Massachusetts AFL-CIO Testimony Before Joint House and Senate Ways and Means Committee

                                                                                    February 28, 2008

Members of the Joint House and Senate Ways and Means Committee

State House

Boston, MA

Dear Honorable Members:

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO respectfully requests that you support Governor Patrick's proposal to fund the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund at $15 million (House 2-Outside Section 5) via the Bay State Competitiveness Trust Fund. This proposal would make permanent the Legislature's groundbreaking work from the 2006 Economic Stimulus Bill to make job training a fundamental part of the Commonwealth's economic development strategy. The result would be job training programs that give 5,500 workers the skills they need to get a family sustaining job and fulfills the labor needs of Massachusetts companies.

Governor Patrick's proposal calls for funding the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF) with $15 million from the end of year budget surplus, thereby making recurring investments in our workers and businesses in a fiscally prudent manner. We believe funding the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund through the surplus is a smart strategic investment in these challenging times.

The 2007 inaugural round of WCTF grants was a resounding success, attracting grant requests from 65 partnerships from all regions of the Commonwealth. These innovative partnerships comprise groups of employers, community organizations, unions, career centers and educational institutions. Unfortunately, the $11 million job training fund was only able to award grants to one third of the applicants. The second grant round of the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund closes next Friday, March 7, and we predict will demonstrate again, a significant need for more funding.

With 151,400 workers unemployed even as employers struggle to fill more than 92,000 jobs, the Commonwealth needs to make a permanent investment in job training to close this skills gap.  A skilled workforce is our competitive advantage, and we need to maintain it if our economy is to grow in a way that helps sustain families.

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO applauds the legislature for your vision in establishing the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund.  We are encouraged the Governor has supported the innovative idea of the legislature  to make a permanent investment in job training by including $15 million for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund in House 2, Outside section 5(7002-1074).  Workers are ready to learn, educators are ready to teach and employers are ready to hire. We urge your support for this important measure. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Haynes

President

Massachusetts AFL-CIO