Repost: US Department of Labor settles charges of racial discrimination with New York City-based federal contractor Parsons Brinckerhoff

On May 8th, the US Department of Labor circulated a news release that describes contractor Parsons Brinckerhoff's settlement over hiring discrimination for federal construction jobs. The news release states, "During a scheduled compliance review, OFCCP investigators determined that Parsons Brinckerhoff violated Executive Order 11246 between 2010 and 2012 by using a hiring process that resulted in systemic discrimination. The agency found that Parsons Brinckerhoff did not follow its own written hiring policies and failed to use a consistent selection process for screening, interviewing and selecting assistant engineers. As a result, zero minorities were hired as assistant engineers during the review period...Under the terms of the conciliation agreement signed by both parties, the contractor will pay $188,043 in back wages and interest to the affected job seekers and will offer assistant engineer positions and retroactive seniority to at least four class members as positions become available" (OFCCP, 8 May 2014). This settlement will affect 247 job applicants.

Visit http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ofccp/ to read the full press release about this settlement.

Repost: New law requires MassDOT construction pre-apprentice program

A recent article in The Boston Globe describes a new bill that requires MassDOT to utilize a pre-apprenticeship program for training construction workers:

"State legislators are hoping that a pre-apprenticeship program required by a transportation bond bill will give women and minorities more access to state construction jobs. 

The provision in the bill mandates that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation train at least 300 young adults, women, minorities, or people from low-income families annually in a program that would last at least five years." (Powers, 25 April 2014)

Visit http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro to read the article. 

Repost: Cory Booker, Tim Scott team up for the first time

Great article in The Washington Post about bi-partisan support for registered apprenticeship programs! Here's a preview:

"On Wednesday Booker and Scott teamed up to unveil their first significant piece of legislation designed to help create hundreds of thousands of paid apprenticeships in highly skilled trades, including construction, manufacturing, health care, energy and telecommunications. The hope is that the program will help create jobs for younger Americans, especially minorities struggling to find work. 

Booker and Scott’s LEAP Act (Leveraging and Energizing America’s Apprenticeship Programs) would provide tax credits to employers who offer apprenticeships to younger job applicants. Companies that offer apprenticeships to people under age 25 would receive a $1,500 tax credit and a $1,000 credit for apprentices above age 25."

Check out the whole article, written by Ed O'Keefe, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/09/cory-booker-tim-scott-team-up-for-the-first-time/.

Repost: Program aims to diversify highway construction workforce

By Peter Wong

A state agency is seeking proposals for pre-apprenticeship services that will help encourage more women and minorities to begin careers in highway construction.

The services are the result of a partnership between the Bureau of Labor and Industries and the Oregon Department of Transportation. They are intended to inform students and young adults about potential careers as carpenters, cement masons, iron workers, laborers, operating engineers and painters.

About $200,000 will be split among two or three proposals. The amount will be drawn from $2.1 million in federal funds approved by the 2013 Legislature for pre-apprenticeship services and efforts to diversify the highway construction workforce. The two agencies will ensure that the amount is spread statewide.

Proposals are due at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Department of Administrative Services/Procurement Services office in Salem. Services are scheduled to start Jan. 1 and run for 18 months.

To view the original article, visit http://www.statesmanjournal.com.

Repost: NSTAR Women in Non-Traditional Careers Event