Labor and market perceptions

A number of us from the Fund had a session today with union leaders from across the region to discuss Advance Northeast Ohio. What struck me most about the conversation was how perceptions are often our biggest challenge -- and that we ought to tackle them head on. One of the biggest concerns raised by businesses considering a location in Northeast Ohio is our “labor situation” and the impression that we have an antagonistic labor-management relations that will make doing business competitively next to impossible.  Unfortunately, we often reinforce this image by not having labor at the table for these conversations – so companie assume that their preconceptions are accurate.  What is a pity is that we have many many examples throughout Northeast Ohio of how organized labor and management have worked together to make our companies competitive while providing opportunities for employees.

If nothing else, we should dispel the archaic myths of labor in our marketing efforts and tell a more accurate story of how our work force is competitive and collaborative – and backing it up with real examples. We are going to begin assembling these stories and sharing them with the economic development community.  Meanwhile, we look forward to working with organized labor on the various topics of Advance Northeast Ohio such as lifelong learning and developing strategies to be competitive in the global marketplace.  While conversations may not always be easy across the various sectors, we need to remain focused on our overarching goals to increase per capita income and employment.