As the U.S. House of Representatives voted to slash funding to states under the Workforce Reinvestment Act, Gov. Dannel M. Malloy”™s nominee as labor commissioner received a welcome reception at the Connecticut General Assembly ”“ despite his admittedly thin credentials in workforce training.
In a confirmation hearing in which legislators quizzed Glenn Marshall on his background and plans for leading the Connecticut Department of Labor, in response to multiple questions Marshall confessed he had scant knowledge on the topic of workforce training at the community college level, and legislators did not press him on the subject.
A senior United Technologies Corp. executive suggested Connecticut has a poor record of matching its educational programs to the actual needs of businesses, speaking at a Hartford Courant forum alongside Malloy.
“We”™ve got the educational infrastructure,” said Greg Hayes, CFO of Hartford-based United Technologies Corp. “What we”™ve got to do is track these kids coming out of college to our industries.”
A Malloy spokesperson did not provide an administration official to discuss Marshall”™s qualifications and did not specifically speak to whether Marshall”™s lack of broad experience in workforce training was at all a factor in the hiring process. Malloy named Stamford”™s former human resources chief Dennis Murphy as deputy commissioner, at the time suggesting Murphy brings a set of skills to balance those of Marshall ”“ though Murphy too lacks direct experience in creating a pipeline of talent from colleges and universities to the workplace.
The Labor Department has a broad range of duties, including workforce training and job placement, law enforcement, job safety, unemployment benefit administration and statistical reports.
“Governor Malloy selected Glenn Marshall and Dennis Murphy to lead his labor department because of their unique and complementary experience with labor and management, respectively,” said Colleen Flanagan, a Malloy administration spokesperson. “He is confident that Commissioner Marshall has the skills and the experience to lead the Department of Labor and help get Connecticut workers back on the job.”
Under the Workforce Reinvestment Act, the U.S. Department of Labor channels funds through the states to regional workforce investment boards, including the Workplace Inc. in Bridgeport and the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board in Danbury.
At the same time, the state Labor Department coordinates training programs for workers ”“ and as Malloy looks to overhaul the state”™s community college system, could be called upon for innovative ways to improve coordination between schools and businesses.
Marshall promised to review Connecticut programs versus those in other states with the idea of adopting any practices elsewhere he thinks could add jobs over the long haul.
“I”™m going to have to get in there,” Marshall said. “Certainly (I will review) some of the surrounding states and other states and see what they do, to see how things can be done better with the Connecticut Labor Department.”
In the area of skilled trades training in apprenticeship programs and vocational schools, Marshall has significant experience and said he wants to expand vocational training as one answer to Connecticut”™s economic future.
“One thing I do see with this downturn is that a lot of people that had nice-paying jobs in offices have actually gone to working with their hands in various trades, because there is nowhere else to go,” Marshall said. “I do believe that it”™s a crown jewel, our trade schools, and it”™s something that we do need to promote better and get more people in there, because ”¦ that is definitely trades and jobs that don”™t get outsourced.”
Marshall also sought to dispel any fears by business owners that his background as a labor organizer will result in any undue crackdown on businesses.
“Anybody who knows me knows I am very fair,” Marshall said. “I understand the relationship between employees and businesses, and that businesses have to thrive in order for the employees to work. But I”™m about fairness and abiding by the laws ”¦Â It”™s not a witch hunt, it”™s just about fairness and enforcing the laws.”
