Last week, the Staff the Front Lines bus rolled into Minneapolis. We worked with the state of Minnesota to hold a job fair, attracting qualified people to fill open public service jobs so we can ease the pressure AFSCME members are feeling because of the staffing shortage.
The staffing shortage is a huge challenge for workers on the front lines trying to juggle an impossible workload. For people looking for a promising career, however, this is an opportunity.
It’s an opportunity to do meaningful work that directly benefits our communities. It’s an opportunity to secure a good union job with good union benefits, plus strong workplace rights and protections. It’s an opportunity to get a job with pathways for career advancement.
But too often, people don’t know where to find public service jobs. That’s where the job fairs come in. We are partnering with state and local officials around the country to do a little matchmaking, introducing qualified people to vacant positions that fit their skills. Job seekers can apply on the spot and even get help with their resume.
Many AFSCME councils and local unions have had success with job fairs like these. And now we’re going to step it up and replicate them around the country.
This is a win-win. People get good union jobs they need to support their families. The community gets better, more reliable services. And you get the help you need in the form of more co-workers and the staffing levels you need.
