Over the next year and a half, the Dubuque Area Labor-Management Council will receive about $98,000 -- funding organization leaders hope will help create public awareness about labor-management relations and the skilled trades in the tri-state area.
The Labor-Management Council announced Monday that the organization was granted $98,445 from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
The grant was part of 10 grants nationwide totaling about $650,000. They are designed to support cooperative initiatives by labor-management organizations, both in the workplace and in labor relations.
"The current, tough economic environment means that unions and employers are confronting difficult and complex issues. The FMCS grants program is an important effort to encourage innovative problem-solving and show the benefits of collaboration," said FMCS Director George H. Cohen, in a statement.
"This year's grantees have been selected
to lead the way through creative, cooperative labor-management initiatives that may serve as models for other
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Cohen said that because of limited funding, only one out of every five applications for 2009 could be selected for a grant, and competition was intense. Applications were rated by an agency committee that included public members.
The Dubuque Area Labor-Management Council will receive the grant money over an 18-month period, and the organization plans to use the funding toward three main goals:
* Change the image and perception of skilled trade jobs in the Greater Dubuque area.
* Educate local union members and employers using relevant and applicable labor-management skills within the workplace.
* Educate the community about the importance and benefits of strong labor-management relations.
