WHEREAS:

Labor force projections have predicted that during the 1990s there will be a slowdown in the growth of the labor force, an aging of the work force and fewer young workers, and a growth in the portions of the labor force made up of women, minorities, and immigrants; and

WHEREAS:

Occupational trends point towards a growth in the number of jobs that involve higher educational and skill requirements, including reading, mathematical, computational and reasoning skills, and these skill requirements apply not only to new jobs but also to existing jobs that will be re-structured; and

WHEREAS:

If current trends continue, new entrants to the labor force will not possess adequate education and skills, thus creating a mismatch between jobs and the availability of qualified employees to perform those jobs.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and locals work to establish new programs or to improve existing programs that address the concerns related to the changing composition of the labor force and the changing job requirements, through negotiations and joint labor-management committees. Approaches include: employer-paid training, educational leave, tuition reimbursement, and career mobility programs. Since many new entrants will be drawn from social groups that have been provided with limited educational opportunities and/or speak English as a second language, these programs should encompass literacy and basic job skills training for new entrants. In addition, the family-related needs should continue to be addressed through programs such as alternative hours of work, child care, and elder care.

SUBMITTED BY:

Steve M. Culen, President and Delegate
AFSCME Council 31
Chicago, IL