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As the unemployment rate in Tennessee hit double digits, reports of job training and opportunities is good news to USW members in District 9.  Funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will assist laid off workers during this recession and help with energy independence.  Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis gave a strong indication during her June 24, 2009 visit to West Tennessee that jobs will come to Tennessee.  After touring the Sharp Electronics Plant (represented by IBEW Local 474) in Memphis, Secretary Solis announced a $500 million grant program to help prepare workers for “green” jobs.  The initiative consists of five grant competitions to fund programs that train workers for employment in renewable-energy and energy-efficiency jobs and match skilled workers with available positions.

The Sharp plant, which produces solar panels, hosted the Secretary as well as other elected officials and labor representatives.  Those attending included Tennessee AFL-CIO President Jerry Lee, USW retiree Andrew Shelton representing the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and Joan Hill, USW Education Representative in Nashville, as well as officers of the IBEW local at the Sharp Electronics Plant.

President Lee, a 50-year member of the IBEW, was very excited that the Secretary chose the Memphis site to announce this job creation initiative.  “The IBEW has about 300 members in this plant; with this announcement, I join with the local union and hope that Sharp will expand the plant.”  The state federation president told the secretary he was very glad she is with the DOL.  “Finally someone that comes from and knows how labor built this country is in the Department of Labor.”

“The USW believes our members bring positive contributions to this and other environmental solutions,” said Dan Flippo, Director of USW District 9.  “This is just one aspect of the labor and environmental alliance in which the USW advocates job growth through clean energy development.”  Joan Hill has been a spokesperson for the Blue Green Alliance as well as other green job initiatives across Middle Tennessee.  “The USW has lost approximately 3,500 members in Tennessee due to plant closings, layoffs and other curtailments.  This announcement represents an opportunity to put out efforts in the Alliance to the test,” Hill said.  “I was told early on when we started talking about the partnership between labor and environmentalists, that if we were not at the table, we would be on the menu,” she added.  

There are three sources of job creation associated with spending in the economy: direct, indirect and induced.  The USW will see all three: direct effects, with our members manufacturing green technology, such as wind turbines and indirect effects, supplying the steel, lumber and other materials to build green technology and transportation.  Of course, as consumers, when our members work, wages are spent on goods sold in their local community.