Labor Week: CT Recruiting Older Workers, Hospitality Workforce Age Shift, Amazon Unionization Vote Redo & More

CT Eyes Older Workers to Fill Manufacturing Jobs:

With up to 6,000 manufacturing jobs open in Connecticut, officials, educators, and others in the state are looking to workers 50 and older interested in making a career change to fill those positions.

The state’s major manufacturers, such as jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney and helicopter maker Sikorsky Aircraft, have their own workforce development networks. But thousands of smaller manufacturing businesses have jobs to fill.

The state’s drive to recruit older workers is just an extension of other recent efforts to boost its manufacturing workforce, which have included establishing advanced manufacturing programs at high schools and community colleges, and urging middle school- and high school-age girls to consider manufacturing jobs.

“People understand there’s a war for talent and are looking for talent where they haven’t looked before,” said Colin Cooper, chief manufacturing officer for the state. “People are getting more innovative and trying to identify workforce solutions.” (HARTFORD COURANT)

Reducing Unemployment Benefits Causes Age Shift in Hospitality Workforce:

Small restaurants and hospitality businesses in states like Missouri that ended additional unemployment benefits in June have seen an uptick in the hiring of workers over the age of 25 and a commensurate slowdown in the hiring of teens, according to an analysis by payroll processor Gusto. Restaurants and hospitality businesses in states like Kansas that kept full benefits in place, however, have still been hiring more teenagers. The analysis suggests the more generous unemployment benefits were encouraging more experienced workers to stay off the job, obliging employers to rely on younger workers. (WASHINGTON POST)

NLRB Official Recommends Redo of Amazon Unionization Vote:

A hearing officer from the National Labor Relations Board has recommended setting aside the results of the April vote overwhelmingly rejecting unionization of the workers at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. The hearing officer said Amazon’s installation of a USPS mailbox outside the fulfillment center for the collection of ballots usurped the NLRB’s authority and “destroyed the laboratory conditions” of the election. (CNET)

FL Jobless Sue to Restore Federal Benefits:

Ten unemployed Florida residents have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and other state officials for ending federal pandemic unemployment benefits about two months before they were scheduled to expire, as a number of other states have done. In two of those other states where similar lawsuits have been filed - Indiana and Maryland - judges have sided with the jobless residents (CBS NEWS).

WA Unions Bucking National Anti-Labor Trend:

While organized labor has faced strong headwinds on a nationwide basis in recent years, unions in the state of Washington have helped win passage of over 20 new labor-friendly laws. They include measures strengthening workplace protections, expanding collective bargaining to new employees, making it easier for unions to collect dues, and hindering a conservative group’s efforts to erode union membership. (SEATTLE TIMES)

KS Launches Program for Workers with Disabilities:

Kansas has launched a pilot program intended to help workers with disabilities increase their income and gradually decrease their reliance on public benefits. To qualify for the Supports and Training for Employing People Successfully (STEPS) program workers have to be enrolled in the state’s Medicare program, KanCare, and receive SSI or meet other criteria. (WICHITA EAGLE)

NYC Mayor Imposes Vaccinate or Test Mandate:

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced last week that all of the city’s workers, including teachers and police officers, would have to be vaccinated for COVID-19 by the middle of September or be subject to weekly COVID-19 testing. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

-- Compiled by KOREY CLARK