Letter to the Editor – Labor Supports WDI
June 2, 2011
Friends,
A few months ago I asked for your help when the survival of my agency, the Workforce Development Institute (WDI) was threatened.
In January, Governor Cuomo proposed repealing our reappropriations but thanks to you and a broad network of supporters the legislature reinstated our funds and gave WDI additional resources for the coming year.
Unfortunately, we had to lay 20 people off and but have now brought most back.
It was a long and stressful campaign but shows again that our work is valued and a grass roots campaign can have a positive effect. Yes, we won money but we won something even more important and that is the opportunity to serve working families in the middle of this economic crisis. In that light we have done some reorganizing to strengthen existing programs and began new initiatives related to women in the work world, immigrants, veterans, manufacturing and the smart grid.
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to be interviewed on Working New York, a cable TV show hosted by Denis Hughes, President of the NYS AFL-CIO. I explained who WDI is and where we are focusing our resources to help workers.
If you are interested in learning more about what you have supported you can watch the interview through this link. Just scroll down until you see my picture and watch the video.
Working NY New York State AFL-CIO (http://nysaflcio.org/) Thank you again for all your help and support,
Ed Murphy
Executive Director
Workforce Development Institute (WDI)
