Union stops threats to federal job services

By SHERRY HALBROOK
With the activism of its members at the state Labor Department and substantial help from its international affiliates in Washington, PEF has derailed, at least temporarily, dangerous provisions of federal employment services legislation.

“This is a big success for us,” said PEF President Roger Benson. “The version of H.R. 1261 — the Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act — which was passed earlier by the House of Representatives would have dealt a serious blow to our members with the elimination of the Employment Services (ES) program through a block grant.”

Block granting federal funds allows states broad authority to transfer funds from partner programs to pay for one-stop operations, core services and other costs that the bill deems “common costs.”

In letters to Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer, Benson said such a move would likely be “the first step toward dismantling the nation’s unemployment insurance system and the creation of a voucherized system. Privatizing the program would harm unemployed workers seeking services and threaten the jobs of workers in state and local employment services agencies.”

Just as troubling, Benson said, is the authorization of grant waivers which may allow states to consolidate programs and funding, change eligibility criteria, and to extend these waivers automatically to other states. Such a program already exists in Florida, and has led to the contracting out of all jobs and services with little regard for continuity or quality of service.

Thanks to the lobbying by PEF, the American Federation of Teachers, the Service Employees International Union and others, the Senate passed a new version of the bill “to address virtually all of our concerns,” Benson said. “AFT and SEIU were instrumental in getting these changes.”

The revised bill was passed by the Senate in mid-November and will replace the House version. The legislation is expected to go to a joint conference in the next session for resolution of the differences between the House and Senate versions.

“This isn’t over yet. We will have to be vigilant for the votes on the conference committee’s report,” Benson added.

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Features
PEF activists boost Gunther campaign
Join campaign to defeat Bush
Save your retirement while you can
PEF E-Board backs Dean for prez
Union stops threats to fed job services
tate wildlife pathologist do battle
Fighting privatization of youth services

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