Virginia Lifting Ban on Union Organizing for Municipal Workers
In 2020, Virginia passed a law lifting a previous ban on union organizing by municipal workers, thereby allowing localities to recognize and collectively bargain with unions by passing an ordinance. A number of Virginia localities have since passed collective bargaining ordinances, including the city of Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and the Richmond School Board.
WIOA and Union Apprenticeship Partnerships: Maricopa County (AZ)
The Maricopa Workforce Development Board partners with building and construction trade registered apprenticeship programs, including the Phoenix Painters and Allied Trades, the Southwest Carpenters Training Fund and the Laborers Training School. The workforce board provides $4,000 through Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) adult funds for related instruction and offers case management and supportive services to apprentices, generally in the first year of the apprenticeship program.
California High Road Construction Careers
Since 2014, the California Workforce Development Board’s High Road Construction Careers project has allocated over $20 million to partnerships diversifying building and construction trade union membership, expanding pre-apprenticeships using the Multi-Core Craft Curriculum (MC3). Funded by Senate Bill 1, the Clean Energy Jobs Act, and cap-and-trade revenues, the initiative supports local partnerships across California.