WHEREAS:

The United States Employment Service was established almost 50 years ago as a publicly run nationwide labor market exchange. Its primary mission is to help the jobless find work and to help employers find employees. Small employers and low and moderately skilled workers in particular benefit from its services. In addition, all unemployed workers must register with the Employment Service in order to obtain unemployment compensation benefits; and

WHEREAS:

Whereas the Job Service is effective in filling a high rate of vacancies listed by employers. It also serves a large number of the economically disadvantaged, and, according to a recent study conducted for the Labor Department, it is of particular benefit to women job seekers; and

WHEREAS:

In 1981, an unprecedented attack was made on Employment Service funding by the Reagan Administration. The President's efforts to cut Employment Service funding disrupted and diminished necessary services for the unemployed. AFSCME, working with the Congress, successfully turned back the most drastic cuts planned by the Administration. Nevertheless, the number of Job Service employees remain at least 5,200 below the 30,000 positions maintained for the last 17 years; and

WHEREAS:

Amendments to the Wagner-Peyser Act in the Job Training Partnership Act have changed the basis for distributing Job Service appropriations among the states. As a result, some states will lose funds even if the appropriation is enough to maintain the current 24,800 positions. In addition, annual surveys made by the Labor Department to determine precise inflationary increases in each state are no longer performed. These surveys guided each annual appropriation which was based on the number of staff years, and without them it will be more difficult to protect the same number of staff positions from year to year; and

WHEREAS:

Employment Service cutbacks are illogical and harmful to the unemployed. It makes no sense to reduce job finding services in the face of record high unemployment rates. In addition, because Employment Service and Unemployment Insurance offices frequently are co-located, funding cuts that close Job Service offices also will close down Unemployment Insurance offices so that unemployment insurance recipients would have to travel longer distances and wait in longer lines for their benefits; and

WHEREAS:

A revitalized Job Service with computerized job banks in all 50 states is necessary to help workers who become unemployed as a result of plant closings and other major shifts in American industry. Such modernization is necessary to keep pace with the changing nature of the American economy and to apply new technologies to the benefit of both employers and job seekers; and

WHEREAS:

Whereas under the Job Training Partnership Act, tile Private Industry Councils (PlCs), now determine which agencies will receive contracts under the new program. In some cases, the PICs have terminated arrangements with the Job Service maintained under the old CETA program.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME reaffirm its support for an adequately funded free public labor exchange available to all Americans regardless of their or their employer's ability to pay; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME pledge its commitment to preserving and protecting the nation-wide system of public employment offices established by the Wagner-Peyser Act and operated by the states in partnership with the federal government. AFSCME will continue to oppose any measure which weaken or destroy the present national network of employment offices and will work to assure a role for the Employment Service in the new Job Training Partnership System; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

hat AFSCME urge Congress to strengthen the Employment Service by expanding the number of states with computerized Job Banks from 22 to 50 and by requiring all employers to list their job vacancies at Job Service offices; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will fight reductions in Employment Service funding and urge the Congress to restore the Job Service to at least 30,000 positions. AFSCME also urges upward adjustments in this basic level during high unemployment and periods of economic recovery from recession.

SUBMITTED BY:

Charles Masud, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 269, Council 4
Berlin, Connecticut

Marty Beil, President
Mark Neimeiser, Executive Director
Council 24
Madison, Wisconsin