Empowering Immigrant and BIPOC Workers Across Low-Wage Industries
Summary
In 2024, Building Skills Partnership committed to scale its labor-management collaboration model to empower 8,000 low-wage, immigrant and BIPOC workers in California’s janitorial, airport services, and security sectors. Over three years, the project will implement sector-specific skills training programs and expand community advancement initiatives focused on financial capability, health and wellness, and educational advancement for workers and their families. It will also facilitate “just transition” by creating pathways for future employment for workers displaced by automation or industry shifts, providing access to retraining, career counseling, and job placement assistance. Additionally, the project will directly engage workers in program design and implementation, fostering leadership development and advocacy skills.
Approach
BSP commits to scaling its labor-management collaboration model to 8,000 empower low-wage workers in California’s janitorial, airport services, and security sectors. BSP will leverage its existing partnerships with SEIU-USWW, employers, and industry stakeholders like BOMA-GLA to:
Develop Sector-Specific Training Programs: Tailor curriculum to meet the evolving needs of each industry, focusing on upskilling, career pathways, sustainability, and technology adoption.
Expand Community Advancement Initiatives: Deliver holistic programs addressing financial capability, health and wellness, and educational advancement for workers and their families.
Facilitate Just Transition: Create pathways for workers displaced by automation or industry shifts, providing access to retraining, career counseling, and job placement assistance.
Amplify Worker Voice: Engage workers in program design and implementation, fostering leadership development and advocacy skills.
Establish a Data-Driven Evaluation Framework: Measure program effectiveness, track worker outcomes, and use data to inform continuous improvement.
BSP will contribute its extensive experience as a labor-management convener, expertise in workforce development, and a proven, high-road, worker-centered model. SEIU-USWW will provide access to its membership and advocate for worker-centered policies. Employers will offer paid time for training, career advancement opportunities, and valuable industry insights. BOMA-GLA and other industry stakeholders will share expertise, resources, and influence to promote industry-wide adoption of best practices.
Potential challenges include securing employer participation, coordinating across diverse industries and stakeholders, and adapting to the rapidly changing economic landscape. However, BSP’s experience in building collaborative partnerships and adapting to evolving workforce needs positions us well to overcome these challenges.
Action Plan
In Q1 through Q3, BSP will initiate the project by conducting comprehensive landscape analyses of the airport services and security industries in California, identifying key stakeholders and potential partners. By September 2025, they will convene initial meetings with these stakeholders, including SEIU-USWW, employers, and industry associations, to establish collaborative working groups focused on workforce development and community advancement needs.
In Q4, BSP will design tailored training programs for airport service workers and security guards, incorporating industry-specific skills, language acquisition, and digital literacy modules. Simultaneously, they will develop community advancement initiatives addressing financial capability, health and wellness, and educational access for workers and their families.
In Q5 through Q-8, BSP will pilot these programs to serve an initial cohort of 1,000 individuals at select worksites in major California cities, gathering data on effectiveness and participant feedback. Throughout 2026, they will refine and expand these programs to an additional 2,000 – 4,000 individuals, incorporating lessons learned from the pilots. Concurrently, CSP will strengthen their advocacy efforts, working with coalition partners to advance policies that support worker empowerment and economic mobility.
In Q9 through Q12, BSP will focus on scaling successful program models to additional locations and industries serving an additional 2,000-4,000 individuals, solidifying their evaluation framework, and disseminating findings to inform broader replication efforts across the state and potentially nationwide. BSP will also continue their policy advocacy work, aiming to influence industry standards and create lasting systemic change for low-wage workers.
Background
Low-wage immigrant and BIPOC workers in essential service industries, such as janitorial, security, and airport services, face significant barriers to economic mobility and social equity. These workers, disproportionately women and people of color, often experience low wages, limited access to career advancement, and lack of resources for education and financial stability.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these disparities, highlighting the critical role of these essential workers while simultaneously exposing their vulnerability to job insecurity, health risks, and economic hardship. Additionally, the rise of automation and technological advancements threatens to displace many of these workers, making upskilling and career transition support essential.
Building Skills Partnership (BSP) seeks to address these challenges by scaling our proven labor-management collaboration model across these industries and throughout California. This model has demonstrated success in the janitorial sector, increasing wages, improving job quality, and fostering community empowerment. By expanding their reach to other essential service industries, BSP will create a broader impact and serve as a model for national replication.
Progress Update
Partnership Opportunities
Building Skills Partnership (BSP) seeks the following resources to complete and scale our commitment:
Financial Resources: To support program and partnership development, staffing, training, and evaluation.
Implementing Partners: To expand our reach and impact in new regions and industries.
Topic Expertise: To gain insights into specific sectors (e.g. airport services, security) and best practices for workforce development, community advancement, and policy advocacy., As part of our commitment, BSP offers the following resources and services to other organizations:
Best Practices: We will share our proven model for labor-management collaboration, curriculum development, and program implementation, providing detailed guides and resources to support replication.
Implementing Partners: BSP will serve as a trusted partner, offering technical assistance, training, and ongoing support to organizations seeking to adopt or adapt our model in their own communities.
Topic Expertise: Our team possesses deep knowledge and experience in workforce development, community advancement, immigrant inclusion, and policy advocacy, which we will share through workshops, consultations, and presentations.