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March 2005
The Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) is pleased to bring you the latest edition of its electronic newsletter. The JOTF E-Newsletter includes news, announcements, and information about upcoming events in the Baltimore area that we hope will be of interest to you. If your organization would like to publicize an event, job announcement, or other information, please e-mail: info@jotf.org.
In this issue:
JOTF NEWS
• JOTF Legislative Agenda Moving Forward in Annapolis
• Debate Continues Over Proposed Minimum Wage Hike
• Unemployment Insurance Reform Bills Pass House, Senate
• Bush Stumps in MD for Worker Training Proposal
OTHER NEWS
• The Daily Record: "Eastern Shore call center to close; 108 jobs are in jeopardy"
• Goodwill Opens Store in Pikesville
• Goodwill Calls for Donations
UPCOMING EVENTS
• Maryland Works & Pinnacle Career Resources Present "ReCharge, ReTool and ReEngage" (3/24 & 4/28)
• Good Jobs First to Host Second National Conference (5/11-5/13)
• Workforce Alliance to Hold 2005 National Conference (5/18-5/19)
OPPORTUNITIES
• East Baltimore Development Inc. Seeks Senior Director of Community Services
• Baltimore Healthcare Training Partnership Seeks Executive Director
• St. Ambrose Outreach Center Offers Clerical Program and Medical Terminology Classes
• Open Society Institute Announces 2005 Baltimore Community Fellowships Program
JOTF NEWS
JOTF Legislative Agenda Moving Forward in Annapolis
JOTF continues to actively support bills to reduce the impact of a criminal record on employment opportunities; bring more federal employment and training dollars into Maryland; and increase wages for workers at the lower end of the economic spectrum. The following are updates on a few of the bills we support:
- HB 607 - Police and Court Records - Nuisance Crimes - Expungement (Bill is in the House - Second Reading Passed with Amendments.)
- HB 798 - Unemployment Insurance - Charging and Taxation - Benefits - Oversight Committee (Favorable with Amendments Report Adopted; Special Order 3/16 - Delegate O'Donnell - Adopted)
- SB 84 - Correctional Services - State Use Industries - Employment Readiness and Transitional Services (Bill is in the House - Passed Senate 46-0)
Click here to read our 2005 advocacy agenda. Click here to view a list of all the bills that JOTF is supporting this session. If you would like to sign up for weekly public policy updates from JOTF, send e-mail to info@jotf.org.
Debate Continues Over Proposed Minimum Wage Hike
JOTF supports efforts to increase the state minimum wage. The Maryland Senate recently passed a bill that would raise the minimum wage by $1 to $6.15 per hour. JOTF executive director Jason Perkins-Cohen testified before the House Economic Matters Committee on March 10 in favor of measures to raise the minimum wage above the federal level of $5.15 per hour. Recent articles in the Baltimore Sun and the Daily Record explore this contentious debate.
Read "Senate passes $1 per hour increase in minimum wage" (Baltimore Sun)
Read "On Labor - Increase the minimum wage? Sounds fair – why not?" (Maryland Daily Record)
Unemployment Insurance Reform Bills Pass House, Senate
The Baltimore Sun's Jamie Smith Hopkins writes that employers and workers agree on the need to raise Maryland's unemployment benefits. JOTF participated in the state task force that proposed the reforms found in House Bill 798. The bill, which would increase the maximum unemployment benefit, was recently passed in the House. The Senate version of the unemployment insurance bill also passed unanimously. While encouraged by the work already accomplished, JOTF will continue to advocate reforms to the unemployment insurance system that will benefit Maryland's most vulnerable workers.
Read "Unusual accord on raising jobless pay" (Baltimore Sun)
Bush Stumps in MD for Worker Training Proposal
JOTF supports increased funding for adult education and job training. In a March 2nd article, the Baltimore Sun's Jason Song writes about President Bush's "$250 million proposal to train workers in high-growth fields such as health care and information technology." Critics of the proposal note that the President also wants to cut over $450 million
for vocational education and displaced worker training, resulting in a net loss of funding. "We need more money from them, not less," said Community College of Baltimore County Chancellor and JOTF Board member Irving P. McPhail.
Read "Bush, due in Arundel today, likely to push training effort" (Baltimore Sun)
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OTHER NEWS
The Daily Record: "Eastern Shore call center to close; 108 jobs are in jeopardy"
Ezra K. Fieser's article in The Daily Record on February 18 illustrates how industry shifts and technological changes can force workers into unemployment through no fault of their own. Bar None, a Salisbury call center, will close next month and lay off 108 employees. Customers have increasingly turned to contacting "the company through its Web site, an automated process that cuts out the need for a customer service representative."
Read "Eastern Shore call center to close; 108 jobs are in jeopardy"
Goodwill Opens Store in Pikesville
Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake celebrated the grand opening of its newest retail store in Pikesville on March 10. To find out more about Goodwill's Pikesville store please call 410.358.8411. For more information on Goodwill visit www.goodwillches.org.
Goodwill Calls For Donations
Due to the recent snow, Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake's donations have declined, and the workforce development agency is asking for the public's help with donations. All donations are tax deductible and can also be made at any one of Goodwill's 22 donation centers or 19 retail stores. Please call 410-837-1800 or visit www.goodwillches.org for the location closest to you.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Maryland Works & Pinnacle Career Resources Present "ReCharge, ReTool and ReEngage" (3/24 & 4/28)
Maryland Works, Inc. & Pinnacle Career Resources, Inc. present a monthly empowerment roundtable series for the helping professional: "ReCharge, ReTool and ReEngage." The first two sessions will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2005 and Thursday, April 28, 2005 from 9:30 am – 11:30 am. For more information contact the Workforce Network at 410-381-8660 fax-410-381-1558 or e-mail carole_miller@mdworks.com.
Good Jobs First to Host Second National Conference (5/11-5/13)
Good Jobs First will hold its second national conference, "Reclaiming Economic Development", from May 11-13 2005 at the Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore. For more information visit: http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/.
Workforce Alliance to Hold 2005 National Conference (May 18-19)
The Workforce Alliance will hold its 2005 National Conference: "What's the Big Idea? Workforce Development Policy for the Next Four Years (and Beyond)" from May 18-19, 2005 at the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel. For more information, visit TWA's 2005 National Conference home page or call Carla Ward at 202-223-8991 ext. 100.
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OPPORTUNITIES
East Baltimore Development Inc. Seeks Senior Director of Community Services
East Baltimore Development Inc. seeks a Senior Director of Community Services to plan, manage, coordinate and direct all community services , family advocacy and workforce development activities related to the East Baltimore revitalization project. For more information contact: EBDI Administration Center, 1809 Ashland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205, (410) 234-0660.
Click here for the full job listing.
Baltimore Healthcare Training Partnership Seeks Executive Director
The Baltimore Healthcare Training Partnership (BHTP) seeks an Executive Director. BHTP is an organization funded by several local foundations with the goal of building on the work of the Baltimore Healthcare Coalition.
Click here for the full job listing.
St. Ambrose Outreach Center Offers Clerical Program and Medical Terminology Classes
St. Ambrose Outreach Center will offer "Clerical Program" and "Medical Terminology" classes beginning in April. For more information call (410) 225-0870 x110.
Open Society Institute Announces 2005 Baltimore Community Fellowships Program
The Baltimore Community Fellowships Program has announced its eighth round of its Community Fellowships, which will provide up to ten awards to individuals who wish to work in Baltimore City in public or community service. For more information about Community Fellowships or to receive an application, please visit the Open Society Institute-Baltimore <http://www.soros.org/initiatives/baltimore> website or call (410) 234-1091.
Newsletter Co-Editors: Kevin Griffin Moreno and Larry Schugam
If you would like to unsubscribe from the JOTF E-Newsletter, send e-mail to info@jotf.org.
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