Harris Health Board Passes Historic Workforce Policy to Expand Opportunity for Good, Union Jobs
The Harris Health System Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to adopt a historic workforce policy for bond-funded construction projects, taking aggressive action to ensure that the bond will not only expand access to quality healthcare, but also address the social determinants of health that drive health outcomes.
Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation President Lacy Wolf spoke to the Harris Health board in support of the policy earlier today: “We can’t address barriers to equity and prosperity for traditionally marginalized communities until we expand opportunities for safe jobs that pay fair wages with real career advancement opportunities.”
The new workforce standards will require that contractors on bond-funded projects offer high-quality workplace safety trainings to all workers, ensure that 10% of all project hours are completed by workers enrolled in Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship programs, and pay either a $15/hour wage or the prevailing wage for workers in the industry. The policy applies to each construction contract with a total contract value of at least $10 Million.
Dakota Rayburn, an apprentice enrolled in the Houston Area Plumbing Joint Apprenticeship Committee (HAPJAC), also testified in support of the new policy this morning: “I love working on buildings like hospitals and schools starting from ground up and seeing the end result. As an apprentice I don’t have loans that I have to pay back. I am also earning a paycheck while I am learning. I have quality health insurance and local and national pensions.”
The new workforce standards are expected to create hundreds of new jobs for apprentices in Department of Labor-registered programs. This follows the recent unanimous vote by Harris County Commissioners to approve a $9.1 million contract that will double enrollment in local union apprenticeships in the building and construction trades.
In February, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo spoke about the importance of union apprenticeships to the future of Harris County: “Building a better, more resilient labor force — by investing in our workers — is an essential investment in the future of Harris County. Apprenticeship programs provide an avenue to high wage careers without the need for a traditional four year college degree.”
The new policy will not only help to create good jobs for Harris County residents, but also addresses the need to consider social determinants when addressing the health care needs of the community.
Harris Health System Trustee Sima Ladjevardian spoke on the importance of good jobs to health outcomes following the meeting: “We have a responsibility to do everything we can to improve health outcomes in our community. Harris County needs more hospital beds and quality facilities, but our neighbors also need good jobs. By raising standards and increasing access to real careers, Harris Health is doing our part to address the social determinants of health.”
Click here to learn more about union apprenticeships
The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation (TGCALF), AFL-CIO unites the power of 92 unions with over 60,000 members living in 13 counties to advocate for working families in the Texas Gulf Coast. We mobilize our members and community partners to demand a fair shot at better lives for all working people — regardless of the color of our skin, which country we come from, or whom we love.
Learn more: www.gcaflcio.org/
