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Robert Kelly, the new Dean of Dawson Technical Institute, had previously discussed some of the changes taking place at Dawson. Because of an ordinance introduced last year by Alderman William Beavers [7th ward] and passed unanimously by the Chicago City Council, any contractors working on city projects are required to hire recently graduated students from Dawson Technical Institute.
The measure included incentives for participating contractors, offering credits that would be applied to their next bid. The real value of these credits is not in their accumulation for future contracting opportunities, but in the number of lives that would be transformed by this opportunity. It will ensure that many individuals will be earning a living wage in a high demand field with benefits and long term employment prospects.
In response to the increased demand for qualified workers, City Colleges has converted a significant portion of the Dawson technical Institute facility to provide training in the building construction arts. City Colleges' chairman, Mr. Wayne Watson talked about the relationship the school has created with the unions in order to make a successful program. "We went to the unions and asked them to approve our curriculum or recommend one they would approve of," he said. "We agreed to hire union approved instructors. Then we incorporate the 'value added' components such as accreditation of the curriculum, create an educational plan that now turns a skilled trade vocational program into a fully rounded degree granting curricula, increasing the attractiveness of our graduating candidates.
No one wants to [create new relationships with the unions] for the sake of doing it; the needs of the community dictate that this career path be opened up to blacks, hispanics and women. There are not enough of these minorities working in any of the construction fields to begin saying that the fields are truly an open possibility as a career path."
There is sure to be major construction in the Chicagoland area for years to come—like.projects underway currently such as the O'Hare Airport expansion, Illinois Tollway Authority, local capital Improvement projects, CPS 2010 Renaissance Initiatives— just to name a few. All this construction means that skilled tradesmen and women will be in great demand.
Chancellor Watson's office has recently commissioned some research on labor trends—both locally and nationwide—on minority representation in labor unions. The research indicates that between four or five years ago African-Americans held about 12 percent of the jobs in construction trades in Cook County. According to a Chicago Tribune Article (08/2004) they now hold about 10 percent— indicating a slide backwards over the last four years. Women, according to the same article, hold approximately 3 percent of construction trade jobs.
"How can we claim to have a concern for poverty in the communities within Chicago and yet see billions of dollars leave Chicago, going to Indiana, Wisconsin, the southern suburbs, and elsewhere within the state of Illinois?" asked Chancellor Watson. Right now, there are union construction workers who drive three hours to get to the worksite everyday to make money and then drive home. Some of them will come Monday morning, get a hotel, work through Thursday night, then drive home Friday to Indiana, Wisconsin, or the mid-to-south of Illinois. The money here is that good!
Chancellor Watson is overall, optimistic and positive about what is taking place, although he did admit seeing some challenges as well. In particular, during the process of building the new Kennedy-King facility on the south side, he noted his frustration with being unable to get more than one Dawson graduate onto the worksite thus far. However, having come so far and accomplishing so much, he commented that the hurdles could not be expected to be easily overcome. But he believed in cooperation and a concerted effort to resolve these inequities.
In a press conference held at Dawson, Mayor Daley— along with various Aldermen, city officials, state senators and local construction leaders— announced the passing of the ordinance.
Attending the conference, Albert Leitschuh, President of the Builders Association of Chicago said, "We have an aging workforce, we have a community of people needing jobs. It's time and it's the right thing to do." Mike Farron of W.E. O'Neil showed his support by making an initial contribution of $25,000 dollars to help fund the training initiatives.
Talking at length about the future of Chicago, the Mayor discussed how these measures will improve the lives of residents by providing living wage employment. "…and I pledge to you that this will work, and although there will be obstacles and challenges, and we are ready to overcome them because this is the right thing to do!" said the Mayor in a passionate response to those gathered.
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