Parties near agreement
Of the St. Louis American
Without threats of a demonstration on a regional highway or civil disobedience, area clergy members, representatives of minority contractors and workforce development organizations, and the Missouri Department of Transportation are hammering out an agreement to help mobilize more minority workers for the multi-million dollar I-40/64 construction project.
Metropolitan Congregations United representatives met with MODOT board members on Jan. 11 to present a “Workforce Development Agreement” that calls for one-half of 1 percent of federal highway dollars designated for the highway improvements being committed to support training and incentives for apprentice utilization on the project.
The various partners announced on Monday at Turtle park just south of I-40, the same site as a Jan. 10 press conference, that the parties are near an agreement on the training incentive that would being $2 to $2.5 million to that effort.
The Rev. Tommie Pierson, MCU president, said the parties will announce a partnership agreement in the next few weeks and called it “a historic commitment.”
“All parties will sign the agreement, and we are strongly looking at an external compliance agency to monitor on-the-job and other training,” said Lester Woods Jr., MODOT external civil rights administrator.
Woods said the goal of the investment “is creating journeymen apprentices” and that the investment “would be tied to results.”
Mayor Francis G. Slay said it is important for all St. Louisans, “especially African Americans,” to have access to opportunities.
“We have a pool of potential workers that are ready to work, but they have a difficult time getting construction jobs. It’s a shame that workers are being used from somewhere else while city workers look for jobs,” Slay said.
MCU and minority contractors are also calling for 30 percent of all work hours on I-64/40 contracts to be completed by local apprentices who are eligible to receive an earned income tax credit.
In addition, it wants the current minority participation goal of 14 percent minority inclusion raised to 30 percent.
“When we met with MODOT officials (in January), we told them the best way to help reduce crime in St. Louis is to employ its citizens,” said state Rep. Yaphett El-Amin.
“MODOT has gone from zero dollars to $2.5 million for training. I also say that the battle is yet to be won. We want to see 30 percent of all workers be minorities or women. In the next few months, you will see a reflection of our community on this highway project.”
The $535-million I-40/64 construction project is scheduled to begin later this year or in early 2007 and end in October 2010. Widening and other improvements cover 11.7 miles, including 10 interchanges and 39 bridges that need to be replaced.
MCU announced that it would dedicate its effort to ensuring large numbers of minority participation on the project.
“This is what churches are supposed to do – lead,” said MOKAN President Eddie Hasan.
“I think the 30 percent goal is fair. We did it at the airport, with the mayor’s help, and we can do it here.”
Founded in 1997, MCU is an interfaith, multi-racial community organization of 76 member congregations impacting more than 700,000 people and is “committed to achieving social, economic and racial equality at the local and regional level.”
“We are behind them 110 percent,” said Hasan.
“I’m proud to stand here today to be a part of this announcement – and we didn’t have to shut a highway down to do it.”
