|
Take, for instance, Indiana State AFL-CIO
president Ken Zeller. Last November, he brought together
state union leaders to set a labor agenda for the WIA.
He led a full day of working sessions, technical material
to read, and strong words about the importance of the
meeting to labor and all working people. As a result,
union leaders can take better advantage of Indiana's
Workforce Investment Boards where unions have proposed
and won special boards for incumbent worker training
with labor representation.
At the leading edge
 In
more than 20 states, either a federation officer or
an executive board member is serving on one of the new
statewide Workforce Investment Boards. In other states,
state federation staff have been assigned this important
role. Numerous Central Labor Council officers are also
talking time to participate on local workforce boards,
as well as to recruit affiliates for labor positions
on these boards. Over half of all states have already
sponsored strategic review and training sessions for
labor representatives who serve on state and local boards.
Enormous resources for building
a High Road labor market -- and blocking the low road
The goal of the new Workforce Investment Act is to
coordinate the many different workforce-related funding
streams serving employers and workers. Over $10 billion
dollars will flow through the new workforce investment
system annually or be coordinated with it. These resources
could go to substandard employers, subsidizing them
to compete against good union employers and driving
good jobs out. Or, they'll go to support good jobs that
pay family-sustaining wages and help workers achieve
self-sufficiency. This public investment in skills and
labor market systems will either support the High Road
or the Low Road.
Union leaders are recognizing that influence over these
dollars can be a lever to influence employer behavior.
Particularly in this economy, a skilled workforce is
a critical competitive advantage for employers. Without
access to more workers able to do the job, they cannot
grow to take advantage of increasing market opportunities.
Without training programs, they cannot operate new equipment
in broadcasting, install new networks in communication
interconnects, or deliver new higher quality services,
such as quality cooking in new hotel restaurants.
But, unions are already working to gain influence in
the workforce investment system. For instance, they
are:
- Recruiting and training labor representatives to
state and local Workforce Investment Boards.
- Developing and implementing language that supports
union and community agendas, such as creating good
jobs--not just any jobs.
- Connecting labor representatives on boards to each
other and to labor federations through internal committee
structures and ongoing meetings.
| We
want to create an effective worker and union voice
to build a high road labor market system.
|
Building labor's capacity to
influence the labor market
It will take more than just winning seats at the table
to have an impact however. We need to know more about
the local economy--industry by industry in each region.
To that end, the U.S. Department of Labor has just
awarded $1 million, with the potential for another half
million dollars, to the AFL-CIO Working for America
Institute, in partnership with the Building and Construction
Trades Department. With these funds, we can help build
labor's capacity to influence and use the new WIA. This
pilot program will enable us to look at regional economies
in a small number of states, and at public programs
that can influence the economy.
The program will convene an oversight committee with
all interested national affiliates that will provide
a connection to national priorities.
The program will provide background information to
local labor leaders in order to exert influence over
the economy. This information includes:
- Regional economics.
- State, local, and federal public programs that can
be used as levers, including the Workforce Investment
Act.
- Industry competitive analysis in key sectors in
the region.
We want to create an effective worker and union voice
to build a high road labor market system.
|
