For catlike work on a hot tin roof, members of Long Island’s Sheet MetalWorkers Union (A.F.L.-C.I.O.) Local 55 are paid $4.35 an hour. Lastmonth they had good news from the 31 contractors who employ them: a newcontract with an hourly boost of about 30¢. But just before theysigned,Joseph Frederick, local president for 25 years, had an unusualidea. Among them, his 1,300 men have 2,436 children; 94 are of collegeage. but only 21 are in college. Why not forgo the wage hike, start acollege fund for members’ children? The men voted in favor unanimously:the employers enthusiastically agreed to kick in a 3% payroll tax.Result: $15,000 annually for four scholarships at Adelphi College, withmore likely next year — apparently the first and only such union fundin the U.S.