Targeted Hiring Programs: Helping the Poor and Disadvantaged Gain Access to Job Creation Projects

Transcription

1 Targeted Hiring Programs: Helping the Poor and Disadvantaged Gain Access to Job Creation Projects CWA Spring Conference 23APRIL2014

2 Aiming for Targeted Hiring Impacting generational income mobility through Targeted Hiring Programs that fuel Multi-Craft, Pre-Apprentice Training Blake Konczal Executive Director of the Fresno Regional Workforce Investment Board (FRWIB) Tim Rainey Executive Director of the California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB)

3 Challenge: Aiming for Targeted Hiring Create more living-wage job opportunities in California s Central Valley, a region deeply rooted in an agricultural-based economy. Opportunity: $36,000,000,000 Billion in public infrastructure projects projected for the 14-county Central Valley between Strategy: Pathways: In order to create job opportunities for unemployed and underemployed residents, the Fresno Regional WIB made targeted hiring recommendations that were adopted by the CA High Speed Rail Authority. The FRWIB is now recommending similar policies for Fresno County and its 14 incorporated cities. The FRWIB, in conjunction with the Fresno/Madera/Tulare/Kings Building Trades Council, developed a multi-craft, pre-apprentice training program. Additional multi-craft programs, most importantly the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), show how pre-apprentice training can prepare job seekers for job opportunities created by Targeted Hiring.

4 Why Aim for Targeted Hiring? Transparency and Accessibility Case Study: Construction of federal prison in Mendota, CA Mendota, CA to Maricopa County, AZ: 612 miles; 10 hour, 15 minute drive

5 Why Aim for Targeted Hiring? Reasonable Job Set Asides Case Study: Solar Farm Projects in Fresno County, CA Where Reasonable = 3 Local Hires for 200 Jobs

6 Why Aim for Targeted Hiring? He said he s from the Bay Area,

7 The Need: The Building Trades Council of Fresno/Madera/ Tulare/Kings report unemployment rates between 16% and 30%. Plumbers and Pipefitters: 24% Sheet Metal Workers: 30% Iron Workers: 20% Operating Engineers: 16% Electrical Workers: 23%

8 Policy Case Study HSR National Targeted Hiring Initiative Developed and championed by the FRWIB Modeled after Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Policy Approved by the CA HSR Authority in December 2013 Minimum 30% project work hours shall be performed by National Targeted Workers Minimum 10% project work hours shall be performed Disadvantaged Workers

9 Policy Case Study National Targeted Hiring Initiative Definition of Terms National Targeted Worker: An individual living in a zip code that includes a census tract with a median annual household income of less than $40,0000. Disadvantaged Worker: Faces at least one barrier to work, including 1) homelessness, 2) single parent, 3) receiving public assistance, 4) lacking GED or H.S. diploma, 5) criminal record, 6) chronic unemployment, 7) emancipated from foster care, 8) veteran, 9) apprentice < 15% of graduating apprenticeship hours

10 Funding HSR Training & Assessment $1.5 Million Additional Assistance Grant awarded for the Central Valley Infrastructure Employment Project, including HSR FRWIB is the lead agency with Stanislaus County Alliance Worknet and Kern/Inyo Mono WIB. Additional Central Valley WIBs are now participating to a lesser degree. 325 dislocated workers trained over a 3-year period: 1) Unemployed or underemployed Journeymen and Apprentice upgrade training 2) Pre-apprentice building trades training

11 WIBs and Building Trades: A Natural Partnership All bidding general contractors on HSR have signatory agreements with labor Common measures of success/failure Training and Education leading to a related job = success Policies that allow apprentices on capital improvements projects = success Х Training and Education that does not result in a job = failure

12 FRWIB Targeted Hiring Recommendations to Fresno County and its 14 Municipalities At minimum, municipalities could adopt a local variant of the CA HSR Authority s National Targeted Hiring Policy However, they should also allow for greater focus with different funding sources, i.e.: Federal Funds State Funds Local Funds Co-Mingled Funds

13 FRWIB Targeted Hiring Recommendations to Fresno County and its 14 Municipalities Real vs. Illusory Mandates Real Mandates Actual percentages or worker hiring that must be met Penalties for contractors that do not perform Adoption of an oversight structure that allows the jurisdiction to enforce said rule in a timely fashion Requires contractors to maintain at least on physical office/application drop-off/mailing site for hiring purposes somewhere within the jursidiction Requires contractors to share roster of job titles and approximate numbers to be hired

14 FRWIB Targeted Hiring Recommendations to Fresno County and its 14 Municipalities Real vs. Illusory Mandates Illusory Mandates Establishing goals, not hard numbers Offering no identified penalty for non-compliance Not directing competent staff to oversee that the employment mandates is followed in a timely manner Delving responsibility to administrative staff without mandating timely reporting back to elected officials

15 From Words to Work: Using Multi-Craft Pre-Apprentice Training to Turn Policy into Action The Fresno model for multi-craft preapprenticeship training incorporates all of the local building trades through the Building Trades Council. Pre-Apprentice Training will transition unemployed WIB clients into jobs with High Speed Rail and other public infrastructure projects. Upgrade Training for unemployed and underemployed union members

16 Multi-Craft Pre-Apprentice Training Common classes across building trades Trade specific training

17 The Building and Construction Trades Dept. s Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) In 2007, the Building Trades National Standing Committee on Apprenticeship and Training identified the common classes in building trades apprenticeship programs, i.e. common core. The Common Core Curriculum provides a gateway to post secondary education and careers in the Building Trades.

18 Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) Participating crafts include: Int l Assoc. of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Int l Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Int l Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Int l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Int l Union of Elevator Contractors Int l Assoc. of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental Iron Workers Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons Int l Union of Painters and Allied Trades Int l Brotherhood of Teamsters United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers Sheet Metal Workers International Association Laborer s International Union of North America United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Int l Union of Operating Engineers

19 Larger Vision, Future Goals Currently working with community colleges and high schools to develop a pathway for students/job seekers to receive college credit for trades classes. Pre-apprenticeship training can lead to a career in the trades AND an Associate of Arts (AA) degree o Eliminates either/or, community college vs. trades

20 Contact Information: Blake Konczal : bkonczal@workforce-connection.com (559) Tim Rainey: Tim.Rainey@CWIB.ca.gov (916)

21 Questions?