JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Biden administration’s plan to promote diversity and equity in workplace apprenticeship programs faces pushback from Republican attorneys general in 24 states who say it amounts to race-based discrimination. There is.
The U.S. Department of Labor says its proposed changes to the National Apprenticeship Regulations, the first since 2008, will modernize and diversify on-the-job training programs while improving quality and protecting new workers. .
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But the proposed rule changes are the latest example of political divisions over perceptions of equity and opportunity in educational institutions and the workplace. While President Joe Biden and many Democratic-led states are pushing for greater consideration of diversity, equity and inclusion, many Republican elected officials are seeking to eliminate such efforts.
A group of red states like Missouri and Tennessee are pushing back against Biden’s DEI efforts in apprenticeship programs. (Fox News)
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Scumetti said in a statement on behalf of the 24 states that submitted comments opposing the proposal by Monday’s deadline that “a race-obsessed ideology has not allowed significant and successful apprenticeships. We shouldn’t let them disrupt the system.”
There are various other objections to the proposal, including those from some business groups who argue it will increase costs, reduce flexibility, and ultimately reduce participation. There was also. Among other things, the proposal would require at least 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training, eliminating the option for workers who have proven their ability to finish earlier.
“It’s going to be a disincentive for apprentices to enroll in these programs,” said Ben Brubeck, vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs for Associated Builders and Contractors, which offers apprenticeship programs at the branch. said.
According to Department of Labor statistics, more than 640,000 people participate in registered apprenticeship programs approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or state apprenticeship agencies. The program provides paid on-the-job training and education to workers in a variety of fields, from construction to government, education, and manufacturing.
Nearly 85% of participants are male and about 60% are white, according to Department of Labor data.
The proposed rule would require apprenticeship sponsors to develop strategies for recruiting, hiring, and retaining talent from “underserved communities.” The proposal would include women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, people of certain religious beliefs, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming. It is defined as
Republican attorneys general say this could undermine last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling banning race as a factor in college admissions and striking down affirmative action programs. It is claimed that there is. Republican lawyers also argue that the proposed new surveillance and data collection requirements exceed the authority of federal agencies.
Under the Department of Labor’s proposed rules, each state’s apprenticeship agencies would also be required to develop plans to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
That could run afoul of bans in some Republican-led states. On Wednesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation that prohibits state government agencies, universities, and K-12 school systems from sponsoring DEI programs.
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Earlier this year, Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed legislation that prohibits government agencies, universities, and K-12 schools from having diversity, equity and inclusion offices. The law states that policies “based on characteristics of an individual’s personal identity” are “prohibited discriminatory practices.”
Roughly 60 bills targeting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have been proposed in Republican-led state legislatures this year. About half of the bills have been introduced to support these efforts in the Democratic-led Congress.
