Labor & Employment Law

Shuler: Unions Can Play Critical Role in Training Nation?s Workers

By James Parks

To be more competitive in the global economy, U.S. business and government must greatly increase their investment in education and skills training. Unions can play a critical role in making sure our workers have the skills and knowledge they need, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler said today.

Shuler participated in a panel sponsored by the National Journal, ?Why Should Business Invest in Increasing Education Attainment.? She told the group that unions have created a model for investment in education in the form of joint labor-management programs where the voice of the worker is heard, and his/her input is taken into account.

For example, she said, while companies and education experts are trying to find ways to train more skilled workers, the AFL-CIO and our union affiliates have a long history of partnering with businesses in many industries. Our labor apprenticeships and skills training programs contribute some $1.6 billion annually to the national economy, she said.

She also pointed to the National Labor College (NLC) as an example of one way to enable working Americans to upgrade their skills and education and work on a job. The NLC is the only college in the United States with an exclusive mission to serve the educational needs of the labor movement

Unions are working in partnership with business to provide on-site training as well. The United Steelworkers (USW) works with 14 steel and rubber companies in the Institute for Career Development (ICD), which offers customized training and education courses to unemployed members, those still on the job (who have had their hours reduced), and persons who need skill upgrading to use advanced technological systems. In 2006, ICD classes enrolled nearly 15,000 workers in some 2,000 customized courses.

In Philadelphia AFSCME District 1199 partners with 50 health care employers in hospitals, clinics and university health care institutions. The District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund has its own 35,000 square foot learning center that serves nearly 4,000 students per year. Those students are both union members and persons from Philadelphia?s low income communities.

Unions are also working with companies on training and education related to the needs of the clean energy economy, Shuler said.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on November 17, 2010 (boomark / email).