Despite budget crisis Strickland gives $2M to AFL-CIO

First is was turning to labor unions to fix the auto industry, now Ted Strickland is looking to his labor union cronies supporters to help job seekers find government help.

You read that right.  Strickland is sending two million dollars to the AFL-CIO so they can help those out of work connect with government programs:

The state is spending $2 million to hire the AFL-CIO’s United Labor Agency to reach out to workers losing their jobs statewide.

[...]

The money does not pay for retraining or provide front-line services. Instead, the union trains peer-to-peer counselors to tell workers how to access dislocated worker services, such as training, resume writing, and job hunting. The union also sets up labor management teams to plan for layoffs.

I am sure all this labor union activity has nothing to do with the fact that Strickland is up for re-election; and is worried about about his support after budget cuts impacted state workers.

So is the program effective or particularly important? Who knows and not likely:

The union spent $800,000 over 18 months training 500 peer-to-peer counselors and setting up 40 labor-management teams. The new contract is for $1.2 million.

Tolles said the union has worked with 270 plants or state government departments doing layoffs, serving union and non-union employees. But she cannot say how many workers have been helped.

“What we do know is that in the areas where we have trained peers and had labor management committees is the usage of the work force system increases,” Tolles said.

Local county officials do not see existing programs as hard to find or to use.

And this at a time when it looks likely the budget crisis is going to get worse not better.