Another successful Workforce Week of Action.

Last week, as part of National Workforce Week of Action, members of the business community, labor, education and training programs, and the public sector came together across the nation to stand up for investments in America’s workers and industries. In meetings with Members of Congress, in the press, and through social media, the workforce community urged policymakers to support adequate funding for workforce education and training programs—and your voices were heard!
 
Just a few of the week’s highlights include:

In-District Meetings and Site Visits.
Across the country, diverse stakeholders met with Members of Congress and their staff to urge them to oppose funding cuts for federal education and training programs in the FY 2012 budget. The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) organized a site visit for Senator Claire McCaskill to demonstrate the important role of education and training services in the community. In Milwaukee, members of the Milwaukee Workforce Investment Board organized a meeting with Congressional staff from the offices of Senators Herb Kohl and Ron Johnson and Congresswoman Gwen Moore, while the North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board welcomed Senator Kohl during his visit to Ocean Spray Cranberries in Wisconsin Rapids where he spoke about job creation efforts. And in Chicago, the Illinois Workforce Partnership arranged a site visit for Senator Dick Durbin at the Elgin, IL unemployment office where he met with clients and spoke about the importance of job training.

Press.
Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board Chairman LeRoy Forslund penned an op-ed piece in the Ashland Current about the impact additional funding cuts would have on workforce services in Wisconsin, while Frank Harkins, CEO/President of Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast, wrote a Letter to the Editor of the Northwest Florida Daily News calling on all Americans to contact their representatives to “remind them that job training is crucial to the future of America’s workforce.”

Social Media.
Workforce Week of Action co-sponsors and other supporters used social media to spread the message about last week’s activities, offering suggestions and ways for individuals to weigh in with policymakers. Through Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #wkdev, hundreds of people posted, tweeted, and retweeted comments in support of funding for education and training programs, including Senator Sherrod Brown and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. 

And these are just some of the preliminary reports we’ve gotten back so far from last week!! If you took action—met with a Member of Congress, wrote an op-ed, held a site visit, etc.—please take a moment to report back to us by posting a comment or link on the National Workforce Week of Action Facebook page. And remember, it’s never too late to act. Members of Congress need to hear from us throughout the year, so if you missed the official Week of Action, make this week your own personal week of action. Our resources are still available at www.nationalskillscoalition.org/WorkforceWeek.

Thank you to everyone for making National Workforce Week of Action a huge success. We look forward to working with you in the months ahead as we continue to stand up for America’s workers and industries.