-PONS AGENCY agencies, uniors minority and women - Eric

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DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 196 993
OD 021 059
Changing Commitment into Action: Employment of Women
TITLE
and Minorities in Alaska State Government.
INSTITUTION
Alaska Advisory Committee to the United States
Commission on Civil Right, Juneau.
-PONS AGENCY
Commission on Civil Rights, Washington, D.C.
POE CATE
Jul BO
VOTE
116p.
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PC05 Plus Postage.
*Affirmative Action: Employment Practices; *Equal
DESCRIPTORS
Opportunities (Jobs): *Females: Government Employees:
*Minority Groups: Personnel Policy: Racial Bias: Sex
Bias: *State Government
IDENTIFIERS
*Alaska
ABSTRACT
This report on equal employment opportunities in
agencies, offices, and departments of the State government in Alaska
was submitted by the Alaska Advisory Committee to the United States
Commission on Civil Rights as part 'of its responsibility to advise
the Commission about civil rights problems within the State. The
report examines recruitment, hiring, and promotion practices in the
State government and State responsibility for providing equal
employment opportunites and affirmative action. Information for the
report was gathered from each department within the State government,
the Office of the Governor, the court system, the Legislative Affairs
Agency, the University of Alaska, State and Federal enforcement
agencies, uniors minority and women advocacy groups, and from
individual citizens. The Advisory Committee found that women and
minorities are underrepresented and underutilized throughout State
government. Recommendations are made for increased recruitment and
training efforts, updated affirmative action plans, and improved
employment opportunities. (Author/MK)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
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CHANGING COMMITMENT INTO ACTION
Employment of Women and Minorities in
Alaska State Government
Jury 1980
A
w
14EALTII,
U S. DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION IS WELFARE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
EDUCATION
BEEN REPRO.
,
TSIS DOCUMENT HAS
ORIGIN-
THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION
OPINIONS
ATiNG IT POINTS OF VIEW OR
REPRE-
sTATeo PO NOT NECESSARILY
1J TE OF
NATIONAL iNST
OFFICIAL
SENT
POSITION OR POLICY
, EOUCATiON
A report of the Alaska Advisory Committee to the United States
Commission on Civil Rights prepared for the information and
consideration of the Commission.
This report will be considered by
the Commission, and the Commission will make public its reaction.
In the meantime, the findings and recommendations of this
report
should not be attributed to the Commission but only to the Alaska
Advisory Committee.
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THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
The United States Commission on Civil Rights, created by the Civil Rights Act of
1957, is an independent, bipartisan agency of the executive branch of the Federal
Government. By the terms of the act, as amended, the Commission is charged with
the following duties pertaining to discrimination or denials of the equal protection
.
of the laws based on race, color, religion, sex, age. handicap, or national origin, or
in the administration of justice: investigation of individual discriminatory denials of
the right to vote; study of legal developments with respect to discrimination or
denials of the equal protection of the law; appraisal of the laws and policies of the
United States with respect to discrimination or denials of equal protection of the
law; maintenance of a national clearinghouse for information respecting discrimina-
tion or denials of equal protection of the law; and investigation of patterns or
'practices of fraud or discrimination in the conduct of Federal elections. The
Commission is also required to submit reports to the President and the Congress at
such times as the Commission, the Congress, or the President shall deem desirable.
THE STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEES
An Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights has been
established in each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia pursuant to section
105(c) of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 as amended. The Advisory Committees are
made up of responsible persons who serve without compensation. Their functions
under their mandate from the Commission are to: advise the Commission of all
relevant information concerning their respective States on matters within the
jurisdiction of the Commission; advise the Commission on matters of mutual
concern in the preparation of reports of the Commission to the President and the
Congress; receive reports, suggestions, and recommendations from individuals,
public and private organizations, and public officials upon matters pertinent to
inquiries conducted by the State Advisory Committee; initiate and forward advice
and recommendations to the Commission upon matters in which the Commission
shall request the assistance of the State Advisory Committee; and attend, as
observers, any open hearing or conference which the Commission may hold within
the State.
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Changing Commitment
into Action
A report of the Alaska Advisory Committee to
the United States Commission on Civil Rights.
ATTRIBUTION:
The findings and recommendations contained in this
report are those of the Alaska Advisory Committee
to the United States Commission on Civil Rights
and, as such, are not attributable to the Commission.
This report has been prepared by the State Advisory
Committee for submission to the Commission, and
will be considered by the Commission in formulating
its recommendations to the President and the
Congress.
SI7
RIGHT OF RESPONSE:
Prior to the publication of a report, the State
Advisory Committee affords to all individuals or
organizations that may be defamed, degraded, or
incriminated by any material contained in the report
an opportunity to respond in writing to such
material. All responses have been incorporated,
appended, or otherwise reflected in the publication.
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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Alaska Advisory Committee to the
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
July 1980
MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION
Arthur S. Flemming,
Chairman
Mary Frances Berry,
Vice Chair
Stephen Horn
Jill S. Ruckelshaus
Murry Saltzman
Louis Nuiiez,
Staff Director
Dear Sirs and Madam:
The Alaska Advisory Committee submits this report on equal employment
opportunities in agencies, offices, and departments of State government in Alaska
as part of its responsibility to advise' the Commission about civil tights problems
within the State.
This report examines recruitment, hiring, and promotion practices in Alaska
State government and State responsibility for providing equal employment
opportunities and affirmative action.
Information on which this report, its findings, conclusions, and recommenda-
tions, is based was gathered from each department in State government, the Office
of the Governor, the Alaska Court System, the Legislative Affairs Agency, the
University of Alaska, State and Federal enforcement agencies, unions representing
State employees, minority and women advocacy groups, and individual citizens in
the State of Alaska. The study included opcn meetings held in Juneau on
September 11 and in Anchorage, September 13, 1978. The Advisory Committee is
grateful for the assistance of Commissioner Manuel Ruiz in conducting the Juneau
hearing.
The Advisory Committee found that women and minorities are underrepresent-
ed and underutilized throughout State government and recommends strongly that
recruitment efforts and training programs with adequate support services be
increased. Departmental affirmative action plans are currently being updated and
reviewed by the EEO division, Department of Administration. These should all
include interim and long range goals and timetables.
The Advisory Committee developed numerous recommendations for improving
equal employment opportunities for minorities and women. They are directed
toward the Governor, the State legislature, and the State departments.
There has been little monitoring by Federal agencies having jurisdiction over
enforcement of affirmative action requirements, with the exception of the U.S.
Office of Personnel Management, because of the isolation of the State. The
Advisory Committee hopes this will improve with the location of an Alaska office
for the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance
Programs, and renewed activity of the Department of Health, Education, and
Welfare's Office for Civil Rights. The Advisory Committee requests that the
Commissioners urge other agencies to examine practices in Alaskathe EEOC;
the Office of Revenue Sharing, Department of Treasury; and the Employment
Section, Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice.
We urge you to concur with our recommendations to help improve the hiring
and upward mobility of minorities and women in Alaska government departments.
Respectfully,
William Hensley, Chair
Alaska Advisory Committee
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in
MEMBERSHIP
s
ALASKA ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE
UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Malcolm B. Roberts**
William Hensley, Chair
Anchorage
Anchorage
Rosa lee Walker Vice Chair
Lisa Rudd**
Juneau
Anchorage
Michael F. Beirne
Carolyn Schubert**
Anchorage
Anchorage
Thelma G. Buchholdt
Anchorage
Richard Stitt
Juneau
Gilbert Gutierrez
Anchorage
Lynne Woods
Anchorage
Dove M. Kull**
Juneau
*Daniel Lisbourne died before this. report was
Daniel Lisboume*
released. The Advisory Committee is grateful for his
Point Hope
contributions to this study and in other human rights
areas.
Frank Peterson**
**Appointed after the open meetings were conduct-
ed.
Kodiak
*I'
iv
Ill
There seems to be a problem of finding people who qualify.
Except for the people who qualify.
Their problem seems to be finding a job.
Mary McClinton
Juneau Transcript, p. 184
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Alaska Advisory Committee wishes to thank the staff of the Commission's
Northwestern Regional Office (NWRO) in Seattle, Washington, for its help in the
preparation of this report.
The study was the principal staff assignment of Victoria L. Squier, equal
opportunity specialist. Legal assistance and review were provided by Fred Kaplan,
regional attorney. Lois Hayasaka, research writer, provided editorial and research
assistance prior to and after the hearings. Interview assistance was provided by
Patricia Steil, equal opportunity specialist, and Joann Harris and Peter Marshall,
summer interns. Phyllis Santangelo, Maria Sims, Diane King, Theresa McDonald,
and Shelby Summers provided support throughout the study. All worked under
the supervision of Joseph T. Brooks, Director of the Northwestern Regional
Office.
Final preparation of the document for publication was the responsibility of
Deborah Harrison, Vivian Hauser, Audree Holton, and Tanya Wideman under the
supervision of Vivian Washington.
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CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
Background
Description of Area
Population
Labor Market Information for Affirmative Action Programs
Work Force Statistics
2. AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
IN ALASKA
3. STATE EEO RESPONSIBILITYDIVISION OF EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY
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4. STATE DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES
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Office of the Governor
Department of Administration
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
Department of Community and Regional Affairs
Department of Education
Department of Environmental Conservation
Department of Fish and Game
Department of Health and Social Services
Department of Labor
Department of Law
Department of Military Affairs
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Public Safety
Department of Revenue
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
Alaska Court System
Legislative Affairs Agency
University of Alaska
S. CONCLUSIONS, FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
61.
viii
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