It is unusual for labor and business to work together in a legislative battle.
However the Biden administration has engaged with the private sector and seems to have shown an appreciation of employers’ struggles to rebound from the Covid-19 disaster and the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.
Representatives of Orange County’s business communities, unions and veteran outreach alliances met with U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh to discuss how President’s Infrastructure bill will benefit Orange County residents.
Secretary Walsh chief priority this year is working to enact the president’s push for multi-trillion-dollar legislative packages on infrastructure and social programs.
During the roundtable Labor Secretary Walsh listened intently as a diverse group of Orange County CA business, military veterans advocates and academic leaders lended their expertise to advise how federal monies should be targeted.
“Secretary Walsh was engaged,” says Bobby McDonald, president and executive director of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County. “His attendance helped raised the level of importance of minorities in Orange County.”
McDonald was the organizer of the roundtable at UC Irvine to discuss investing in the homecare workforce, veterans and minority businesses.
Representatives from to UCI to discuss improving veterans’ opportunities with members of the Black Chamber of Orange County, Hispanic Chamber of Orange County, and Asian Business Association, as well as Union Bank and Southern California Edison.
“He saw that we are united and we have the values of the schools, community and veterans working together,” McDonald said. “We hit a home run today.” That was his take-away.
McDonald says he was contacted by the Chief of Staff of Veterans’ Employment Julian Purdy. According McDonald Purdy asked him to set up a meeting with the Secretary of Labor doing his visit. The intent was to provide some diverse voices to the greater needs of minority businesses, jobs, labor care economy, housing and veterans of Orange County.
He also included representatives from two of the largest employers in the county, Southern California Edison and UCI. Union bank was also a participant.
McDonald was please with the outcome because Secretary Walsh got a chance to have a conversation met with a select group of leaders in a relaxed atmosphere. “You felt the energy and comfort,” McDonald recalls.
The message from those in attendance seemed critical.Transforming how the federal government invest money locally while encouraging the growth of minority businesses and resolve the myriad of military veterans concerns.
“Everyone around the table today is exactly the America the President wants to make a difference” said Secretary Walsh. “This meeting was about investment in people, job training, investing in our veterans and education.”
Fred Flores, who is a member of the OC Black and Hispanic Chamber says he has encounters with many individuals who are not employed or have minimum skills. “They need a hand up not necessarily hand out. I see the infrastructure bill as a tremendous opportunity to match good people with great jobs.”
Nationally about two dozen business and labor groups backed the infrastructure proposal last Thursday. In a joint statement the organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO, said they “urge Congress to shift this framework into legislation that could be signed into law.” Adding also they are “committed to helping push this cross the finish line.” This endorsement would potentially give infrastructure package a boost as the Senate tries to bring it to a vote.
Members of the Biden administration have been traveling across the country to rally support for the $1.2 trillion infrastructure proposal, which would include billions to repair and improve airports, railways, roads and bridges. The proposal also includes spending to improve broadband, electric, water, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Chase Wickersham, Orange County Veterans and Military Families Collaborative-Mental Health & Senior Veterans, “I’m a businessman not a social worker. There is a lot of creativity coming out of Orange County. We have a lot of programs that are unique.”
He recalls partnering with Bobby McDonald and California State Sen. Josh Newman to created the ‘Veterans Business Network’ out of total frustration because of the lack of resources in Orange County. It started will 20 vets however today it has 5 thousand members. It provides opportunity and “illustrates to veterans that networking is critical,”says Wickersham. He adds that outreach programs need to be funded. “We need more programs that identify veterans in trouble that are under the radar.”
No doubt the bipartisan infrastructure plan and the separate Democratic bill to expand the social safety net are crucial for President Biden. It could also broaden new federal investments in the next decade, money that could profoundly change how many Americans live.
Secretary Walsh calmly signaled “if the infrastructure bill does not pass the people in this room and the constituents they represent are the ones who will be left behind.” “If these bills don’t pass, that’s a shame because an individual or group of individuals put themselves above the country.”
He made an assurance that the Labor Department can address these inequalities through job training, apprenticeships, work programs and targeting industries that have the ability to hire people today and tomorrow.
“There was a lot of passion in the room,”declares Davina Samuel, director branch manager Union Bank. Also she’s “hopefully the Secretary will continue to stay connected and hear the voice of the people.”
