Victoria Schanen: Let's rebuild the bridge with a diverse group of workers

The people lost in the Interstate 35W bridge collapse reflected Minnesota's changing racial and ethnic demographics. It would be fitting if the estimated 400 people who work on the new bridge also reflected that diversity.

Women and minorities are underrepresented in construction jobs. The Minneapolis City Council has specified that it wants equal employment opportunity to be one of the principles guiding the bridge project.

A career in construction means a job with living wages and benefits. It allows a person to work at a dignified job and support a family. Yet women and minorities struggle to get a foothold into construction careers.

Worker readiness programs can be a stepping stone from minimum-wage jobs to prequalification for skilled jobs in the building and construction trades. Without such programs, talk of equal employment opportunity will ring hollow. Federal transportation law allows state departments of transportation to set aside federal highway dollars for recruitment and training of workers from underrepresented groups.

The benefits from this investment in worker readiness would go beyond the workers themselves. One in three construction workers will be eligible to retire in the next five years. There aren't enough novices to replace them. We need Minnesotans of all backgrounds to be eligible for on-the-job training programs.

How can a conversation about recruitment and training turn into a program? Several groups are ultimately responsible. The current federal legislation must be coupled with commitments from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, community groups, training providers, contractors and other stakeholders. This conversation has been underway for more than a year, and the common ground of the benefits has been articulated. Now MnDOT needs to set aside money for such a program.

The I-35W bridge project is a great opportunity to create a worker-training program that would turn the construction workforce toward reflecting the demographics of our community. An annual investment would enable a sustainable and diverse construction-worker base for Minnesota's long-term transportation needs. Everyone wins: people in need of stable, living-wage jobs; contractors who need workers, and all who need roads.

Victoria Schanen, Minneapolis, is a leader in the workforce development task force of ISAIAH, an interfaith advocacy group representing 90 congregations in Minnesota. More information is at www.gamaliel.org/ISAIAH.