Jobs
Wed Feb 13, 2013
Before the Delta Regional Authority would award workforce development project NOVA $208 thousand to expand training opportunities further into the Delta region, the proposal had to win the approval of Republican Congressman Rodney Alexander and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Northern Louisiana Interfaith successfully urged both officials to sign off, allowing NOVA to receive the award and pull more people out of working poverty in the Delta region.
Not only does NOVA train for good-paying jobs, NOVA works to transform bad jobs into better ones. When approached by a call center seeking to train workers for high turnover jobs paying $8 / hour, NOVA challenged the employer to invest in worker development for higher paying work. The call center responded and now NOVA trainees start at $10 / hour and move to $12.50 / hour within three months, including benefits; call center attrition has dropped. NOVA is becoming a new kind of hiring hall, offering training for dignified work that pays fair wages and offers benefits.
Sat Aug 11, 2012
In Houston, The Metropolitan Organization united key clergy in support of janitors as they fought to protect previous wage increases and benefits; prior to the strike, workers earned $8.35 /hour or $8,684 annually. Cardinal DiNardo, Bishop Rinehart and TMO clergy held a press conference exhorting contractors to respect union contracts and to give Houston janitors a raise. The janitors succeeded in maintaining the contract AND securing a wage increase over four years.
Tue Jul 24, 2012
Many middle and high -skill jobs in Iowa will be increasingly difficult to fill because of demographic changes, structural change in the economy and divergent skill distribution in Iowa. To address this impending shortage, A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy (AMOS) established Project IOWA to train participants in advanced manufacturing and healthcare. Thirty six workforce development trainees graduated in 2012 with 86% now established in career-track jobs with full-benefits and earning as much as $20 per hour.
Fri Jul 20, 2012
In San Antonio, COPS/Metro Alliance leaders applauded the decision of Ramen noodle producer Maruchan to withdraw its application for tax incentives. Leaders fought the proposal because the company was asking for $8 Million in taxpayer money to subsidize minimum wage jobs, undermining the wage standard set by COPS/Metro with the City of San Antonio and Bexar County. When Maruchan changed its mind, leaders welcomed the company to town. [Photo of Fr. Steven Gamez by KENS5]
Mon Jun 4, 2012
Two participants of W/SWIAF labor market intermediary Project Quest took top honors at a statewide vocational nursing contest, demonstrating “through their achievements both their individual commitment as well as the value of this program in generating highly skilled workers from within our local community,” said Dave Marttala, Project Quest’s executive director. Project QUEST was the first W/SWIAF labor market intermediary established; based in San Antonio, it was created through collaborative relationships initiated by COPS / Metro Alliance , the San Antonio business community leadership, employers of high-skill workers and other private and public entities.
Thu May 5, 2011
On 2nd May 2011, Trust for London announced to the 2,000 citizens at Citizens UK's Living Wage 10th Anniversary Assembly the new rate of £8.30 per hour. A new figure was also agreed with Loughborough University and Rowntrees at £7.20 per hour for employers outside London. A focus on the retail sector was agreed by the Living Wage Steering Committee and ‘Lush’ from the private sector offered to lead the way across their 20 outlets. It was also agreed to explore the four major supermarket chains and to seek a working relationship with them for the long term.
Mon Nov 8, 2010
London 2012 from its inception has been an organising opportunity for TELCO, and the work continues. Over 700 people gathered at an Assembly in November 2010 to focus on the Olympics. We negotiated publicly with officials from all three Olympic Games agencies (the Delivery Authority, the Organising Committee, and the Legacy Company).
A month after our action, LOCOG (the Organising Committee for the Games) announced that all 130,000 jobs during the Games will be paid at least a London Living Wage.
During April, TELCO schools took advantage of the International Olympic Committee visiting London and organised a celebration rally of the Ethical Guarantees that were struck between TELCO and the Olympic agencies. Over 300 students from East London schools attended the celebration rally; gave ‘Civil Society’ awards to the Chief Executives of the Olympic agencies; reminded them of their commitments to the organised people of East London and asked LOCOG to work with TELCO to ensure that local people are given job opportunities during the Games. We have since held two successful pilot jobs fayres, spearheaded by St Thomas More in North Hackney and St Katherine’s in Bow.
In September, the TELCO team plans to roll out ten jobs fairs, clustered around anchor institutions.
In the News
Workforce Development, living wages, Labor Market Intermediaries, Organizing in Iowa
Des Moines Register
Project IOWA Celebrates One Year of Success
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Douglas Wells’ path to a well-paying job with potential for advancement had a few bumps, but the 27-year-old credits perseverance and a publicly and privately funded training and mentoring program with helping him reach his goal....
Economic Development, Workforce Development, community organizing in the Midwest, Labor Market Intermediaries
Des Moines Register
Project Iowa Gives Workers Stability and Dignity
Friday, April 5, 2013
“Jalissa Daniels wrote dark poetry as an early adolescent…She became pregnant at 15, graduated from Scavo Alternative High School and worked at convenient stores and temp agencies. Even though these jobs helped pay the bills, they were not fulfilling…Finding full-time work with benefits was looking grim… The[n] Rev. Diane McClanahan, one of the pastors at Trinity United Methodist Church, encouraged Jalissa to consider a new program called Project IOWA, which was initiated by AMOS (A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy)….”
Workforce Development, Labor Market Intermediaries, Community Organizing in Louisiana, living wages
News-Star
Labor Market Intermediary NOVA Wins $208K from Delta Authority
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Sabrina Washington came to NOVA during a traumatic point in her life after moving to northeastern Louisiana to escape Hurricane Katrina.
At NOVA, she found not only a job intermediary program, but a group of people who cared enough for her to help improve her life.
Jobs, living wages, Economic Incentives, Economic Development, organizing in Texas, Organizing in Austin
KVUE News
Austin Celebrates Progress of Change in Tax Incentives
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
A diverse mix of Labor Union representatives, city and county elected officials, faith-based organizations and advocates for fair wages and working conditions came to the Workers Defense Project office Tuesday night for the same purpose.
organizing for living wages, Economic Incentives, Economic Development, organizing in San Antonio, organizing in Texas, IAF
3 San Antonio News Sources
COPS/Metro Applauds Maruchan's Withdrawal of Incentive Request
Friday, July 20, 2012
COPS/Metro Alliance leaders applauded Maruchan’s decision to withdraw their application for tax incentives and welcomed the company to Bexar County. “We reiterate our support for economic development and job creation,” said Fr. Steven Gamez, pastor of St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church and leader with COPS/Metro Alliance.
organizing for jobs, organizing in pomona, organizing in the Inland Empire, California IAF, Community Organizing in California, Workforce Development
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
IESC Preps People for Jobs
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Kathy McClellan, an instructional aide for the Rosemead School District, is getting ready to search for a job. Although employed now, McClellan is concerned cuts to educational funding could leave her without a job in the not-too-distant future.
Saturday morning, McClellan was one of 49 Inland Valley residents who participated in a jobs workshop organized by the Pomona Valley Cluster of the Inland Empire Sponsoring Committee.
organizing for jobs, organizing for workforce development, Labor Market Intermediaries, organizing in Texas, organizing in San Antonio, Economic Development, living wages
San Antonio Express-News
Project Quest Grads Take Top Honors in Statewide Nursing Competition
Monday, June 4, 2012
Two participants of Project Quest, Inc., a local non-profit that provides education and workforce training, recently won top awards at a statewide vocational nursing contest.
Jobs, Living Wage
Independent Budget Office Web Blog
Living Wage, Again
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Amid the uproar during the past few weeks over the proposed living wage law there’s one important point that you might have missed: the city already has a living-wage law.
