He pointed out that the population of Rutherford County has almost quadrupled from a little more than 50,000 when the Vine Street building opened in 1962 to more than 200,000 today. Rutherford County is the third fastest growing county in Tennessee, and Murfreesboro is home to Middle Tennessee State University, which has the largest undergraduate enrollment in the state.

Breast cancer survivors honored

The third annual Celebration of Life to honor breast cancer employees took place in Nashville at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel on October 10. The event was begun by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development in 2004 to honor the department’s own breast cancer survivors during the month of October, recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Last year Commissioner Neeley expanded the event to include all state departments, and the TDLWD continued the observance this year.

First Lady Andrea Conté assisted in presentations to the 75 survivors recognized, who represented 19 state departments; more than 400 people attended.

Career Centers honor older workers

Thirty Career Centers across the state participated in this year’s observance of “Employ Older Workers Week,” which was declared by Governor Bredesen for September 24-30. Career Center staffs were hosts to open houses especially for workers age 40 and beyond on September 29, informing them about services offered.

A total of 30 Career Centers took part in this year’s event with a combined total of around 560 older workers and 80 employers dropping by Career Centers.

“Thanks go out for the commitment and teamwork of the TDLWD staff and our local LWIA partners,” said Employment Security Administrator Don Ingram.

Dovetailing with Employ Older Workers Week, Mid TN Career Center manager Terry Hiers III sent the following older worker success story out of the Opry Mills Learning & Development Center in Nashville. The story regards a placement by interviewer Marie Campbell:

“You may remember my mentioning to you the older lady whom we were all working with here to find employment. She had lost her job – not because she was not a good worker, but because the owner wanted to give the job to her own daughter. She had been coming in here for about two weeks. We spent a lot of time

with her, encouraging her, helping her get her résumé together.  As she cried in our office, we encouraged her; all of us really looked for jobs for her.  She has NO one – no children, and her husband has died . . . just no one. My heart goes into what we have the opportunity to do here. 

I told you I was going out into the mall to look for employers who would gladly employ the seasoned employee.  Well, in that visit and in talking to the mall merchants, a job was found. One of the men who operates a cart in the mall hired this wonderful applicant here in our office Friday afternoon.  Yes, it was shouting time! He hired her starting at $8.50/hr for 40 hours a week.  She loves it! I go by her cart each day . . . just to get a hug!

I love my job! It is times like these that almost make it seem unfair to take a paycheck for being able to help people and make a difference in their lives.”

Jerry Bradwell
Deputy Boiler Inspector for 16 years for eight counties in southeast Tennessee

What do you like best about your job?
I thoroughly enjoy meeting different people on a daily basis.

Name a person who is an inspiration to you.
John Peters (note: John Peters was a Knoxville boiler inspector who died a few years ago who Jerry said helped him a lot over the years)

What do you listen to on the way to work?
Country music

What do you eat for lunch every day?
Generally Krystals

What’s usually your “water-cooler chat”?
Current events

What’s your favorite vacation spot?
Biloxi, Mississippi

Name something you can’t go a day without.
Coffee, and lots of it

What would we be surprised to know about you?
 I love to sing.

Adult Education
November 3 marks the 40th anniversary of this country’s Adult Education program, formally called the AELS (Adult Education and Literacy System). AELS is funded in part by federal monies appropriated by Congress and in larger part by states and localities.

President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation containing the Adult Basic Educaiton program in 1964. On November 3, 1966, he signed an amendment that established the Adult Education Act of 1966, which provided for growth of the AELS.

Tennessee has participated in Adult Education services since 1964, before the first Adult Education Act of 1966. With a relative small role at first, serving just a few hundred adults in 1964, the Adult Education Program this year served in excess of 60,000 under educated adults.

The first 35 years the Adult Education program was part of the Department of Education and was transferred by legislation to the new Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development in July 1999.

Over these 40-plus years, we have seen the budget grow from less than $100,000 to the current allocation of $11.7 million  of federal funding. State matching funds are also a part of the budget. In 1996, Tennessee became the first state to require adult education services for the newly created Families First program. As the educational component for welfare reform, adult education has enabled nearly 10,000 Families First participants to earn their GED.

Employment Security
The month of October is always a great time to live and work in Tennessee. The vibrant colors of fall leaves make a beautiful backdrop across the state but they also signal the start of the busy season of unemployment insurance claims. So far the number of claims filed has been normal, and we actually saw the state's unemployment rate drop in September to 4.6 percent reflecting a strong state economy.

Two new Career Centers had grand openings in October. The grand opening of the Career Center at Union City took place on October 6, and the Career Center at Murfreesboro had its grand opening on October 27. Both Career Centers are in very nice locations and are professionally designed and decorated. Herb Lee, Murfreesboro manager, said the staff at that Career Center was especially appreciative of Debbie Mullins’s efforts in pulling the project together and for being the voice on the phone or the e-mail reminder that kept people focused on Murfreesboro.

Operation Stand Down, Nashville had their opening ceremony on October 13, 14, and 15. This nonprofit agency provides employment assistance, support services and housing for veterans. Mark Chandler, Director of Field Operations, and Veteran staff from the Middle Tennessee area volunteered their help to provide intensive services and support for the Nashville area homeless veterans. Their dedication to serving our nation's veterans is greatly appreciated!

TOSHA
TOSHA would like to welcome three new employees to our staff.  They are Tonya Wells, an industrial hygienist in our Jackson office, Tim Foster, an industrial hygienist in the Chattanooga office, and Nathan Mitchell, an administrative service assistant located in the Nashville office.

Employment & Workforce Development
The division is pleased to report that since July 1, 2006, it has provided $2.2 million in training funds to Tennessee companies for Incumbent Worker Projects.  This reflects 70 percent of the division’s annual goal.  These projects are serving 70 companies and 8,376 employees throughout the state.

On Monday, October 16, 2006, the 2006-2007 Local Workforce Investment Area Planning Guidance was released, and submissions are due December 15, 2006.  The Planning process is scheduled to be discussed at the next State Workforce Board meeting on December 1.

Workplace Regulations & Compliance
Mary Ellen Grace, director of Labor Standards, recently attended a Prevailing Wage conference sponsored by ILSA (International Labor Standards Association) in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  She said the influx of illegal immigrants on job sites is a major concern for all the states that participated.  Another issue of concern is determining whether an individual is an employee or an independent contractor.

Oscar Frederick, assistant director of Mine Safety, was a participant at the National Black Lung Coalition conference on September 23 here in Nashville.  He spoke about the new Miner Act of 2006 and its affect on mine rescue in Tennessee.

Also Mr. Frederick led the mine rescue team in a mock mine training at the Division's office in Caryville.  This training was evaluated by MHSA (Mine Health Safety Administration) and as usual the mine rescue team did great.  Mining is a dangerous occupation and mine rescue is equally as dangerous.  A special kudos to the mine rescue team.

Special thanks to both of these individuals for taking time out of their busy schedules to participate in these conferences.  It is indeed an honor for them to be asked to participate.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the conference, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the International Workers’ Compensation Foundation jointly sponsor the conference.   The goal of the conference is to educate those who participate in the Tennessee workers’ compensation system regarding current rules, procedures, policies and forms.

We had more than 400 participants attend this past April.  It would be wonderful if those numbers continue.  More information regarding the agenda will be sent out after the first of the year.  Please go ahead and mark April 2nd and 3rd on your calendar.

To:       Phyllis Forgette, Lexington Career Center
From:   A claimant

“I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate all of the work that you did on my unemployment claim and TRA. Thank you!”

To:       Pat Singletary, Central Office Employer Accounts
From:   A customer

“I am writing to tell you how much I appreciate your kind and understanding way of dealing with me and my problem. I was not treated as just another number as so often happens in governmental exchanges, but instead, I detected sincere concern.”

To:       Terry Patterson, Chattanooga Employer Accounts
From:   A customer

“It was a pleasure speaking with you on the phone today. Thank you so much for your assistance in completing the quarterly report. Now that I am aware of the requirements, I will pursue the obligated reporting in a timelier manner!

I appreciate your willingness to help me. You are an outstanding employee of the State of Tennessee.”

To:       Santiago Rodriguez, Labor Standards
From:   Ted Bertuca Sr., McDonald’s

“We want to thank you for taking time last week to talk to our managers. We thought that you delivered an outstanding presentation! The information on the Wage Act and Child Labor Act was informative and relevant. Everyone left the meeting more knowledgeable than they were before your presentation.

We enjoyed your sense of humor and ability to relate to the daily challenges that our managers face in running their restaurants. You shared some great stories that made the content entertaining and interesting! Also, thank you for recognizing some of our managers for the positive things that you have seen in their restaurants.

We look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.”

November
Hire Vets First Month

November 11
Veterans’ Day
Observed Friday, November 10, 2006
Offices closed

November 16
State unemployment rate for October released

November 22
County unemployment rates for October released

November 23-24
Thanksgiving Holidays
Offices closed

December 21
State unemployment rate for November released

December 22, December 25, December 26
Christmas Holidays
Offices closed

December 28
County unemployment rates for November released

January 1
New Year’s Day
Offices Closed