While conference participants were given an extensive resource binder on a variety of workforce and economic development topics, the Institute made a decision not to focus on a "WIA 101" program although special assistance was available to new board members. Instead the focus was on setting a common agenda for labor's participation in the public workforce system, which the Institute has now posted on its website. (See WAI's three-point agenda for strengthening union representation on Workforce Investment Boards.)

Participants expressed a great deal of interest in policy issues, particularly the setting of a self-sufficiency standard. Local self-sufficiency standards are used in WIA to determine eligibility of employed workers for intensive and training services and can also be used to set performance goals for the public system.

Setting realistic self-sufficiency standards present an opportunity for labor to partner with other stakeholders in assuring that customers of the local system get the services they need to earn family-sustaining wages.

Another policy issue of concern to labor is the application of local "work first" policies in ways that restrict access to intensive and training services. The law and regulations governing "work first" and the sequencing of services were reviewed to demonstrate that local boards have the flexibility to move customers swiftly through the tiers of service to ensure that training is made available to those who need it to prepare for a new job.

An additional focus of the training was the use of community audits to shape a local workforce and economic development agenda. The elements of a comprehensive community audit were reviewed, focusing on data collection on a sectoral basis that would allow for identification of industries that produce high wage job opportunities.

Labor representatives were also introduced to key issues on economic development strategy and how techniques in that field, such as subsidy accountability and clawbacks, might be used at the WIB level to assure that the investment of public resources produces good jobs for their communities.

The workshop on opportunities for the building and construction trades was particularly well-attended and featured programmatic strategies in the areas of pre-apprenticeship training, apprenticeship and journeyman upgrading as an incumbent worker strategy.

Interested programs were able to get information on the key steps they need to take to participate in WIA, such as getting programs on the state or local eligible training provider list.

Two public employee unions—AFSCME and SEIU—also developed a workshop on One-Stop operations. The workshop focused on the benefits of a publicly-administered One-Stop center and what the unions who represent front-line workers have learned about model One-Stop practices.

The Institute will maintain a relationship with conference participants, and other labor representatives, through the development of a listserv and through information posted on this website. The listserv will also allow labor representatives to network with their colleagues as they address similar issues in their communities. To participate on the listserv, contact the Institute at info@workingforamerica.org.

Labor representatives were also encouraged to stay in touch with the Institute's regional coordinators, who often provide similar training on the state level in support of state federations of labor.

The Institute is planning a national conference for union WIB members next spring in Washington DC. The location and time was selected to give labor representatives serving on state and local workforce boards the opportunity to hear from decision-makers involved in WIA reauthorization. At the same time, the conference will give those decision-makers exposure to the views of this key group of stakeholders in the public workforce development system.

Sample schedule of a WIB training and strategy session