ANNUAL REPORT
July 1, 2011- June 30, 2012
www.ctula.org
The John J. Driscoll United Labor Agency, Inc. continues to combat
the problems faced by workers struggling with unemployment or underemployment in Connecticut.
Despite modest improvements in the economy and job market, too
many residents continue to struggle to pay the bills and keep food on the
table. The Agency continues to see an unprecedented demand for services.
While demand increases, we struggle to manage funding cuts. We
have taken a proactive approach to reducing expenses, increasing fee for
service work, and ensuring that our own staff has job security so that they
may continue to provide the level of service needed by our clients.
Serving 7,485 clients in 2011-2012 would not have been possible
without the dedication and generosity of our ULA Board, staff, volunteers
and funding partners. We thank you for your support. Together we made
a difference in the lives of those we serve.
John W. Olsen
President
Amy R. Blackwood
Executive Director
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MISSION STATEMENT
The United Labor Agency was established to meet the human service needs of workers and their families. Our Mission is to assist
union members and all workers in handling problems and difficulties
arising off–the-job. This involves mobilizing and using the support
of existing public agencies, as well as the resources of the labor
movement.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
TRUSTEES (continued)
President John W. Olsen,
CT AFL-CIO
Treasurer Julie Kushner
Region 9A, UAW
Secretary James Parent
Administrative Vice President Sal Luciano,
AFSCME Council 4
Vice President Melodie Peters,
AFT CT Local 5051
Ron Frost, Central CT Labor Council
Betty Kuehnel
Bob Madore
Bernie McKinnon
Ron McLellan, SEIU 511
Craig Metz, I.U.O.E. 478
Mary-Lou Millar
Lori Pelletier, CT AFL-CIO
Michael Petosa, Greater Bristol Labor Council
TRUSTEES
Edward Pryjmaczuk, UFCW Local 919
Peggy Buchanan, Greater Hartford Labor
Council
Wayne Burgess, S.E. CT Central Labor Council
Leo Canty, AFT CT
David Cooper
Everett Corey, IAMAW District 26
Lynn M. Dallas
Carmen Diaz-Burnham, UAW Local 376
Kit Salazar-Smith
Edward Sasso, AFSCME Council 4
Peter Thor, AFSCME Council 4
Paul Wallace, AFSCME Council 4
Thomas Wilkinson, UFCW Local 371
William Wolfe, Jr., AFT BPSA 6012
OFFICE LOCATIONS
Greater Hartford-New Britain
22 Orange Street
Hartford, CT 06106
860-727-9301
Middlesex County
100 Riverview Center
Suite 270
Middletown, CT 06457
860-347-8060
Waterbury Area
83 Prospect Street
Waterbury, CT 06702
203-755-8745
Employees of the ULA are represented by: IAM Local 354 ∙ OPEIU Local 376 ∙ NWU Local 1981
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TESTIMONIALS
I got all my questions answered and
was helped every time I asked for it.
Staff was very respectful to me and I
appreciate all the help I got from
them. I want to thank Lew and Patti
for everything they did for me.”
I appreciate the computers that I can
use at ULA, the phones and job
search tools, the emails that I can
get. It is helpful since there is no CT
Works in Middletown anymore.”
Ronald Tasker
Joe Spraski
The services are very good
here. We get help when we
need it and the staff is excellent especially Patti.
Jimmy Miller
My job function is to assist people that come in to
utilize the computer lab. Whether it is helping with simply log-in
issues, attaching a resume to a job posting or just listening
to some of the frustrations that these job seekers are
up against just makes me feel that
I can still contribute to society.
The people associated with ULA have been nothing short
of amazing with their support and confidence in me.
So much so that in January 2013
Amy Blackwood, Executive Director of ULA,
offered to give me some payable hours.
There are no words that can describe the feeling I had that day
and I come to work every day knowing they took
a big chance with me and that I will try not to
disappoint Amy, Kim, Dave, Rita, Patti
and all the rest of the good people at ULA.
Jim Crowley
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QUICK STATS
7,485
49
61%
75,343
698
130
Total Number of Clients Served
Total Number of Early Interventions/Rapid Response Sessions
Client Employment Per Cent
Pounds of Food Distribution through Food Pantry
Total Number of children who received toys for the holiday
Total Number of Thanksgiving Dinners Provided
United Labor Agency Client Services 2011-2012
Job Search & Employment
Advocacy
23%
Ra pid Response & Strikers
48%
Toy & Turkey Drives
14%
Food Pantry
15%
NEW PROJECTS
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services/Employment Program
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services/Summer Youth Program
Connecticut Workforce Investment Boards/Green Jobs
Technology Upgrade
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PROGRAMS
Employment Assistance—ULA worked with
public and private agencies, labor organizations, business and industry to deliver state-ofthe-art employment and training services for
dislocated workers. When families and communities faced job loss, ULA provided:

Rapid Response/Early Intervention to provide information to displaced workers regarding available services

Referral to relevant human service agencies to maintain basic needs and secure
supportive services

Career counseling and assessment to assist with career choices and transferable
skills in the existing labor market

Job search and change management workshops

Pre-retirement counseling

Technical assistance to unions, employers
and communities to insure coordination of
available resources

Computer skills training and assistance in
on-line job searches.
∙ Public Assistance

Alcohol and Drug Counseling

Consumer Assistance

Family Counseling

Disability Benefits
Special Programs—ULA developed
and operated various specialized programs to help working families. These
included:

Employment assistance and vocational counseling to support an individual’s recovery from substance use disorders

Affordable healthcare advocacy

Recreational activities for older workers and retirees with limited income

Emergency food distribution

Assisting homeless veterans through
vocational counseling and computer
training

Holiday Toy Drive Housing and
Transportation
Referral and Advocacy—through a variety of
human service and unemployment and training
programs, ULA provided direct assistance, advocacy and referral to government programs,
social service agencies and employer and union programs for workers and their families.
Staff assisted workers in the following areas:

Unemployment Benefits

Veterans’ Benefits

Medical and Health Services

Workers’ Compensation

Social Security

SNAP Benefits Emergency Food Pantry
Community Initiatives—ULA participates in area 10-year-plans to End
Homelessness and in curriculum steering committees for state agencies.
Fundraising and Donations—ULA
makes every effort to supplement operating costs through its Annual Appeal.
Board members, staff, and volunteers
reach out to the labor community each
year through mailings for contributions.
The Appeal ends with a Reception/
Fundraiser at the CT AFL-CIO Convention.
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PARTNERS AND FUNDING
FUNDING SOURCES
City of Waterbury
Connecticut Community Foundation
Connecticut Department of Social Services/Bureau of Rehabilitation Services
Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board
Foodshare
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund
Middlesex United Way
ShopRite
United Way of Central and Northeastern CT
United Way Donor Designations
United Way Payroll Deduction Supporters
United Way of Greater Waterbury
Universal Health Care Foundation
PARTNERS
Gold
AFT Connecticut
Connecticut AFL-CIO
Connecticut State Judicial Employees Union
Connecticut Coalition of Taft Hartley Health Funds
I.A.M.A.W. Aircraft 743
Silver
Greater Hartford Labor Council
Lori Pelletier
State UAW Cap Council
UAW Region 9A
Bronze
AFSCME Local 1026, MDC Supervisors Union
International Union of Operating Engineers 478
New Britain Central Labor Council
Sheet Metal Workers International Assoc. Local 40
UAW Local 376
LABOR COUNCILS
Central Connecticut Labor Council
Danbury Central Labor Council
Fairfield County Labor Council
Greater Bristol Labor Council
Greater Hartford Labor Council
New Britain Central Labor Council
New Haven Central Labor Council
Southeastern Connecticut Central Labor Council
Western Connecticut Central Labor Council
facebook.com/JJDULA
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