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Background

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) envisions that all workforce development activities at the local level will be provided through a state One-Stop system. In many states, this transition to One-Stops threatens to expand privatization efforts, to undermine merit system requirements as applied to the U.S. Employment Service (ES) and other public agencies, and to merge the functions of workers who deliver services locally by shifting responsibilities among agencies. These shifts can have a devastating impact on the job security and working conditions of these state agency staffs.

 

1. Wagner Peyser-Funded Activities

Section 112(b)(8) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 requires that states describe how their workforce development system will coordinate with Wagner Peyser activities in the state. The "Planning Guidance for State Plans" requires States to provide more detail on how this coordination will occur. More specifically each of the following should be described in the State Plan:

• How Wagner-Peyser and Unemployment Insurance (UI) services will be integrated into the system
• The priority of service for veterans, agricultural communities and persons with disabilities
• The role of the Employment Service, as a required partner in the One-Stop system including responsibilities in local MOUs
• How the "work test" requirements of Wagner Peyser for UI recipients will be met
• How the state will coordinate Wagner Peyser funds to avoid the duplication of labor exchange activities
• How Wagner Peyser services will be delivered to employers
• The state strategy for the three tiered labor exchange requirements of Wagner Peyser
• The state's approach to improving staff/technical capacity to provide customer services
• State certification that Wagner-Peyser-funded labor exchange activities will be provided by merit-based public employees¹

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