First Gentleman challenges businesses to hire vets - April 26, 2006
06-033
Media contacts:
Sheryl Hutchison,
360-902-9289
Bill Tarrow,
360-902-9376
SEATTLE – Washington businesses are being challenged to hire Washington National Guard and Reserve members who are returning from the war.
First Gentleman Mike Gregoire and leaders from business, labor and government held a news conference at the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce today to recognize several businesses that have an established record of hiring veterans and to call on other businesses to make a similar commitment.
“Our citizen soldiers have put their lives and careers on hold for months and sometimes years to respond to the war effort,” said Gregoire. “Now that they are coming back, we need to show that we support our troops by making sure they return to a good job.”
More than 10,000 Washington National Guard and Reserve members have been activated since 9/11 as part of the nation’s war on terror. Preliminary data on 1,515 of these members indicate that 70 percent had jobs prior to deployment, but only 61 percent had jobs in Washington in 2005 after being deactivated. Of the 761 who had jobs both before and after deployment, 60 percent were earning at least 5 percent less than before being deployed.
“Many of our National Guard and Reserve members have lost ground economically since returning from their deployment,” said Karen Lee, commissioner of the Employment Security Department. “Recovering from war is stressful enough without trying to support a family on less money.”
“Business is incredibly robust right now,” said Chamber President & CEO Steve Leahy. “We need these growing businesses to make an extra effort to hire veterans. In fact, hire several if you can.”
During the news conference, Gregoire praised five Puget Sound-area businesses for their efforts to employ veterans. They include Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, State Farm Insurance in Dupont, Northwest Cascade Inc. in Puyallup, Custom Electric & Controls in Fife, and Equity Residential in Tukwila.
Northwest Cascade has pledged to hire 10 additional veterans in the next year, and Custom Electric & Controls pledged to hire four more veterans.
“These companies know first hand the value veterans bring to the workplace,” said Don Brunell, president of the Association of Washington Business. “We need to expand awareness and encourage other businesses to welcome veterans into their work force.”
Equity Residential was represented at the news conference by Monica Taylor-Joiner, a Reservist who returned to her job at the company last year after being deployed for two years.
“It meant everything that I could go do my part for my country and know that Equity Residential was standing behind me,” said Taylor-Joiner. “The company went out of its way to ensure my transition back to work was as easy as possible, and that meant a lot to me.”
The Hire-A-Vet challenge was devised by the Veterans Re-Employment Steering Committee, which was formed by Karen Lee last November to examine to what degree National Guard and Reservists returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are having trouble finding jobs. The committee includes representatives from the state Employment Security Department, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington Military Department, Association of Washington Business, State Labor Council, Building & Construction Trades Council and Washington Workforce Association.
“Veterans make great employees. They possess valuable work skills such as discipline, teamwork and a results-oriented work ethic,” said John Lee, director of the Department of Veterans Affairs. “Businesses just need to reach out and give them a chance.”
Employers who are interested in hiring veterans but don’t know where to start, as well as veterans who are looking for work, should contact their local WorkSource office or call (800) 562-2308.
The Employment Security Department will organize additional news events in other communities throughout 2006 to support the Hire-A-Vet Challenge and to recognize other businesses that hire veterans.
