Res. No. 2171
Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to amend the New York State Labor Law in relation to apprenticeship training programs, to enable the City of New York to reverse chronic long term unemployment in certain neighborhoods.
By Council Members Seabrook, Barron, Comrie, Dickens, Foster, James, Palma, Sanders Jr., Stewart, Mark-Viverito, Mendez and White.
Whereas, Section 810, Article 23 of the New York State Labor Law points out that apprenticeship programs, through supervised training and education, develop skilled craftsmen and help meet the increasing needs for such workers in the State’s labor force; and
Whereas, The same statute states that continued development of skilled manpower is essential for individual self-realization and for an expanding industrial economy; and
Whereas, Section 810, Article 23 of the New York State Labor mandates as a matter of public policy, that the State develop sound apprenticeship training standards and encourage industry and labor to institute apprenticeship training programs; and
Whereas, The New York State Labor Law should be amended to enable the City of New York to reverse the pattern of chronic long term unemployment in certain neighborhoods; and
Whereas, These amendments should link apprenticeship training programs to conservation, renewable energy, broadband installation and construction work efforts inherent in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; and
Whereas, Amendments should require that pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs in New York City enroll a defined significant percentage of trainees from neighborhoods suffering from long term chronic unemployment, and
Whereas, In addition, these amendments should authorize the operation of year round pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs within schools, including those under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Education; and
Whereas, Furthermore, the statute should include enhanced equal employment opportunity mandates to be monitored by compliance officers to improve access to union jobs and to better enable the City to reverse the chronic long term unemployment which disproportionately effect communities of color; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to amend the New York State Labor Law in relation to apprenticeship training programs, to enable the City of New York to reverse chronic long term unemployment in certain neighborhoods.
S.O.
LS # 7660
8/14/08
12:41pm