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Home My WebLink AboutIR 7481 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7481 August 7, 1990 to J?,- To the Mayor and Members of the City Council lopmlk '0 Subject: ROLE OF THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING IN PRIVATE SECTOR LAY-OFFS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION In June of 1989, the City Council authorized the submission of a grant application to the Texas Department of Commerce requesting funds for a program designed to assist laid-off workers. This application was approved in the amount of $650,000 to implement programs and services for this client group. Funds were granted under the provisions of the Economic Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Act of 1988, (EDWAA) . The City's Employment and Training Department , d/b/a The Working Connection, administers the Job Training Partnership Act, (JTPA) , programs in Fort Worth and four other neighboring cities: Arlington, Euless, Haltom City, and White Settlement . This Consortium arrangement has been in existence since the early 1970s. When JTPA legislation was amended in 1988, EDWAA became Title III of the Act . Unlike JTPA, EDWAA services are designed for persons with skills in a given industry or occupation who have been (in most cases) gainfully employed for a period of time before entering the program. However, due to depressed economic conditions, plant closures, and mass reductions in workforces, these workers are forced to join the ranks of the unemployed. During the first nine months of operation more than 1 ,000 laid-off workers have been certified for participation in this program. EDWAA SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES 1. Basic Readjustment Services 2. Retraining Services 3. Supportive Services 4. Needs-Related Payments RESPONSE TO MASS LAYOFFS A. GENERAL MOTORS In August of 1989, General Motors issued a notification of a major layoff, the final number of layoffs was 617 workers. The Working Connection, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Commerce (TDOC) , the area offices of the Texas Employment Commission (TEC) , and representatives of GM management and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, developed a strategic plan and opened a temporary Career Center for affected workers at the UAW union hall . The UAW/GM Career Center was operational for five months and assisted more than 450 of those laid off . ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7481 Paw 2 of 4 ,.'PTIA"o To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 7, 1990 Subject: ROLE OF THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING IN PRIVATE SECTOR LAY-OFFS AND JOB PLACEMENTS Although the temporary UAW/GM Career Center was phased out at the end of March, services and follow-up activities for over two hundred active GM workers are being provided at The Working Connection's permanent Career Assistance Center located on Lake Street in Fort Worth. B. GENERAL DYNAMICS In April and May 1990, General Dynamics terminated 441 workers from employment in a series of small layoffs and announced that over the next three years its workforce would be reduced by as many as 7 ,000 . On June 14, 1990, GD issued a notification of its intention to lay off an additional 504 workers, most of them hourly employees. Since the numbers involved in the GD and Motorola layoffs far exceed the capacity of staff and present facility, discussions regarding an expansion of service capabilities are presently underway with the State and company officials. A satellite office should be in place and operational in early August 1990 . To date, more than 271 of these workers have registered for C. FRUEHAUF TRAILER COMPANY In April 1990 , Fruehauf issued a notification that they were going to close the Fort Worth operation. This closure resulted in 216 workers being laid off . To date, in working with company officials and their union, The Working Connection staff has provided services for approximately 42 of these workers . Both hourly and salaried employees are being served. D. Motorola,- Inc. On May 30 , 1990 , Motorola, Inc. , issued a notification announcing its intention to transfer its Mobile Operations Group to Plantation, Florida. The move will take place gradually over the next nine months and will affect 700 workers in the Fort Worth area. While some are expected to be relocated to Florida or transferred to other jobs within Motorola, a significant number will be unemployed at the end of the phase-out . The first reduction affecting an estimated 60 employees will occur sometime after August 1, 1990. 00pl- The Working Connection staff and company representatives have met to discuss the impending layoff . ,--ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No 7481 -Page-3-of-4 August 7, 1990 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council j.- 0 PEX Subject: ROLE OF THE CITY DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING IN 1473 PRIVATE SECTOR LAY-OFFS AND JOB PLACEMENTS F. OTHER WORKER DISLOCATIONS In addition to those highlighted above, The Working Connection's Career Assistance Center has provided services to several hundred workers dislocated from many other companies in the metroplex and surrounding areas. These companies include, but are not limited to: Comanche Peak Nuclear Facility, Swift Meat Packing Company, Mar-Lite, Target , USG Interiors, Inc. , Union Envelope Company, AmeriSource Corp. , the Armiger Company, and Surgikos/Johnson 6 Johnson. Under Title III , individuals who are self-employed and go bankrupt are defined as dislocated workers. About ten individuals in this category have applied for and received services during the program year. TRAINING AND PLACEMENT ACTIVITIES The following reflects program enrollments by activity as of July 31, 1990 : ACTIVITY SERVICE LEVELS A. Classroom/Occupation 322 B. Basic Skills Upgrading 104 C. Job Search Assistance Seminars 304 D. On-the-Job Training 40 E. Placements 203 Average Wage at Placement $12 .18 per hour COORDINATION WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: The Working Connection has worked in a collaborative effort with the City's Economic Development office/staff to ensure that employers are aware of available services . Information on program assistance is provided to employers that are contemplating relocation or expansion to Fort Worth, as well as local companies that elect to take advantage of the job training system. The Dislocated Workers Assistance Program authorizes a variety of employer assistance which consists of , but is not limited to the following: - recruitment applicant assessment/testing - customized training -ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7481 Page 4 nf 4_ OR To the Mayor and Members of the City Council mot August 7, 1990 Pt X Subject: ROLE OF THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING IN 1673 PRIVATE SECTOR LAY-OFFS AND JOB PLACEMENTS - on-the-job training - occupational skills training - direct placement services Participating employers can receive one or more of the above services , depending on their company's workforce requirements . Presently The Working Connection, in collaboration with Tarrant County Junior College, and the Texas Employment Commission, is developing customized training programs for Page AvJet . Phase one of this effort is underway in Orlando, Florida. An OJT activity was implemented in June to train lead workers/supervisors for the Fort Worth facility, which is scheduled to being operations in the near future. The Fort Worth facility will eventually consist of three aircraft refurbishing hangars, (designed to house 747 aircrafts) . With the opening of these facilities, several hundred employment opportunities will become available. Many of these openings can be filled by laid-off workers from G.M. and G.D. Another local company that has expressed an interest in this program is Pastusek Industries. Located in the City's South Enterprise Zone, Pastusek plans to expand its operation to increase employment opportunities by 200 positions by the end of 1990. In view of the type of positions and skill requirements of this company, it is reasonable to project that the JTPA system can facilitate this employer's efforts to train and hire a workforce. While working with these employers , emphasis will be placed on recruiting, training, and placing residents of the City Enterprise Zones in these positions . Should members of the City Council desire more information, it will be provided upon request . David Ivory City Manager DAI :saw ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS