This document describes the AFL-CIO's Upgrading and Career Ladder Program (UCLP), which creates a system of structured, work-based learning integrating on-the-job training with related theoretical instruction. The UCLP has the following objectives: to meet workers' skill upgrading and occupational mobility needs; to encourage unions and employers to sustain learning programs through collective bargaining provisions; to operate workplace demonstration programs; and to facilitate union/worker participation. The first two sections of this document present an overview of the apprenticeship system and recount the Apprenticeship 2000 initiative history, including labor organizations' comments. Because ongoing training systems upgrade workers' basic skills, section III provides a perspective on the debate over workplace literacy. A review of labor market information is included in section IV. The narrative part of the report concludes with a section on upgrading experience in government programs, the relationship of upgrading to career development, and the importance of union and worker participation in workplace learning systems. The extensive selected bibliography provides 235 references on the following subjects: apprentice system, apprentice 2000 initiative, learning basic skills--a perspective, labor market information, and union and worker participation--the key to career development. (NLA)