Contact: Amaya Smith, 202-637-5018
(Washington, DC, September 23, 2016) The U.S. Department of Labor announced that it has awarded AFL-CIO Working for America Institute (WAI) a $1.37 million contract to expand multi-employer apprenticeship programs in two important sectors with potential for job growth – manufacturing and hospitality.
“Training programs and apprenticeships are at the heart of organized labor’s efforts to ensure that working people have a voice in our country’s ever-changing economy,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “Through union apprenticeship programs, individuals gain life-changing skills to do high-quality work and get solid, middle-class jobs.”
The Institute’s contract with the U.S. Department of Labor will be implemented in collaboration with the UNITE HERE restaurant and hospitality union, the AFL- CIO Industrial Union Council (IUC) and workforce intermediary organizations in the hotel, hospitality, culinary and advanced manufacturing industries.
“UNITE HERE’s training programs are the foundation of helping our members achieve a middle class life. These training programs are the key to our members moving forward and gaining new job opportunities in our hotels, food service and gaming industries,” said UNITE HERE President D. Taylor. “Boston, LA and Las Vegas are great examples of how our members can advance with employers that participate and support these important training facility locations. This grant will help tremendously with our training efforts.”
“Manufacturing apprenticeships are a key element in labor’s agenda to revitalize manufacturing and increase U.S. employer competitiveness in a global economy. The AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council is pleased to work with the WAI to expand critical apprenticeship opportunities that promote the growth of the manufacturing sector and advance the skills and wages of industrial workers,” said IUC Executive Director Brad Markell.
Additional contracts were awarded to North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and the H-CAP organization in the health care industry.
###
Original News Release from the United States Department of Labor
US LABOR DEPARTMENT AWARDS $20.4M IN CONTRACTS TO PARTNERS SEEKING TO EXPAND, DIVERSIFY REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20160921
