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Show THE VOICE OF BUSINESS CSTA'-can ifl be more vhsiB? a tfour-letfver word? Bv Richard I.. Leslu-r, President CIihiiiImt of Commerce of ihe I'nited Slutex "It's a chance for business men to give an honest guy an honest shot," That's the way Ron Webber of Benton Harbor, Michigan recently described his local chamber's on-the-job training program. His remarks could have been typical of any concerned businessman, except for one key difference: The Benton Ben-ton Harbor program is partially funded through CETA, a federal jobs program many businessmen distrust and oppose. CETA's poor reputation is understandable. understan-dable. The program has spent huge sums of taxpayers' money with only minimal accomplishment. . .especially among the hard-core unemployed. Its disappointing record reminds me of Winston Churchill when he reportedly said of a political rival: "Clement Atlee is a very modest man. And with reason." But while Churchill was undoubtedly un-doubtedly speaking in jest, CETA's failures are very real. I noted in an earlier column that the program has been a cruel disappointment disappoint-ment for the poor who dream of acquiring acquir-ing training skills, productive jobs and a better life, for taxpayers whose money has been frittered away and for our economy where billions of dollars have been diverted from tax-producing, tax-producing, growth-oriented jobs, to tax-consuming tax-consuming activities which have stoked the fires of inflation. But now we're promised much of that will change. The people at CETA want to stop raking and turn over a new leaf. Labor Secretary Ray Marshall has acknowledged the problem of unemployment will not be solved unless CETA establishes a solid working relationship rela-tionship with the private economy. And so he is promoting a new effort known as the Private Sector Initiative Program Pro-gram (PSIP), which has Congressional funding of $400 million. Private industry in-dustry is being paid to set up training programs for the unemployed. PSIP is now operating in over 300 communities where Private Industry Councils, or PICs, have been set up. These PICs consist primarily of business people who plan job and training train-ing programs in their communities. Before this program got underway, the Labor Department commissioned a nationwide na-tionwide poll to confirm that business would cooperate. Business is justifiably apprehensive about any new federal program that might involve more bureaucracy, paperwork and controls. But what the Opinion Research Cor-"poration Cor-"poration found was that while only 12 percent of business had heard of the new program, 84 percent reacted favorably to the new idea. The attitude of Ron Webber and his fellow chamber members in Benton Harbor is an example of this willingness will-ingness to cooperate and lead. In their area, people have been trained by private business as mold makers, machine operators and aluminum die-cast die-cast operators to cite a few examples. These are skills individuals can transfer to other companies, or even other areas. Because of public funding, local business does not have to bear the entire cost of this training, but it does have the opportunity to frown fr-own way, and then hire the of the contract. The U.S. Chamber is a porter of this private-sect because it's the only Wav ever become a viable n'r serves the needs of Forecasts indicate that needs for skills in the com will far outstrip the compet its existing work force whii face a severe shortage workers. We can no longer now the case, to spend onlv all CETA funds for privat training. I want to urge busin everywhere to get involvet gram in your own comrr make it work. To help yi Chamber has published a b New Private Sector lii gram," that explains the within their own establisl booklet also lists directorie officials' offices that will be the program. Regional ( ficials who can assist ar assistance staff available National Alliance of Busine If America is to move I resolve- many of its serioi during the next decade business leadership will t One very good demonstra leadership would be to ma program a big success. Am will be thanks to the busines ty that CETA will have tin' more than a four-letter woi |
