A critical part of WED’s work is in helping unions respond when their members are impacted by layoffs. The first response is to avert or stop the layoff through worker-management coordination, access to economic development resources, and targeted skills training. When aversion is not possible, WED connects dislocated workers and their unions to the State One-Stop system and other public resources.
WED’s widely used Layoff Aversion and Rapid Response Tool Kit for Union Leaders and WIB Representatives provides descriptions of resources for averting layoffs and services for unemployed and dislocated workers. WED also provides frequent regional trainings for local WIB staff on working with unions when layoffs impact their members.