Readout: Leaders of government; labor unions; workforce organizations convene at ‘Good Jobs’ Summit to discuss equity, economic prosperity

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh joined Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Rep. Bobby Scott, White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mayor Mitch Landrieu and other leaders of federal, state and local government, labor unions and workforce organizations gathered today in Washington at the “Good Jobs” Summit, part of the initiative led by the department to help create and support good-quality jobs.

“This administration is unified around the concept of a good job,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “I have seen it in my own life and throughout my career: good jobs change lives and lift up whole families. We have the opportunity right now to lift up more people than ever before. Today’s summit represents the partnerships we need to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure and address the generational challenges we face from climate change to global competition, to public health, to racial justice and gender equity.”

During the event, Secretary Walsh announced the “Good Jobs Principles,” a coordinated effort with the Department of Commerce to provide employers, workers, federal agencies, state and local governments, and other advocates with a roadmap to advance the goal of quality jobs for all workers.

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, millions of additional good-paying jobs are in the pipeline. As these new jobs are being created, we must ensure that workers can gain the in-demand skills needed to qualify for those good jobs,” said Rep. Bobby Scott, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “We need to make sure that contractors and subcontractors pay the legally required prevailing wage and make sure that workers’ rights to join a union are recognized. We also need to make sure that workers who have been historically left out of the hiring process can access these good jobs and build a rewarding career.”

The summit included panel discussions on leveraging federal funding for good jobs with officials from the departments of Commerce, Energy and Transportation. Other panels focused on building partnerships among government, labor and private sector employers, and prioritizing good quality jobs – including equity and accessibility – through infrastructure projects across the country.

“The clean energy economy is a huge opportunity for communities and workers,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “We have to make sure workers can see in themselves the ability to power the nation for the next 100 years.”

The principles also provide a framework for creating good jobs and a more accessible workforce through federal government partnerships and investments, such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Knowledge is a pathway to the future and this administration wants to level the playing field,” said White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “Building a better America means everybody gets an opportunity. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are not just building bridges, roadways, and high-speed internet, we are building a generation of high paying jobs. This is an incredible opportunity, and we have a magnificent responsibility to get it right.”

The event was hosted in collaboration with the Families and Workers Fund, a coalition of more than 20 diverse philanthropies working together to build a more equitable U.S. economy that uplifts all.