An advocacy group, HIRE Minnesota, says that regional utilities simply do not employ enough minority workers. Members argue that government spending to increase employment through utility and infrastructure projects is leaving minorities behind. While millions are being spent on these projects, whites are the main beneficiaries as low-income and minority families are shut out of training opportunities.
The History of HIRE
The group’s name is an acronym for Healthcare. Infrastructure. Renewable Energy. Since late 2008, members have worked to create green job opportunities for minorities and low-income individuals in Minnesota. HIRE Minnesota has a three-pronged mission:
1. To bring government funded green jobs and training opportunities to minorities and low-income individuals
2. To ensure that public infrastructure projects adequately include women and minority hiring, training and contracting
3. To improve government transparency for publicly funded projects
The group has focused on two campaigns: The Green Jobs & Hiring Equity Campaign and the Infrastructure & Hiring Equity Campaign. Each draws on the resources of HIRE Minnesota’s 70 partnering organizations. In 2009, the group claimed a major victory when it announced that legislation had been enacted to provide $2.5 million for green job training for low-income individuals.
The Central Corridor Light-Rail Transit Line
More recently, one of the chief organizers of HIRE Minnesota took aim at a major infrastructure and utility project underway in the Twin Cities. Louis King has sounded the alarm that work on a light rail line in the cities is significantly understaffed by women and minorities.
The Metropolitan Council, the regional planning agency, had set a goal of employing 18% minority workers and 9% women workers. However, now that the first phase of work is done, the actual numbers work out to only 9% minority work hours and 4.25% women work hours.
Contractors argue that the first phase of work—relocating underground utility lines—requires special training and certification. According to the businesses, there is a significant shortage of qualified women and minorities to complete these jobs. However, now that the highly technical work of moving utility lines is complete, more minorities and women should be involved in the surface infrastructure portion of the project.
That’s not good enough for HIRE. The group has called upon the Metropolitan Council to require all contractors on the Central Corridor project to submit work-force analysis and hiring projections. The group wants a public comment period for the documents before any further contracts are awarded. With most major contracts already awarded, a representative from the council says HIRE is unlikely to see their request granted.
Utility companies across the country are hiring. Find out what jobs are in your area by clicking on UtilitiesJobs.
Maryalene LaPonsie is an accomplished writer who has extensive experience reporting on education, career advancement and workforce development topics. She specializes in sales and marketing consultation as well as general copywriting services.
The History of HIRE
The group’s name is an acronym for Healthcare. Infrastructure. Renewable Energy. Since late 2008, members have worked to create green job opportunities for minorities and low-income individuals in Minnesota. HIRE Minnesota has a three-pronged mission:
1. To bring government funded green jobs and training opportunities to minorities and low-income individuals
2. To ensure that public infrastructure projects adequately include women and minority hiring, training and contracting
3. To improve government transparency for publicly funded projects
The group has focused on two campaigns: The Green Jobs & Hiring Equity Campaign and the Infrastructure & Hiring Equity Campaign. Each draws on the resources of HIRE Minnesota’s 70 partnering organizations. In 2009, the group claimed a major victory when it announced that legislation had been enacted to provide $2.5 million for green job training for low-income individuals.
The Central Corridor Light-Rail Transit Line
More recently, one of the chief organizers of HIRE Minnesota took aim at a major infrastructure and utility project underway in the Twin Cities. Louis King has sounded the alarm that work on a light rail line in the cities is significantly understaffed by women and minorities.
The Metropolitan Council, the regional planning agency, had set a goal of employing 18% minority workers and 9% women workers. However, now that the first phase of work is done, the actual numbers work out to only 9% minority work hours and 4.25% women work hours.
Contractors argue that the first phase of work—relocating underground utility lines—requires special training and certification. According to the businesses, there is a significant shortage of qualified women and minorities to complete these jobs. However, now that the highly technical work of moving utility lines is complete, more minorities and women should be involved in the surface infrastructure portion of the project.
That’s not good enough for HIRE. The group has called upon the Metropolitan Council to require all contractors on the Central Corridor project to submit work-force analysis and hiring projections. The group wants a public comment period for the documents before any further contracts are awarded. With most major contracts already awarded, a representative from the council says HIRE is unlikely to see their request granted.
Utility companies across the country are hiring. Find out what jobs are in your area by clicking on UtilitiesJobs.
Maryalene LaPonsie is an accomplished writer who has extensive experience reporting on education, career advancement and workforce development topics. She specializes in sales and marketing consultation as well as general copywriting services.
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