On January 23, 2007 the DC Workers’ Rights Board brought together community activists, workers, teachers, policy experts, and elected officials to examine the state of work in DC and propose solutions for making DC more work ready, and improving the quality of jobs available.
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rnFour panels of witnesses gave testimony and answered questions from the Board.
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- The first panel addressed the challenges of improving workforce development and job readiness programs.
- The second panel featured both teachers and youth activists discussing how to provide young people with better summer and school year work experiences and expanded career tech and vocational education opportunities.
- The third panel explored potential strategies making economic development more accountable for both creating good jobs, and hiring DC residents, including reforming the city’s First Source Hiring and Tax Increment Financing programs.
- The final panel discussed the impact low wages and lack of benefits and sick days have on many workers, especially in the service sector, and advocated for increasing the DC minimum wage and adjusting it annually for inflation, and for requiring all employers to provide a minimum amount of paid sick days for their employees.
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rnFollowing the hearing, Board members reviewed and discussed the testimony presented and developed a set of resolutions addressing the job gap. The Board committed to bringing these resolutions to the attention of public officials and working over the coming year to help promote strategies for creating more good jobs for DC residents.
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