Des Moines Labor Institute

In Des Moines, Iowa, unions have taken the initiative in welfare-to-work. The Labor Institute, a nonprofit organization incorporated in 1993 and affiliated with the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, is working closely with the Laborer's International Union and Local 177 on a $2 million Department of Labor-funded project to bring former welfare recipients into the workforce.

The Institute works with community based organizations and local service providers to identify job candidates who meet program requirements--having less than a high school education, being on assistance for at least 30 months and working less than 13 weeks in the past year, or having some kind of substance abuse problem. The union program then provides four weeks of job readiness training including three weeks of construction issues, presented by representatives from the Laborers, and a week of training on what full time workers can expect on the job.

The Institute provides assistance with transportation and childcare problems. If clients need additional training, counseling or other assistance, program staff work to mobilize the necessary resources. Once on the job, participants are linked with journeymen mentors to help them get introduced to the workplace and to provide them necessary support and encouragement. The Des Moines program aims to place at least 135 participants over the next three years.