It is official! Amy Vasiliou was appointed Executive Director of the United Labor Agency at the March 8 meeting of the Board of Directors.

One of Amy’s first priorities was to upgrade the client computer labs in our Waterbury and Hartford Offices and with that already accomplished; the next office due for an upgrade is Middletown.

A major portion of the Executive Director’s job is grant management, not only the day to day issues that arise, but the difficult task of obtaining and maintaining funding for the agency’s programs.  Since the beginning of the year Amy has worked on proposals to six different funding sources, along with smaller proposals to foundations located in Connecticut.  

Partnering with Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board, Inc., Amy signed off on an agreement for the CT Green Jobs Funnel Initiative in Eastern CT.  The program will enhance the green skills of existing apprentices & journey workers who reside in Eastern CT and who are already part of a building or construction trades union.  These benched workers will receive “green construction skill upgrading”.

Amy has plenty of other projects to keep her busy as ULA kicks off its 2012 Annual Fundraising Appeal this spring.  A Fundraiser/Reception is being planned at the Hartford Hilton on June25, 2012.

Pictured to the left Amy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman look over ULA’s table at the Legislative Conference held at the Hartford Hilton on Hartford.

Please join John Olsen and the entire board and staff of the United Labor Agency in welcoming Amy as Executive Director.

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The Hartford Office Computer Lab received an intense make over thanks to our new Tech Team, Mike and Dave, who also worked on the Waterbury Lab.  AND, all in their spare time.  They both have regular full time positions and we are lucky to have them on-board as consultants.  They are fast, efficient, and cost-effective which really helps us meet our budget because we are definitely a not-for-profit organization.

Funds for the Hartford Office are provided through United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, but the additional money needed to upgrade and maintain the technology was donated from the proceeds of a Golf Tournament run by The Connecticut Coalition of Taft-Hartley Health Funds, Inc.

The Greater Hartford Labor Council contributes to ULA’s work with the unemployed through the generous contributions of their members and by allowing us to “share office space” with them thereby reducing the agency’s overhead significantly.

Individuals seeking employment assistance may use the computer lab free of charge by enrolling in the program.  For more information please contact Kimberly or Denise at 860-7279301.

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John Olsen recently kicked off the United Labor Agency’s 2012 Annual appeal by sending a letter to union affilliates of the Connecticut AFL-CIO.  As a non-profit agency, ULA is allowed to accept tax-deductible donations to help support programs funded from other sources.  Please consider a donation to the Agency to help us continue our mission of helping working families in Connecticut.  A copy of John Olsen's letter follows:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am writing to ask your union to do something special to help unemployed workers and working families who turn to the John J. Driscoll United Labor Agency for help.  This year ULA has helped over 7,100 workers and their families in the areas of unemployment benefits, job training, career counseling, Social Security, Workers’ Compensation, emergency food assistance and other basic needs.

Please remember, a donation of any amount, when added together with other individual contributions produces amazing results!  

• Think of us when you have members in need.  We are here to help you!

• Visit our Website www.ctula.org and our Facebook page John J. Driscoll United Labor Agency and “like” us.

• If you are doing an event and are looking for a good charity to donate to—keep us in mind, we would be happy to come out to the event to help.

Your help is urgently needed! Please be as generous as you can.  Any contribution amount you make is greatly appreciated.  Your donation will be recognized at the CT AFL-CIO Convention at our ULA Fundraising Reception.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of your fellow workers and their families.

Sincerely,

John W. Olsen                                           Amy Vasiliou

President                                                  Executive Director

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Please consider mailing a contribution today.  Thank You!

Yes!  I would like to support Connecticut’s unemployed workers and their families.

 Here is our gift for: $______________________

___Our check for the full amount is enclosed.

___Our check for 1/5 of our donation is enclosed. Please bill our union in equal amounts over the next 4 months.

Name:  _____________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person:____________________________________  Title:_____________________________________

Phone:__________________________________  Email:_____________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________________________________

Please make checks payable to United Labor Agency.

Payments should be mailed to United Labor Agency, 56 Town Line Road, Rocky Hill CT 06067

860-258-6640

THANK YOU!

The Waterbury Office, located at 30 West Main Street in Waterbury has gone through some changes.  The improved Waterbury Office has a brand new computer room for our clients.  The computer lab is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The center also offers free computer classes and job search and resume writing assistance.  The new lab has 10 upgraded computers with state of the art wiring to make job searching and information access more efficient.  The center is also equipped with printing, faxing and phone access for clients. 

Our clients are very happy with the new lab.  They are quoted as saying, "I love the new lab, the computers are so much faster and I think it really helps me with my job search" and "...the new lab is brighter and more open.  I feel very comfortable here."

The renovations to this lab were made possible by the generous donations of several local unions who donated the proceeds of their golf outings to the United Labor Agency last year and to donations designated to the Waterbury Area through the Tom Carusello Memorial Fund.  Thank you!!