"Representatives from Austin Interfaith and the local business community founded Capital IDEA in 1998, and Steven Jackobs has been heading the organization ever since. Under his direction, the group has helped support, train and find careers for hundreds of Central Texas workers and their families. Capital IDEA – the IDEA stands for Investing in Development and Employment of Adults – works closely with unemployed or underemployed workers to identify a viable and fruitful career path. It's a rigorous process that's designed to ensure that workers are committed to the training and completing it...."

Capital IDEA Leads Clients to Career Path, Austin American Statesman

"National Instruments Corp. won approval Thursday for $1.7 million in city of Austin incentives to support the company's proposed expansion of 1,000 Austin jobs over the next 10 years....

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Over the last 30 years transnational auto manufacturers have placed plants all over the world; in the US most of the new plants have landed in the South.

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"This is an opportunity to create good jobs for our families," said Kurt Cadena-Mitchell, with Austin Interfaith, a coalition of churches, schools and local governments that is an advocate for jobs paying a living wage, among other issues....

The new jobs are believed to be part of the company's plans to hire more technical workers and engineers to support its expanding business. The average annual wage for the new jobs is $65,000, and the lowest-paid 10 percent will make about $40,000."

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"A diverse mix of Labor Union representatives, city and county elected officials, faith-based organizations and advocates for fair wages and working conditions came to the Workers Defense Project office Tuesday night...to celebrate a move by the county regarding tax incentives, a move many are hoping the city of Austin will follow.

"We really feel a company that's not willing to pay like $11 an hour isn't a very good candidate for an incentive..." said Bob Batlan with Austin Interfaith."

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Rev. John Elford (above), Rev. Fred Krebs (below) and other leaders of Austin Interfaith celebrated the passage of a living wage measure conceived by organization leaders. The proposal passed in committee by a 3-1 vote and will need an additional vote to reach a majority before the full council.

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Thirty six workforce development trainees graduated this summer from Project IOWA, a 21st century workforce development initiative established by AMOS. 86% are now established in career-track jobs with full-benefits and are earning, on average, $15 / hour. Some advanced manufacturing graduates started at $20 / hour!

 

Cardinal DiNardo and TMO clergy held a press conference exhorting contractors to give Houston janitors a raise. "I appeal to all people of good will, especially in the great city of Houston, to be in solidarity with janitors as they seek a modest pay increase over a three-year period. The increase would amount to $10 dollars an hour in the third year," Archbishop Daniel Cardinal Dinardo said."

After weeks of striking and demonstrating, Houston janitors unanimously voted to ratify a contract that would increase SEIU member's wages by $1 over a four-year period.

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COPS/Metro Alliance leaders applauded Maruchan's decision to withdraw their application for tax incentives and welcomed the company to Bexar County. "We reiterate our support for economic development and job creation," said Fr. Steven Gamez, pastor of St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church and leader with COPS/Metro Alliance. "However, we strongly believe that it is a mistake to offer public subsidies when most of the jobs would pay minimum wage; the free market will take care that and Maruchan's decision proves it."

COPS/Metro leaders had publicly raised questions surrounding this deal because of the impact on working families.... "We agree with Maruchan leaders that 'the additional tax revenues for betterment of the community,' especially bringing up the skills of our workforce. We look forward to working with Maruchan, as well as city and county officials, to create opportunities for those workers who will earn the minimum wage."

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"Saturday morning, McClellan was one of 49 Inland Valley residents who participated in a jobs workshop organized by the Pomona Valley Cluster of the Inland Empire Sponsoring Committee, formerly known as One LA....

The workshop drew a diverse group of job seekers, among them recent high school graduates, people approaching retirement age, day laborers and out-of-work executives, said the Rev. Robert Linthicum, a retired minister who is a Sponsoring Committee leader.

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