Simply BRILLIANT: Massachusetts plan helps veterans/ strengthen unions

[blm]

This is a good plan to implement in every state - get your Dem leaders on this, before the GOPs try to snag this idea, too.

This move will help veterans AND strengthen unions.


http://www.senatedemocrats.net/node/576

3/9 - TOMORROW: KENNEDY, MASSACHUSETTS LEADERS STAND TOGETHER TO SUPPORT MASSACHUSETTS VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

MEDIA ADVISORY: CONTACT: Melissa Wagoner/Keith Maley
March 9,

KENNEDY, MASSACHUSETTS LEADERS STAND TOGETHER TO SUPPORT MASSACHUSETTS VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY
‘HELMETS TO HARDHATS’ PROVIDES HIGHER PAY AND BETTER TRAINING FOR ACTIVE AND FORMER MILITARY ENTERING CONSTRUCTION CAREERS


BOSTON, MA- On Friday, March 10th at 10:00 AM, Senators Edward M. Kennedy will join leaders from around the Commonwealth to celebrate an agreement that provides a statewide direct entry program for active and former military to start building construction careers. The Massachusetts State Building Trades Council (MSBTC) and the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) have joined this effort to create a statewide direct entry program for active and former military who apply with the Helmets to Hardhats program. The Helmets to Hardhats is a national program for National Guard, Reserves and active duty, transitioning members coming home for career training and employment in the construction industry.

WHAT: Celebration of “Commonwealth of Massachusetts Direct Entry” resolution

WHERE: IBEW Local 103, 256 Freeport Street, Boston, MA

WHEN: March 10, 2006 at 10:00 AM

WHO: Edward M. Kennedy, U.S. Senator

John Kerry, U.S. Senator

Marty Meehan, U.S. Representative

Stephen Lynch, U.S. Representative

Max Cleland, former U.S. Senator

Kerry Healey, Lieutenant Governor

Joe Dart, President Massachusetts Building & Construction Trades Council

Edward Sullivan, President Building & Construction Trades Dept. & Co-Chair Helmets to Hardhats

Major General Matthew Caulfield, Executive Director of Helmets to Hardhats

Brigadier General Oliver Mason, Adjutant General Massachusetts National Guard

Thomas Gunning, Executive Director of Building Trades Employers Association

Thomas Kelley, Secretary of Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services

Jane Edmonds, Director of Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development

William Mooney, Executive Director of Apprenticeship and Training Directors’ Association

[Mass]

1. These eastern elitist Democrats are so bad for the country.

:sarcasm:

[blm]

2. I think Kerry, Kennedy and Cleland came up with a BRILLIANTLY simple plan

that really boosts the unions and their goodwill in the community while helping veterans. Just focking brilliant.

[Mass]

3. Ansolutely - I am very proud of them.

[blm]

10. I'm stuck with union-haters down here in NC.

.

[Zinfandel]

4. Anything to help Unions-the working person's only voice-strength in numbers

[blm]

8. Pass this plan along to the unions in your state.

.

[lonestarnot]

5. Mass. with the program!

[blm]

7. Helmets to Hardhats - please share this with Unions in your state.

.

[Coexist]

6. k & r

[blm]

9. Thankyou - I hope more eyeballs get to see this proposal. It really is

.doable - and that matters.

[blm]

11. i'll take a wild guess - many on DU don't like pragmatic answers to

strengthening the Dem party, veterans care, and unions?

[jmowreader]

12. Many on DU are stuck in Right to Work Hell

I think it's a wonderful plan.

I think it's eminently doable.

I also think that Bush is, at this very moment, assigning his finest minds to the task of killing it.

Because who it's NOT good for is the guys who build 300 houses a year using $7/hour illegals. And those people are Bush Rangers.

Who matters to the Bushies? Veterans, or contractors with 500 illegal aliens on the payroll? Don't answer that.

This is gonna work fine in places where they've got unions, but RTW states will fight this tooth-and-nail.

[blm]

13. i'm hoping folks will pass it on to their states - it's too good an idea

and even RTW states would feel some pressure or backlash from this.

[TayTay]

14. It's a great idea!

I love this. It should help some returning vets when they return home.

Thanks to the good Sens and Cong. of Mass. Great, great idea!