Too often "job training" is used by Republicans as an excuse to take government assistance away from people who need it rather than as an investment in good jobs. But there is a right way to do it, as you can see in the video above and in a Department of Labor announcement of
$100 million in grants for registered apprenticeship programs. The grants of
$2.5 million to $5 million each will expand opportunities for "historically underrepresented populations including women, young men and women of color, people with disabilities, and veterans and transitioning service members."
"An apprenticeship is the 'other 4-year degree'. It is a tried and true job training strategy that offers a reliable path to the middle class, with no debt," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez who announced the grant opportunity during a visit to the Urban Technology Project's Information Technology registered apprenticeship program in Philadelphia. "I encourage everyone to apply for this federal grant so that we can significantly scale apprenticeships opportunities for many more Americans in new industries and occupations."
Continue reading below the fold for more of the week's labor and education news.
A fair day's wage
- The Boston Globe Magazine is naming Market Basket workers its Bostonians of the year, after their uprising forced the grocery chain's former CEO to be returned to his position.
- The holidays are when many retail workers get the most hours and make the most money—but it's not very much money, and it has to carry them through some lean months early in the new year:
The people lucky enough to work for a retailer year-round typically make less after Christmas ends. Rank-and-file employees at clothing and clothing accessories stores made $266.64 a week, on average, in December 2013, according to BLS data that is not seasonally adjusted. The following month, that number fell to $248.35.
- Excellent news for 2,000 Minneapolis-St. Paul-area workers:
The Metropolitan Airports Commission approved a new sick-day policy for several companies that do business at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
The new policy, which was unanimously approved by the board on Monday, calls for companies with 21 or more employees to provide at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked.
- A Project Labor Agreement success story in northern Virginia.
- Good news, though more progress is needed:
U.S. manufacturing output recorded its largest increase in nine months in November as production expanded across the board, pointing to underlying strength in the economy.
- Labor strikes that changed America.
- The Michigan legislature has voted to ban college athletes from unionizing, because apparently college athletes should work for free and not organize for better treatment.
- Organizing in the south is notoriously difficult, but:
Breaking: In victory for labor, workers at Sysco food service company in Atlanta vote, 220 to 141, to join Teamsters.
— @greenhousenyt
- Are works councils really such a good idea for workers and unions?
Education