HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton and AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride were joined by members of AFSCME Council 13 today as they underscored the need to quickly fill open public service positions throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
On Wednesday, a commonwealth-sponsored hiring hall will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the AFSCME Council 13 Conference Center in Harrisburg. Job seekers will be able to meet with recruiters from several agencies – including the Departments of Corrections, Human Services, Environmental Protection, Transportation, General Services, Revenue, and Banking – and apply for open positions on the spot.
From nurses to PennDOT workers to corrections officers, chronic short staffing is undermining the effective delivery of public services that all Pennsylvanians rely on. That’s why AFSCME launched the Staff the Front Lines initiative this year, to partner with elected officials on recruiting and retaining the essential workers who keep our communities running. The Staff the Front Lines bus is holding recruitment events in more than 20 cities nationwide this summer.
McClinton said the number of vacancies throughout the commonwealth is unprecedented.
“But the best thing is – right here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – we have people of all backgrounds, all ages, who have the qualifications and skills to fill these vacancies. And we look forward to them coming to the hiring fair tomorrow, learning about the opportunities, and spreading them across their networks so we can fill these jobs,” she said.
AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride said there are 970,000 public service openings throughout the United States. That’s the populations of Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Scranton and Reading put together.
“At every stop on the tour, we’re talking about the importance of recruiting and retaining the next generation of public service and health care workers,” McBride said. “We’re lifting up the fact that these union jobs come with strong rights and protections. We’re shining a light on the opportunity to be part of something bigger.”
AFSCME Council 13 Executive Director David Henderson said AFSCME launched the Staff the Front Lines initiative because “our communities simply cannot function without the everyday heroes who keep our streets clean, take our kids to school and ensure our water is safe to drink.”
“We need a lot more people filling these vital roles. On top of making our communities better, these are often union jobs with good pay, great benefits, retirement plans and job security. You can make a difference and get paid for doing it,” said Henderson, who’s also an AFSCME vice president.
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services worker Susan Bosco, a Council 13 member, said a private sector worker is often seen a number, whereas a public service worker becomes an essential part of the community.
“It doesn’t matter how old or young you are or where you come from; if you have a passion to serve your community, you can do this work,” Bosco said. “That is why public service often reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.”
To learn more about AFSCME’s national bus tour, visit StaffTheFrontLines.org.