State of Alaska Archives: on Jobs
Al Gross:
Raise the minimum wage; defend collective bargaining
I'll be an advocate for our labor force.
That starts by raising the minimum wage and defending collective bargaining rights for our workers and unions.
Source: 2020 Alaska Senate campaign website DrAlGrossAK.com
Nov 20, 2019
Al Gross:
First political campaign in Alaska to unionize
A handful of campaigns are unionizing with a promise of better pay and insurance for campaign workers. That trend landed in Alaska on Labor Day when Al Gross announced that his campaign would also be unionizing. Gross says his campaign will be the
first unionized campaign in Alaska when it unionizes with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. "As we grow our economy into the future, Alaska must treat its workers with fairness and respect all along the way," he said.
Source: The Midnight Sun on 2020 Alaska Senate race
Sep 3, 2019
Al Gross:
Raise the minimum wage; defend collective bargaining rights
I'll be an advocate for our students and labor force and for creating good-paying jobs here in Alaska.
That starts by raising the minimum wage and defending collective bargaining rights for our workers and unions.
Source: 2020 Alaska Senate campaign website DrAlGrossAK.com
Jun 7, 2020
Bill Walker:
Address state economic recovery with jobs program
It is time to put Alaskans back to work, and that's why I have introduced the Alaska Economic Recovery Act. It doesn't take a team of economists to tell us what we already know: that our economy is in recession and Alaska has the highest unemployment in
the nation. At the same time, lean capital budgets over the last few years have meant our schools & infrastructure are way overdue for maintenance. Passage of the Economic Recovery Act will provide a needed shot in the arm to the economy and create jobs.
Source: 2018 Alaska State of the State address
Jan 18, 2018
Christopher Kurka:
Make licensing boards report on military spouse applications
SB12: "An Act relating to temporary courtesy licenses for military spouses." Anchorage Daily News Summary: Alaska's Division of Business Licensing has had an expedited professional license application for military spouses.
It's uncertain whether the independent licensing boards give this a priority--they are not required to. The Legislature passed a bill requiring that the boards report annually on how many service spouse applications are applied for and approved.
This would shine a light on any laggard professional board, which should embarrass its members.
Legislative Outcome:
Passed Senate 18-0-2 on May/3/21; Passed House 37-1-2 on May/19/21; Rep. Christopher Kurka voted YES; Signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on Sept/14/21
Source: Alaska State Legislature voting records SB12
May 19, 2021
Dan Sullivan:
Opposes federal minimum wages; opposed increase to $15/hour
Q: Raise federal hourly minimum wage above current $7.25?Dan Sullivan: Unclear. In 2014 changed position to support increasing state minimum wage by $2 an hour, but said he opposed federal minimum wages. In 2019 opposed $15-an-hour wage.
Al Gross: Yes. Says good-paying jobs in Alaska start "by raising the minimum wage and defending collective bargaining rights for our workers and unions."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Alaska Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Mary Peltola:
Most urgent task for Congress is to pass the PRO Act
The middle class was built by workers who joined together under the premise that fundamental rights do not end when you enter the workplace. At a time when our middle class is shrinking, I will partner with and support the work of organized
labor to provide better wages, benefits, hours, safe working conditions, and security in retirement. The most promising and urgent task for Congress is to pass the PRO Act. [Protecting the Right to Organize Act]
Source: 2022 Alaska House campaign website MaryPeltola.com
Sep 1, 2022
Matthew Corey:
No affirmative action; reduce state regulations on business
Chenault indicates support of the following principles concerning employment.- Reduce state government regulations on the private sector to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care
for their employees.
On Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on... College and university admissions?A: No.
Q: Public employment?
A: No.
Q: State contracting?
A: No.
Source: VoteSmart Alaska 2002 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
Mead Treadwell:
Exporting raw materials means exporting jobs
I want to build up the revenue the state gets from the corporate income tax. When we export fire logs as opposed to furniture. When we export raw salmon as opposed to salmon fillet that's ready to go into the supermarket. When we export raw minerals
or natural gas--raw as opposed to plastics or some sort of finished products, we're exporting jobs. We're exporting jobs to Russia when we let them get ahead of us on LNG. All those things can build up the corporate income tax revenue.
Source: Anchorage Daily News on 2018 Alaska gubernatorial race
Aug 16, 2018
Mike Dunleavy:
The only path forward to new jobs is to encourage businesses
Alaska's economy is currently in recession and we have the highest unemployment rate in the country. The worst possible response to a struggling private sector is to impose a statewide income tax, the path Governor Walker wants to take.
We can't tax our way to prosperity. The only way to restore our economy and bring new jobs to Alaska is to create a business climate that encourages investment, instead of making it more difficult.
Source: 2018 AK governor Campaign website AlaskansForDunleavy.com
Sep 1, 2018
Mike Dunleavy:
Bring gaming to Alaska: create hundreds of high-paying jobs
I'll be supporting legislation to bring gaming to Alaska. Alaska can no longer afford to deny itself a revenue stream available to nearly every other state in the nation.
Along with enhancing revenue, gaming could create hundreds of high-paying jobs in some of our communities, and we would join a long list of states that have embraced gaming for some time.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Alaska legislature
Jan 28, 2021
Mike Dunleavy:
Make licensing boards report on military spouse applications
SB12: "An Act relating to temporary courtesy licenses for military spouses." Anchorage Daily News Summary: Alaska's Division of Business Licensing has had an expedited professional license application for military spouses.
It's uncertain whether the independent licensing boards give this a priority--they are not required to. The Legislature passed a bill requiring that the boards report annually on how many service spouse applications are applied for and approved.
This would shine a light on any laggard professional board, which should embarrass its members.
Legislative Outcome:
Passed Senate 18-0-2 on May/3/21; Passed House 37-1-2 on May/19/21; Signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on Sept/14/21
Source: Alaska State Legislature voting records SB12
Sep 14, 2021
Sarah Palin:
Alaska Construction Academy: 2,520 students learn skills
We have some great news to share about a successful partnership involving the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This venture produced the Alaska Construction Academy, and now, more than 2,300 middle and high school students and
320 adults are learning new skills--such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, welding and drywall finishing. The academy started as a pilot program in Anchorage to attract and train young people and adults to first jobs in the Alaska construction industry
This program has been so successful, more will follow elsewhere statewide. Graduates will help fill the 1,000 construction jobs that are needed annually.
Out of the first group of 113 Anchorage adult graduates, 77% were hired and increased their
earnings 40% in the two quarters following their training. Adult classes are offered at various times, based on community employer needs, and will be expanded to include weatherization programs.
Source: Alaska Governor's Office: August 2008 Newsletter
Aug 20, 2008
Sarah Palin:
Leverage job-training dollars thru voc-tech curriculum
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - I will leverage job-training dollars through efficiencies in government, private sector partnerships, and responsible investments in job training opportunities that result in good jobs for Alaskans.
I look forward to working with a cross section of citizen advisors who represent private sector employers' educational institutions, union and non-union training programs and other workforce development professionals on the Alaska Workforce
Investment Board. With their advice, we can meet the rapidly growing need for trained workers. I am a strong proponent of vocational and technical curriculum in our schools and will focus on this area to get our workforce ready for the future.
I don't want to see an importation of Alaska's workforce when we have untapped talent here in the state, anxious for training and anxious for the opportunity to work.
Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska
Nov 3, 2006
Sarah Palin:
Focus Workforce Investment Board on vocational careers
Workforce Readiness for Students: Alaska's youth have tremendous career opportunities in the skilled trades if they have adequate training. I will charge the Alaska Workforce Investment
Board (AWIB) with drawing upon its considerable expertise to develop a pilot program aimed at increasing awareness of vocational career opportunities for our younger students through a partnership with industries facing worker shortages.
The pilot will be industry-focused and include a streamlined and efficient administrative process to encourage industry participation.
It will consider children's safety first and be designed with exciting field trips and industry-based learning activities.
Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska
Nov 3, 2006
Edgar Blatchford:
Alaska should lead country in showing workplace diversity
Q: Why are you running?A: My second reason is to reflect the diversity of the Anchorage community. Our schools are among the most diverse in the country! Rather than hire
Outside consultants to tell us how they create a diversified workforce, we ought to lead the country in how we do it to reflect all of the traditions and cultures from all over the world in our hometown.
Source: Anchorage Daily News on 2022 Alaska Senate race
Aug 12, 2022
Edgar Blatchford:
Union taught me a trade; helped me go to college
My Dad was a union man that goes back to the end of WWII. His sons, brothers and many of my cousins retired out of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 302, Teamsters and Laborers. I went to college because IUOE Local 302 gave me the
opportunity to learn the skills of the trade. Just as I made the decision to learn the trade at 18 years old, demonstrates to me, that ASD students should have the same opportunities to learn a trade. I did because my Dad was a union man.
Source: Anchorage Daily News on 2022 Alaska Senate race
Aug 12, 2022
Pat Chesbro:
Protect right to organize, support the PRO Act
All work contributes to the health of society, but not all work is paid at livable levels. I value all workers and will fight to protect their right to organize as Labor Unions. I support the PRO Act.Workers can see potential improvements if given
the opportunity to be heard. Workers must be able to negotiate for fair wages and safe working conditions, using whatever structures work best. Engaged workers are energized and effective. I support the important role of Labor Unions in this effort.
Source: 2022 Alaska Senate campaign website ChesbroForAlaska.com
Oct 7, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023