WASHINGTON – Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), issued the following statement after a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction preventing the Department of Labor (DOL) from shutting down the Job Corps program:
“The court’s decision to grant a preliminary injunction is welcome news as it prevents any Job Corps center closures, job terminations, or student removals, pending congressional action. The law is clear: a federal agency cannot unilaterally dismantle a congressionally-mandated program like Job Corps.
“The students who enter the Job Corps program are the embodiment of the American dream: that if you work hard, no matter your beginnings, you can achieve success. We are proud of these students and of the Job Corps program.
“To quote the judge: ‘Although older generations frequently bemoan the lack of determination and resilience in American youth, the students in the Job Corps program rebut this notion. The participants are all poor, and many resided in homeless shelters, were placed in foster care, or suffered physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Despite these obstacles, the participants have dedicated themselves to furthering their education with the hope that their efforts will lead to employment.’
“Across the country, there are thousands of success stories of students who graduated from Job Corps with workforce skills, higher education, and subsequent job placements. We continue to urge the Administration and President Trump to reassess their views of this successful program. We hope they can recognize the life-changing results that Job Corps has delivered for more than 60 years.”
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