What the Law Requires: One-stop career centers are the foundation for the delivery of services in the local workforce system. The state board sets the criteria for the one-stop system while local boards select the one-stop operators. Programs of several "one-stop partners" are to be made available through the one-stop including; adult, dislocated worker and youth programs funded under the WIA, the Employment Service, adult education, vocational education, vocational rehabilitation, welfare-to-work, TAA and NAFTA-TAA, veterans programs, HUD employment and training programs as well as information on filing for Unemployment Insurance.

In selecting a one-stop operator, local boards may choose a collaborative model, a competitive model or grandfather existing one-stops. Eligible one-stop operators can include:

post-secondary institution	non-profit entity
Employment Service	government agency
private-for-profit entity	business organization (e.g. Chamber of Commerce)

One-stop centers are to provide access to core, intensive and training services to adults and dislocated workers. Any worker (employed or unemployed) can receive core services which include assessment, counseling, job search and placement as well as information on the labor market and training providers. Workers who do not find jobs, or who are in need of further assistance to maintain self-sufficiency, can receive intensive services and then training services.

Labor’s Perspective: Labor representatives should seek to:

• preserve existing collaborative one-stop arrangements that include the Employment Service and other public agencies in one-stop operations

• oppose contracting one-stop operation to for-profit entities

• assure that one-stops are accessible to all workers

• assure that workers receive personalized counseling when requested

• assure that technology is used as a tool, not a substitute, for personalized services from a professional counselor

• provide customized services to individuals based on need and not "work-first" requirements that would force participants to take any job

• provide information and orientation training to all participants including workplace rights and protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety & Health Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Civil Rights Act and others

• assure that prohibitions on the use of WIA funds to deter union organizing apply to program administrators, service providers as well as one-stop operators

• assure that separate funding streams for adults and dislocated workers are used to provide specialized services

• establish performance standards for one-stop that limit/prohibit placements in temporary agencies or employee leasing firms

• target placements to high wage, growing sectors in the labor market

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