CONSORTIUM FOR WORKER EDUCATION

The Consortium for Worker Education (CWE) is a multi-union, collaborative, not-for profit organization dedicated to union- and worker-focused education, training and re-employment services.

History

In 1985, several New York City labor unions pooled their resources and ideas, and established the CWE. Today, CWE has grown to more than 40 unions, representing 800,000 members. CWE's mission is to provide education and training programs that offer workers the knowledge and skills they need to build careers in the rapidly changing world of industry. These programs have already trained thousands of union members to move toward upgraded jobs as mechanics, nursing assistants, health care technicians, engineers and day care workers. All CWE classes and services are offered free of charge, with funds provided through city, state and federal agencies. CWE is the largest program of its kind offering training to union members and re-employment services to dislocated and disadvantaged workers throughout New York City.

Goals

• To establish a worker training center that enables labor organizations to share their resources, ideas, and experience;
• To provide services and support that encourage union cooperation and attract resources, while assuring each participating union's autonomy;
• To design and provide schooling, training, and re-employment services for New York City workers;
• To establish education and training programs that offer workers the knowledge and skills they need to build careers in the rapidly changing world of industry;
• To maintain a union-worker focus in all programming;
• To work with labor, government, community organizations and employers to create good jobs.

Activities

CWE offers an expanding array of programs and services. The scale of activity can be seen in its staff of 330 full-time staff and another 250 part-time teachers. The broad scope of its programming originally began with worker education and training. Today, these efforts extend to re-employment and economic development.

• Worker Education Programs include basic education, GED, English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, skill-based training, health care certifications and college degrees.
• Through its Worker Career Centers in all five boroughs, CWE currently runs New York City's one-stop services for dislocated workers.
• CWE operates Professional Re-Education and Outplacement Services (PROS) for professional workers in Manhattan.
• Welfare-to-work: CWE operates Parent Resource Centers in neighborhood schools. Services include GED, ESL courses, and computer and life skills classes. CWE is developing a satellite childcare system in a five-state area whereby home day care providers will earn a decent income and become union members.
• CWE is exploring economic development services for the Chelsea neighborhood on Manhattan's West Side. Offerings may include employer services, such as staff skills upgrading, real estate assistance, access to capital, and re-staffing and employment services.

Results

• CWE served nearly 30,000 students in 1997-1998, of whom half were women, three-fourths were people of color, and one in four had not completed high school.
• CWE provided dislocation assistance to over 12,000 workers in 1997.
• Funders recognize the quality of CWE worker-focused programs. Funding has grown to $50 million per year.
• CWE participates in a growing partnership with the New York Central Labor Council.