Workforce and Economic Development Program (WED)

The Workforce & Economic Development Program (WED) of the California Labor Federation AFL-CIO is proud to host:

The event takes place June 11-13, 2008
Sheraton Gateway Hotel Los Angeles
6101 West Century Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045

REGISTER ONLINE

Register Online, Pay by Credit Card

All payments must be made to WED prior to the date of the conference.

Please review our cancellation policy before registering for this event.
Cancellations must be received in writing to fax # 510-663-4099 by Monday June 2, 2008 to qualify for a refund (less $75). There will be absolutely no refunds for cancellations after June 2, but individuals that have not cancelled by that date may send another person in their place. No-shows are still responsible for the full registration fee.

RESERVE HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

Please make your hotel reservations as soon as possible. Rooms will go very quickly. We can only hold our block for a limited time.

The WED staff established great rates at this union hotel. The cut-off for reservations under the block rate is May 19, 2008. Rooms will not be available at the discount rate after this date.

Hotel Block Rate…………….$110

Conference attendees will enjoy the stylishly redesigned Sheraton Gateway Hotel Los Angeles, located a quick (and free) 3 minute shuttle ride from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The hotel is also an easy distance to area beaches, shopping, and dinning.

The Hotel asked that we inform conference attendees that a deposit equal to one night’s stay is required to hold each individual’s reservation. Such deposit shall serve to confirm the reservation for the date(s) indicated, and upon check-in shall be applied to the first and/or final night of the reserved stay. These deposits paid by individuals are refundable if notice is received at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to arrival and a cancellation number is obtained. All deposits shall be charged at the time the reservation is made. In the event that a guest who has reserved a room checks out prior to the guest's reserved checkout date, an early departure fee of $50.00 will be charged to the guest's account. Guests wishing to avoid this fee must advise the hotel at or before check-in of any change in the scheduled length of stay.

ABOUT BUILDING WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS

Sponsored by the California Labor Federation, Building Workforce Partnerships is a collaboration of the California Employment Development Department, California EDGE Campaign, California Apollo Alliance, California’s Regional Rapid Response Roundtables, and the UC Berkeley Labor Center.

The event draws a diverse and national group of stakeholders who share common concern about the current and future state of the middleclass, the economy, and our society. Participants come from labor organizations, unions, industry, environmental organizations, workforce boards, education, state and local government, job training programs, economic development, community organizations, and other partners to debate and explore the nexus of government policy, labor-market insecurity, and access to good jobs.

This year’s event is titled Adapting to Change. We will explore the convergence of climate change policy, the transition to a green economy, and growing economic insecurity.

Realizing a green economy, and its social and stimulatory benefits, demands that we address a fundamental challenge: the incongruity between our training and education structures and fast changing technology, globalization, and demographic shifts. The ability of our major public and private institutions to adjust to 21st century realities requires bold economic and labor-market policies, political leadership, and taking creative practices to scale. The general sessions and workshops of Adapting to Change confront these themes head on.

WORKSHOP TRACKS

2008 Building Workforce Partnerships features three workshop tracks, developed by committees of practitioners, experts, and partners.

Green Policy, Green Jobs, & Economic Transformation:

California is on the cutting edge of bold policy to address the threat of global climate change. Implementation will require significant, if not historic, transformation of the state’s economy and the retooling of both industry and the workforce. This track, developed in partnership with the UC Berkeley Labor Center, the Apollo Alliance, and the Ella Baker Center, will explore the extent of retooling and what it means for industry and labor, the opportunity for new employment in “green collar jobs”, and how to build new educational, economic, and social supports to make the transition successful.

Rapid Response & Layoff Aversion:

This track covers best practices and approaches from around the nation in assisting workers with re-employment and saving jobs -- sector strategies to strengthen high wage industries; alternatives to plant closings and layoffs; developing early warning systems; and using public and private funds for training incumbent and dislocated workers. Sessions will also explore re-employment opportunities in the green economy and how to leverage greater energy efficiency and other green economic development strategies to protect jobs.

EDGE Campaign:

The most successful sector-based workforce initiatives are the fruit of collaboration among labor, management, government, and community. This track will explore the intersection of innovative state and local policy and effective practice on the ground through collaboration among key workforce system components: community colleges, workforce boards, school districts, union apprenticeship, and other public and private entities. Examples are from in and outside California, demonstrating elements and characteristics that are core to the California EDGE campaign.

SPECIAL PRE-CONFERENCE EVENTS

WIB Labor Representatives – Annual Statewide Meeting/Training
Building Workforce Partnerships will host its 4th annual statewide meeting of WIB labor representatives. California’s unique statutory requirement that each of its 49 local workforce investment boards have 15% labor representation provides an opportunity to build stronger workforce boards and better partnerships among labor, business, and government. This event is geared as training for new and experienced WIB representatives. It’s also an opportunity for networking among unions engaged in training and education from around California and the nation. All labor is welcome!

CA Rapid Response Roundtables – Annual Statewide Meeting/Training
Building Workforce Partnerships is honored to again host the annual statewide meeting of California’s Regional Rapid Response Roundtables. This unique forum of practitioners will address issues, practices, policies, and resources regarding layoff aversion and dislocated worker services. The event also provides orientation on important content offered at the conference, including the Rapid Response and Layoff Aversion track of workshops. This event is open to all rapid response practitioners.

Workforce and Economic Development Program California Labor Federation AFL-CIO
Oakland Office: 600 Grand Avenue, Suite 410, Oakland, CA 94610 • 510.663.4080 Phone • 510.663.4099 Fax
Los Angeles Office: 3303 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 415, Los Angeles, CA 90010 • 213-736-1770 Phone • 213-736-1777 Fax
E-mail: training@calaborfed.org