Repost: $100m US purse for apprentice programs: Labor Secretary cites Boston unit as a model

Recently the US Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez toured the Local 17 Sheet Metal Worker’s headquarters and “announced a $100 million program of competitive grants to help fund apprentice programs like Boston’s Building Pathways organization”. Thomas Perez praised the success of the Boston’s Building Pathways which has helped minorities and women enter trades that have been previously closed off to them. Perez believes that the success that Boston achieved can be done throughout the country leading to good jobs for those looking for them.

Visit http://www.dotnews.com/2014/100m-us-purse-apprentice-programs-labor-secretary-cites-boston-unit-mo to read the full article.

 

Labor secretary talks wages in Boston

Perez also wanted to raise support for the Obama administration’s proposals of increasing the national minimum wage and granting workers paid sick leave. He says that Massachusetts has “been a model for the rest of the nation” in which voters recently passed a referendum that requires businesses with 11 or more employees to earn up to 40 hours of paid sick time a year. Perez praised the apprenticeship model and the success found in Boston, he says that the model can be used for numerous job sectors.

Visit http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/11/17/labor-secretary-talks-wages-and-apprenticeships-boston/cZuGY4n16k2KQvcQB5RMgM/story.html to read the full article.

Visit http://www.dol.gov/_sec/newsletter/2014/20141120-2.htm#Boston to read the Department of Labor Newsletter.

Chicago Women in Trades online manual for bringing more women into the trades (2004)

Chicago Women in Trades created this online manual for bringing more women into construction. Their website states:

"The goal of this on-line manual is promote replication of strategies that increase the number of women joining the construction workforce. The site, therefore, contains comprehensive information and material from which organizations can build an entire training program, augment an existing program or simply improve their ability to promote construction careers to women. Under each section, organizations can find overviews of the activities as well as downloadable tools that include implementation guides for staff, lesson plans for instructors, hand-outs for participants and administrative tools such as job descriptions and evaluation forms. 

The highlights of this guide include a customizable “Jill of All Trades”flyer, “You Can Do It, A Woman’s Guide to Building a Construction Career”, a career education video which you can download or view on site, a student aptitude assessment, and a comprehensive training curriculum, all developed with support from the U.S. Department of Labors’ High Growth Job Training Program."

Visit http://www.chicagowomenintrades.org/top/top_home.html to view the manual or learn more.

Save the Date: "Building Economic Security for Low-Income Women" Roundtable on Fri, 9/27/13, 9:30-11:30am

Budget Buddies

Center for Women & Work at University of MA, Lowell

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union

The U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau

INVITE YOU TO AN IMPORTANT ROUNDTABLE:

BUILDING ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN

Friday, September 27, 2013

9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Corporate Offices of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union

257 Father Morissette Blvd, Lowell, MA

The roundtable will bring thought leaders in the Greater Lowell area together to discuss potential pathways to financial stability for low-income women once they’ve learned essential money-management skills. During this time we will break into four work groups that will consider the following topics:

   1) How do we help women find flexible work situations?
   2) How can women qualify for higher-paying jobs?
   3) What opportunities are available for women in “green” jobs?
   4) How can we help homeless women veterans reenter the work force?

Attendance is free but registration is required. Space limited to 25

RSVP: To register, please send an e-mail to kathrynbrough@verizon.net by close of business on September 23 and include your name, organization, and telephone number. Please also indicate your preference(s), if any, for the work group you’d like to join.