September 29, 2008

The U.S. Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council (WDC) honored U.S. Senator Patty Murray (WA) for her distinguished service in workforce development legislation during the WDC’s 20th Congressional Forum in Washington (DC) September 22-23. Murray addressed the WDC along with U.S. Representative Buck McKeon (CA), Ranking Minority Member of the House, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, who is also a strong advocate for local workforce systems. Murray, Chair of the Senate HELP Committee’s Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, ended the forum by stating to WDC members, “The work that you do is what makes this award mean so much. With the next reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), we are not going to do it wrong, we are going to get it right.”

The forum included a day long WDC Board meeting and focused on enhancing opportunities in workforce development in cities across the nation, particularly by building better partnerships with businesses and local community organizations. Additionally, it highlighted the importance of increasing awareness of the role of workforce development at both local and federal levels. With over 60 participants representing Workforce Investment Boards and programs across the nation, the Congressional Forum was an opportunity to learn from shared successes and continue educating members of Congress on the impacts of their efforts and services in workforce development. Those in attendance included WDC’s Executive Board President Robert Sainz, Assistant General Manager of the Community Development Department for Los Angeles; Michael Gritton, Executive Director of Kentuckiana Works in Louisville and First Vice President of WDC; and Second Vice President of WDC Karen Sitnick, Director of Baltimore’s Office of Employment Development.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the number of unemployed rose by 592,000 to 9.4 million in August. With the unemployment rate increasing to 6.1 percent and funding for WIA at risk of further decreasing in years to come, WDC members met with representatives from both the McCain and Obama campaigns to learn of both candidates’ perspectives on workforce development.

David Gray, Director of Workforce and Family Program for New America Foundation and former Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy at DOL under the Bush administration, spoke on the issues that Presidential Candidate John McCain has highlighted and his interest in expanding access to and opportunities in community colleges, reforming unemployment insurance, and job training that reflects the current needs of the economy. He also mentioned that McCain has an interest in displaced worker issues and “investing in individuals, not institutions.”

Former Deputy Secretary of Labor in the Clinton Administration Edward Montgomery, now Dean of the University of Maryland’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, highlighted Presidential Candidate Barak Obama’s interests in workforce development as investing in training to prepare workers for a green economy. Additionally, he mentioned how globalization has changed the labor market’s size and competitiveness. He added that Obama calls for a holistic approach to improving workforce development that also includes enhancing the K-16 education system and providing services, such as childcare and transportation.

In addition to exploring presidential campaign agendas, WDC also visited Capitol Hill to speak with House and Senate staffers in an effort to learn of the status of WIA reauthorization for the 111th Congress and how they should tailor their efforts to build further support for workforce development. Addressing WDC members were Teri Bergman, Majority Professional Staff of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Labor-HHS, Education, and Mark Liasch, Majority Professional Staff of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Labor-HHS, and Education, sharing information on the serious shortages facing all domestic programs in the appropriations process; Gerri Fiala, Majority Staff Director for the U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, and Beth Buehlmann, Minority Education Policy Director for U.S. Senate HELP Committee, emphasizing the desire of both Murray and Ranking Member Senator Michael Enzi (WY) to pass workforce development legislation. In addition, James Bergeron, Deputy Director of Education & Human Services Policy, and Michele Varnhagen, Senior Labor Benefits Counsel, of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor, noted the hope of Representative McKeon (CA) and Representative George Miller (CA), Chair of the Committee on Education and Labor, to pass WIA next year. Hun Quach, International Trade Analyst for the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, and Alex Perkins, Trade Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, related the need to get the Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) passed and signed by the next President in 2009. All staffers spoke on the challenges of WIA reauthorization because of priorities including appropriations, energy legislation, and revamping the healthcare system. However, they encouraged WDC members to actively work with their own Congressional members. Bergeron stated, “Every time someone talks about poor economic conditions we need to include [the workforce community] because of your work in the field. If not you, then who?” Fiala further explained, “Congress needs your insights because we are just begging to have these conversations. You need to be the ones to educate Congress.”

Sitnick shared her latest experience in Baltimore on building partnerships at the city level. Baltimore’s Summer Jobs are Everyone’s Business is a youth (ages 14-21) employment program that provides opportunities to work with public or private sector employers. With strong leadership from Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, Sitnick emphasized the importance of partnerships that draw together stakeholders from all sectors – public, business, philanthropic, church, and community-based organizations. In building such partnerships, workforce development can expand its efforts to serve both job seekers and businesses in need of skilled workers for today’s economy. She also indicated that without the constant support from Dixon the partnership with the business community would not have happened. Its strategy was a broad approach to building partnerships throughout the city. For instance, all vendors for every participating agency and business were contacted through the mayor’s office to contribute to the program. Thus, the campaign raised over $2 million in additional spending for the program. Sitnick explained how the mayor’s dedication to youth employment was key and “rallied the entire city around this effort.”

Mark Cafferty, new CEO and President of the San Diego Workforce Partnership, discussed his efforts in partnering with Qualcomm, a major technology company that produces parts for cell phone providers to increase efficiency. Because of Qualcomm’s strong presence and reputation in the community, it was key to develop a partnership that sought to meet its need for skilled workers in technology and the high demands for mid-level technical positions, often paying more than $50,000 plus full benefit packages. Cafferty emphasized the need to collaborate with the technology industry to create opportunities for unemployed workers and address the challenges of our evolving economy. He called for new skills in technology by stating, “If we don’t matter to the high tech industry, we don’t matter to the bigger industry.”

Alison Motz, Director for Entry Level Workers and Community Partnerships at Global Community College (GCC), and Anton Blumberg, Chief Human Capital Officer for Human Capital Academy, presented on how their organizations serve as the bridge between the needs of the business community and unemployed workforce. They emphasized the roles community colleges can have in workforce development training and to consider building partnerships in higher education where participants can earn credit towards advanced degrees or certifications.

Additional speakers at the forum included Brenda Russell, Senior Legislative Representative for New York City; James Seeley, Chief Legislative Representative for Los Angeles; and Colin Wellenkamp, Vice President of the Washington Linkage Group representing Baltimore, who gave WDC members tips on how to educate their Congressional members.