Mission of Veterans Employment Committee (VEC)

We hope the information provided here will be helpful in connecting you to the resources you need.

(This information is taken from the Veterans Employment Committee Handbook)

POLICY

It is the policy of the Employment Development Department (EDD) to encourage veterans' organizations and others interested in the employment of veterans to serve and actively support and participate in local and regional Veterans Employment Committies. These groups are excellent sources to contact for advice and consultation.

The EDD will

• Provide veterans with maximum job opportunities through use of total employment service staff and facilities.
• Develop job opportunities for all veterans.
• Give priority in selection and referral to qualified veterans.
• Inform veterans of the rights and benefits pertaining to them through government and community agencies.
• Cooperate with employers in establishing on-the-job training programs for veterans.
• Provide employment and unemployment insurance information to military personnel scheduled for separation from the Armed Forces
• Supply other governmental agencies, employers, organizations, and workers with technical and statistical information required for on-the-job training programs.
• Enlist the cooperation of veterans' organizations in promoting employment and vocational adjustment programs for veterans.
• Cooperate with Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) staff.

LOCAL VEC PROGRAM:

Veterans organizations are excellent sources of advice and support for EDD's veterans services program. Field office managers, VESS', and VWS specialists may wish to contact veterans' organizations, including County Vetrans Service officers, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, American Veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Gulf Wars, Fleet Reserve Association, United Veterans Councils, and Veterans Advisory Councils to arrange for the organization of the VECs in areas where they can assist EDD with its veterans employment program.

Local VEC participation should also be extended to representatives from Private Industry Councils (PIC), Employer Advisory Councils (EAC), Community Based Organizations (CBO), local members of the Veterans committee of the California Employer Advisory Council (CEAC), and representatives from local and state governments. The VECs located near active duty military bases should make every effort to include membership from those installations to coordinate job fairs and other employment opportunities.

Veterans' organizations will designate representatives to participate in all the local VECs. All officers, with the exception of the secretary, will be selected from non-EDD members. Staff from EDD may serve only as secretary to the VEC.

OBJECTIVES OF THE LOCAL VEC

• Provide a "clearinghouse" for questions, complaints, and recomendations concerning effectiveness of employment services available to veterans and eligible persons at the local level.
• Encourage employers from the public and private sectors to list job openings with local EDD offices and participate in employment programs
• Publicize the important advantages of hiring, training, and retraining qualified veterans and emphasize EDD's priority services to veterans.
• Encourage organized veterans' groups and individuals to report all job openings to EDD field offices.
• Form action committees to review local veterans employment issues and submit recommendation and comments on position papers to appropriate entities.
• Assist individuals or organizations who may have questions, complaints, suggestions, or recommendations on the employment services being provided to veterans by EDD.
• Prepare grant requests to veterans' organizations and public and private sector organization for funding and in-kind donations to use for transportation, tools, licenses, job interviews, job fairs, "Hire-A-Veteran Week" activities, etc., as appropriate
• Confer regularly with field office managers and/or staff on policy matters.
• Review departmental operating procedures as they apply to veterans and notify field office managers of infringements or violations.
• Assist field offices in developing jobs by encouraging employers (through PICs, EACs, etc.) to use EDD.
• Initiate and prepare resolutions which will promote legislative action to augment and support needed services to veterans.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF VEC MEMBERS

• Regularly attend and actively participate in meetings.
• Become familiar with the EDD field office procedures and meet the manager and veterans program staff.
• Keep own organizations updated and informed about employment-related activities.
• Be alert to actual job opportunities for veterans.
• Help promote job openings for veterans by contacting employers, business associates, fraternal groups, organized labor, government agencies, neighbors, and friends.
• Volunteer to serve on other employment-related committees, panels, and councils to ensure that veterans and veterans' issues are considered.
• Act as a central point of contact between the VEC and EDD by conveying constructive comments or recommendations to EDD staff on improving service to veterans.

REGIONAL VETERANS EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEES

The two regional VECs in California are designated as Northern and Southern. It is important that the local committees organize regionally to establish and maintain effective communication with EDD staff.

Regional officers elected from local VECs may be formed into regional Executive Committees. An EDD office manager, VWS, or VESS may be appointed secretary. This person will help coordinate activities between EDD and the VEC and assist in arranging periodic regional meetings.