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For catlike work on a hot tin roof, members of Long Island's Sheet Metal Workers Union (A.F.L.-C.I.O.) Local 55 are paid $4.35 an hour. Last month they had good news from the 31 contractors who employ them: a new contract with an hourly boost of about 30-c-. But just before they signed,Joseph Frederick, local president for 25 years, had an unusual idea. Among them, his 1,300 men have 2,436 children; 94 are of college age. but only 21 are in college. Why not forgo the wage hike, start a college 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, with more likely next year -- apparently the first and only such union fund in the U.S.

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