WIB Labor Representatives Form “High Road Network”

To ensure that workers’ interests are represented on Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 requires each state and local WIB to include two or more labor representatives. To help guarantee workers’ effective participation on the WIBs, an organizing committee of labor representatives has formed a new membership association: the High Road Network. This new national organization requested that the AFL-CIO Working for America Institute house the Network and provide it with staff and services, a role consistent with the Institute’s mission to build a ‘high road economy’ based on innovation, quality and skill, rather than low wages and diminishing benefits. While the High Road Network will enroll WIB labor representatives as voting members, membership is also open to all workforce practitioners who want the public workforce system to adopt high road policies.

For more information on the High Road Network, visit www.highroadnetwork.org.

“The Working for America Institute has the experience to provide training for participation on Workforce Investment Boards, and the High Road Network can coordinate the process. Because unions must speak for labor on the Boards, I think the Network meets an important demand.”

—Lyle Balestreri, President, Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council, Member of the Wisconsin
Council on Workforce Investment, the Milwaukee County WIB and the Organizing Committee High Road Network