Good Jobs Principles
The Departments of Commerce and Labor have partnered to identify what comprises a good job. These eight principles create a framework for workers, businesses, labor unions, advocates, researchers, state and local governments, and federal agencies for a shared vision of job quality.
Leading with Job Quality - Residential Housing Construction in Nevada
In Nevada, the Nevada state government has partnered with the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (a mutual fund that invests in housing development working exclusively with union labor) to invest in affordable housing.
Who are the partners involved in the project? State of Nevada, AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust
What were some critical steps to the success of this project? As Nevada State Treasurer Zach Conine shared at the Good Jobs Summit, the state ensured the use of state dollars for building affordable housing would go towards good jobs by working to include specific requirements in state regulations. For example: mandating the payment of prevailing wages, requiring the use of project-labor agreements, and including specific clauses like a 15% local hire provision and 15% registered apprenticeship utilization requirement (with a dedicated portion for first year apprentices).
Leading with Job Quality - Lead Service Line Replacement in New Jersey
In New Jersey, workers replaced over 23,000 lead service lines in under three years – a project that was initially estimated to take years longer to complete.
Who are the partners involved in the project? City of Newark Administration, labor unions, county, and state government
What were some critical steps to the success of this project? The City of Newark had specific goals in place to ensure underrepresented contractors were involved in the work, including 25% minority-owned business and 7% women-owned business requirements. The projects used project-labor agreements, and contractors hired inclusively from underrepresented populations, including women, in the active construction.
How are workers’ lives different as a result of this project?
Workers got not just job training but training to set up for whole careers. Workers who were trained on these jobs are still working for the Local 472 in this type of work today. As Wayne Richardson, Essex County Commissioner and President, LIUNA Local 55, said, “It’s important that we create careers, not just a job.”
Over the course of the project, one contractor shared, workers’ financial conditions were improved. Not only did the higher wages increase their immediate spending capacity but also the workers built skillsets that are transferrable for other projects and future work.
Leading with Job Quality: Hospital Construction in New York
In working on Coney Island Hospital, the construction project achieved 17% tradeswomen hours after setting a goal of 15% tradeswomen hours.
Who are the partners involved in this work? New York City Health and Hospitals, Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), Turner Construction Company, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) (supporting a childcare pilot program), U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau (and their Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) program)
What were some critical steps to the success of this project? In addition to training and placement, NEW provides supportive services to students and graduates. These services help support NEW graduates to enter the workforce, advance their careers, and thrive on the job. These services can include:
- Transportation (MetroCard or public transportation equivalency)
- Tool kits
- Work boots
- Work attire
- Food assistance
- Initial union dues
- Housing referrals
- Assistance finding childcare
- Supportive counseling
Leading with Job Quality – Disaster Recovery Construction in Louisiana
What has the project done? In committing to creating a well-supported group of resilience workers – those workers who rebuild communities in the wake of natural disasters – a private contractor agreed that they and all of their subcontractors would pay a $15 minimum hourly wage and ensure that all subcontractors follow health and safety laws.
Who are the partners involved in the project? Signal Restoration, Resilience Force, city government, the federal government, community college infrastructure
How are workers’ lives different as a result of this project? As Secretary Walsh said in Louisiana: “It’s about rebuilding a more resilient city. Resiliency, not just from the standpoint of building a bridge that’s strong, but making sure that the workers that are working on that project are covered, making sure people on those projects earn a good living wage and making a good wage to be able to raise their family on.”