John Brauer

John Brauer is the Executive Director of the Workforce and Economic Development (WED) Program at the California Labor Federation (CLF). The California Labor Federation’s affiliates represent over 2 million California workers. The purpose of the WED Program is to serve as an intermediary and a resource for unions in responding to economic and labor-market change. As such, WED serves as labor’s resource in California for building effective workforce and economic development systems that create high wage jobs, economic opportunity, new partnerships, and stronger communities.

Mr. Brauer also serves as a Governor’s appointee to the State Workforce Investment Board, the executive committee of the EDGE Coalition, and as a board member of TradesWomen, Inc.

Prior to his last 2 1/2 years as WED Director, Mr. Brauer served for 11 years as the Executive Director of The Workforce Collaborative (TWC), a nonprofit in Oakland providing workforce development services to low-income East Bay residents. The Workforce Collaborative participated with labor unions, employers, community colleges, adult education programs and other community-based organizations in sector initiatives in the construction trades, and transportation and logistics.

For six years, he chaired the local hire committee of the Port of Oakland’s, Maritime and Aviation Project Labor Agreement (MAPLA), and served on the steering committee of Revive Oakland advocating for the passage of a community jobs agreement as part of the development of the former Oakland Army Base.

He was also a member of the steering committee of the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports – Oakland advocating for environmental and worker justice at the Port of Oakland.