are provided from the scholarship fund, including grants for health-related costs and work-related trauma, grants related to births and adoptions, sick leave and more
BHM Vacation Fund:
Is designed to make it easier for members to enjoy vacation days to their full extent
The Vacation Fund offers gift vouchers for flights, rents out holiday homes to its members all over the country and subsidizes many types of services related to vacations
BHM Vocational Training Fund:
Is designed to support members regarding studies and courses, conferences, seminars and educational trips both within the country and overseas
Projects must generally relate to the applicant’s professional field or work
Courses which improve the applicant's employability in the field of computer technology and/or languages are generally eligible for funding, even if they are not directly related to the applicant's job or education
BHM’s Career Development Center:
The Career Development Center’s role is to promote career advancement and institutions’ professional development
19 of BHM’s member unions (out of 28) can apply for grants from the Career Development Center
Individuals can apply for grants relating to studies, courses and conferences which cover (among other things) school fees, conference fees and travel expenses
Institutions, non-profit organizations, municipalities and other public entities (as long as they are eligible) can also apply for grants related to career development
More information about all the above funds, membership and their allocation rules can be found on BHM website under Grants and funds. It is also worth checking out the Life Events subpage, which provides guidance and information for members during turning points in their lives.
Do you have questions?
If you are wondering which union might suit you, the BHM customer service provides information and guides you along the way. The service center also provides information about funds, holiday homes, vocational rehabilitation fund VIRK and more. BHM places great emphasis on providing personal service - do not hesitate to reach out.