AWF Endorses Rep. Kline's Green Jobs Improvement Act
AWF sent the following letter to all Members of Congress urging them to co-sponsor the Green Jobs Improvement Act to be introduced by Rep. Kline.
Dear Congressman:
On behalf of the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF), a national organization representing millions of rank-and-file workers, employers, and business owners, I urge you to support and co-sponsor H.R. 6220, the Green Jobs Improvement Act to be introduced by Rep. Kline (R-Minn.)
As you know, this legislation would expand a provision in the “Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007” (H.R. 6) to non unionized workforces to receive federal funding to help create an energy efficiency and renewable energy skilled workforce.
Both union and nonunion labor employers support the concept of “green job” training as they strive to meet the growing demands of their professional fields. The original provision limits training grant funding only to entities that partner with labor organizations which comprise a mere 8 percent of the private sector workforce.
Without the Green Jobs Improvement Act, a flawed Congressional law is keeping over 90 percent of the workforce from competing for “green jobs”. At the time of economic uncertainty, I don’t think the non-union workers in your state would appreciate this type of command-and-control politics that skews the market directly in favor of one group of workers (union members) over another.
The Green Jobs Improvement Act eliminates the mandate so that labor organizations and merit shop training programs can qualify for federal funding.
Labor organizations and member companies continuously train workers in a wide variety of skilled occupations and constantly strive to keep pace with technology in order to make certain America has the skilled workforce it needs. All American workers should enjoy equal opportunity of access to critical job training. These objectives will be achieved more easily through the Green Jobs Improvement Act.
The Green Jobs Improvement Act will make “green job” training available to a broader range of employers and allow 90 percent of the skilled workforce to fulfill the needs of the 21st century.
For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact Casey Buboltz in Congressman Kline’s office at 5-227 or casey.buboltz@mail.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Brian M. Johnson, MPA
Executive Director
