integrating immigrant workers into the u.s. economy
DESCRIPTION
Living Cities is beginning to learn learn about what it takes to better prepare low-income people for quality jobs. On September 17, we took our learning one step further by hosting a webinar with other organization also exploring approaches to help immigrant job-seekers access opportunity and integrate into the US economy. Presentations by the National Skills Coalition, CASA de Maryland, the Workers Defense Project, and Casa Latina in Seattle.TRANSCRIPT
Integrating Immigrant Workers into the US Economy:
Lessons from Leaders in the Field
September 16, 2014
2
Presenters
1. Flavia JimenezSenior Fellow, National Skills Coalition
2. Gustavo TorresExecutive Director, CASA de Maryland
3. Cristina TzintzunExecutive Director, Workers Defense Project
4. Hilary SternExecutive Director, Casa Latina
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Join the conversation on Twitter using hashtag #Welcome2Jobs
Living Cities@Living_Cities
National Skills Coalition@SkillsCoalition@flaviajim
CASA de Maryland@CASAdeMaryland
Workers Defense Project@workersdefense@TzintzunCrisCasa Latina@CasaSeattle
Integrating Immigrant Workers into the U.S.
Economy: Living Cities
September 17, 2014
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
Our Vision
We seek an America that grows its economy by investing in its people, so that every worker and every industry has the skills to compete and prosper.
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
Our Mission
• We organize broad-based coalitions seeking to raise the skills of America’s workers across a range of industries.
• We advocate for public policies that invest in what works, as informed by our members’ real-world expertise.
• And we communicate these goals to an American public seeking a vision for a strong U.S. economy that allows everyone to be part of its success.
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
Problem: Labor Market Demand
• There will be 55 million job openings in the economy through 2020
• 2/3 of all job openings in next decade will require education beyond a high school degree
• U.S. will fall short by 5 million workers with postsecondary education – at the current production rate – by 2020
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
The Skills Gap
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
Barriers: Foundational Skills
Adults with extremely low basic skills
Adults served by AEFLA
36,000,000
1,800,000
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
Labor Force: Many English learners already in our workforce
19.2 million adults are considered limited English proficient (LEP), comprising 9.3% of working-age population.
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Czech
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Australi
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Engla
nd/N. Ir
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Estonia
Canad
aIta
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Austria
Averag
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German
y
United St
ates
Flanders
(Belgi
um)
France
DenmarkKorea
Norway
Netherlands
Finlan
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Sweden
Japan
Poland
200
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260
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Native-born Foreign-born - < 5 yearsForeign-born - 5 years and more
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Literacy proficiencyby immigration background
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
Disconnected Policy Conversations
• Lots of attention on both skills issues & immigration issues, but almost completely disconnected.
• Partly driven by how issues are defined, partly driven by how Congress and federal agencies function
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
One Solution: Immigrant Workforce
• Without immigrants, U.S. workforce growth will be insufficient to replace those retiring between 2010-2030
• Between 2000 & 2050, new immigrants & their children will account for 83% of growth in U.S. working-age population.
• OECD report found that immigrants in the U.S. over 5 years have lower basic skills than those recently arrived
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
Opportunities at the national and local, state and national level
• National discussion on immigration reform & integration should include workforce development as a major component of the strategy
• In cities with offices of immigrant affairs and those attempting to incorporate immigrants, there’s an opportunity to connect with WIBs and job centers as part of welcoming strategy
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
Cities can shape policies & funding to connect immigrant integration services with Adult Education, ESL and workforce programs
• Immigrant affairs offices often connect to economic development efforts through small business development but leave out occupational training
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) provides an opportunity for cities to connect outreach efforts to workforce providers TEGL: education and outreach
opportunity
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
Importance of partnerships with Community Based Organizations
• Successful model: public/private partnerships that develop a balanced approach of education & training with wrap around services.
• Examples:– Instituto del Progreso Latino
(CBO) with Chicago City Colleges
– CASA de Maryland with Prince Georges Community College
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and English learners• Lifts statutory prohibition on
using Title II funds for occupational training, & includes workplace and workforce preparation education activities
• Integration of literacy and English language instruction with occupational skill training, including promoting linkages with employers
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
Local and State: WIOA
• Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs): can allow CBOs serving those with high barriers to employment
• Local and State plans must be aligned across titles of the law (e.g., Occupational training with Adult Basic Education and ESL) & must include career pathways
www.nationalskillscoalition.org
Stay Connected
• Visit our website.• Sign up for our
member email list.• Follow us on:
CASA: Successful model of Services &
Policy ImpactWebinar exploring approaches to help immigrant to access opportunity and
integrate into the US economy
Living Cities, September 2014 21
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CASA’s Overview• Largest Latino & immigrant
organization in the DC region – over 60,000 members
• Mission: to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in low-income immigrant communities.
• Programs include services and organizing / advocacy.
12%
22%
51%
4%3%
0%
7%
2%
CASA’s Funding Break-down
Corporations FoundationsGovernment IndividualsOrganizations Unions/CongregationsIncome Generating Reserve Fund Income
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Policy Victories to create sustainable jobs and sustainable communities !
• Passage of Minimum Wage in 2014 in local counties for $11.50 by 2017 (State level)
• Passage of In-State Tuition (MD DREAM Act) in 2011 (State level)• Driver license legislation to ID and drive to jobs (more than 250k
benefit now) 24
Policy Victories to build power
• Passage of Senate immigration bill – June 2013. • Passage of Domestic Workers’ Protection Bill in
Montgomery County, 2008.• Creation of 7 Welcome Centers to serve low-income
immigrants• Leadership Academy
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Services/Programs: Welcome Centers
• 7 Welcome Centers• help with applications & resumes• provide training to match skills
needed on the market• Partner with local small business and
big companies • 20,000 families come to Welcome
Centers • Partnership with local public schools
and other institutions• 3500 workers who participate in ESOL
classes and life skills trainings. 26
Developing strong Partnerships• Great relationship with local & state governments• OSHA funding for safety training• In Montgomery, Prince George County, & Baltimore City
have contracts to train families in different skills needed• Also partner with:
• Private Foundations• Corporations• Individual donors• Other services providers
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Innovative approach: Prince George Community College Partnership
• One of the largest community colleges in Maryland • Large geographic area to serve• Five main locations, with many additional ones• Demographic make-up• Partnership, not purely a business relationship
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How to approach CBO/College Partnership• Start small• Needs to be mutually beneficial• Strong personal connections• Use data to identify appropriate courses/industries• Address whole needs of the students
• employability• job placement• Job retention
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How We Work Together• Prince George Community Colleges
• Provides quality instructors and training• Can award certificates• Prepare students for licensure exams• Commitment to career pathways and innovative instruction
• CASA• Markets and recruits students• Provides location for training• Work with other partners and funders to provide complimentary
training and wrap around services
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Partnership Impact
FY 2012-2013- 64 high-quality trainings and classes to over 988 workers- 400 graduates through Workforce Development- 180 obtained permanent positions (average wage of $12.89
per hour)- 78% of Graduates moving out of the lowest defined state
poverty levels and reporting weekly salaries- Overall increase in Latino and immigrant enrollments at
Community College- Provide employers with skilled workers. WPR evaluation show
94% Employer satisfaction (Excellent)- Retention- 400 returning employers. 31
Challenges to Address• Limited Resources (funds and people)• Short turn around times to work on ideas (especially grants)• At the college level: many people involved across multiple
areas, need coordination
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What is next on our Innovation for sustainable jobs and sustainable
communities?
Create Co-ops as non-traditional business with “distribution of wealth based on solidarity, and involvement in the community”
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This is a model built
on Pragmatism, Self-
Reliance, Ownership,
and Democracy
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Values & Principles
• CO-OPERATION• Owners and
protagonists• PARTICIPATION• Commitment to
management
• SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
• Distribution of wealth based on solidarity, and
• involvement in the community
• INNOVATION• Constant renewal
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Questions! Thanks
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Contact Info
• Gustavo Torres• Executive Director
of CASA de Maryland
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 301-270-0419
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Empowering Our Neighbors: Undocumented Immigrants and the Texas Construction Industry
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Local Context: Texas Construction
Employs nearly 1,000,000, half of whom are undocumented immigrants, who:
Earn $3.12 less per hour
Experience 250% more wage theft
200% more likely to be injured on a worksite than citizens
No Spanish-language training programs available
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Past AchievementsOver its twelve year history, WDP has:
Passed two statewide laws protecting low-wage workers in Texas
Passed one of the most progressive economic development policies in the country
Improved working conditions on more than $500,000,000 worth of construction projects
Won mandatory rest breaks for all construction workers in Austin
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Paths Out of Poverty
1.Public Policy
2.Private Partnerships
3.Workforce Development
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Public Policy
Published Build a Better Nation: A Case for Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2013
Identified the following needs:Higher wagesSafety TrainingCareer Pipeline Access
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Public Policy
Progressive Economic Development Policies:
WDP will protect undocumented and US-born workers by requiring that subsidized companies provide: Living or Prevailing Wages; OSHA-10 Safety Training; Workers’ Compensation Insurance
In 2015, WDP will publish a study on the effects of these programs with the University of Texas at Austin and other partners
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Public Policy
Mandatory Rest Breaks in Dallas Undocumented workers receive 18% fewer rest
breaks Leads to higher rates of heat exhaustion,
dehydration and death
Workers’ Compensation Reform Less than a third of undocumented workers have
workers’ comp
Misclassification Reform and Enforcement Undocumented workers are 225% more likely to
be misclassified as independent contractors
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Private Partnerships
WDP has collaborated with organizations like Foundation Communities and The Pflugerville Community Development Corporation to adopt Better Builder Policies that include Living or Prevailing Wages OSHA-10 Safety Training Workers’ Compensation Career Pipeline Access
Policies are designed to level the playing field between undocumented workers and US-born workers
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Private Partnerships
Better Builder offers monitoring services to developers in exchange for: Certification as a worker-friendly developer; Onsite expertise on construction regulations and
OSHA compliance; and Trained workers who can build higher-quality
buildings.
Better Builder will ensure that undocumented and citizen workers both have access to high-paying, safe jobs
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Workforce Development
Undocumented immigrants have little access to Spanish-language training programs or formal union apprenticeship programs
WDP is designing the first Spanish-language preapprenticeship program in Austin
The Construction Careers Institute will provide over 50 hours of intensive training on soft and hard skills during its pilot year, including: ESL OSHA Safety Computer Literacy
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Current Organizational Needs
1.Strategic input from labor and industry leaders
2.Financial resources
3.Partnerships with peer organizations
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Contact InformationCristina Tzintzún, Executive Director
[email protected] @TzintzunCris @workersdefense
For more information: www.workersdefense.org
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Quality JobsPresented by Hilary Stern Sept 17, 2014
317 17th Ave South · Seattle, WA 98144tel. 206.956.0779 · fax 206.956.0780
www.casa-latina.org
CASA Latina is a non-profit organization founded in 1994 to empower Latino immigrants by providing educational and economic opportunities.
Founding and Board Member Founding and Board Members
National Day Laborer Organizing Network
National Domestic Workers Alliance
Affiliated November 2009 Affiliated March 2014
Washington State Labor Council
Martin Luther King County Labor Council
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Good Pay
Respect and a Voice
Safe
Opportunities for Advancement
Quality Jobs
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Barriers
Skills
English Job Specific
Training
Structural
Immigration Status Not Enough Good
Jobs
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Organizing
Education
Advocacy
Raise the Floor Build the Ladder
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Job Creation
Democratically Managed Hiring Hall
o Increase the floor
o Voice at Work
Required Courses
o Safety
o Quality Control
Organizing
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ESL
Computer Literacy
Industry Specific Knowledge
o Green Gardening
o Green Cleaning
o Moving
o Painting
o Construction Safety
Education
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Success
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 $13.00
$13.50
$14.00
$14.50
$15.00
$15.50
$16.00
$16.50
$14.30
$14.92 $14.92
$15.35
$16.11
Average Salary
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Success
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 -
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
4,239 4,413
7,327
8,545 8,972
Number of Jobs
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AdvocacyConstruction
Apprenticeship
Problem: e-verify
Solution: legalization
Homecare Industry Training
Problem: poverty wages
Solution: increase min wage
public support for families
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Small Scale Solutions through Organizing,
Education and Training
Large Scale Solutions through Overcoming
Structural Barriers
o Provide Access to Quality Jobs
o Increase the Overall Number of Quality Jobs
Conclusion
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Contact
Hilary Stern, Executive Director206-956-0779
317 17th Ave South · Seattle, WA 98144tel. 206.956.0779 · fax 206.956.0780
www.casa-latina.org
Q&A with Speakers
• Flavia JimenezSenior Fellow, National Skills Coalition
• Gustavo TorresExecutive Director, CASA de Maryland
• Cristina TzintzunExecutive Director, Workers Defense Project
• Hilary SternExecutive Director, Casa Latina
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