In Support of Labor's Involvement in Workforce Development

WHEREAS, since the Bush Administration has taken office in January 2001, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has lost 112,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector, or 27% of the total employment in the critical sector; and

WHEREAS, over 13,000 workers have been laid off in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, skill requirements for jobs continues to change and expand at a rapid pace, requiring workers to learn new skills; and

WHEREAS, millions of Federal and State employment and training dollars are controlled by state and local boards (comprised of, at a minimum, 51% business membership); and

WHEREAS, organized labor needs to ensure that union members maintain ready access to training when employed and retraining programs when laid-off; and

WHEREAS, many unions have developed or are interested in developing pre-employment training programs as a stepping stone into careers that come with the benefits of union membership; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Massachusetts AFL-CIO will continue to support its workforce development staff offering programs to affiliates and their members, including rapid response intervention, incumbent worker training initiatives, and technical assistance on the design and development of training programs; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that the President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO will transmit a copy of this resolution and other information to all relevant parties to demonstrate its ardent support of labor's involvement in workforce development.

Submitted by:
Robert J. Haynes, President
Louis A. Mandarini, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer