Related Articles

AFL-CIO Unveils Jobs Agenda

November 18, 2009

More than 8 million jobs have been lost since the start of the recession, with the official unemployment rate at more than 10 percent – the highest in nearly 25 years.

On November 17, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka joined together with civil rights and community leaders to demand that our representatives take action to create good jobs and rebuild the economy.

Said Trumka during the live webcast panel discussion:

We need jobs now … Doing nothing is not an option. If we don’t act, everything will be worse – including our federal budget deficit. That’s why those of us here today have joined together to say this is not tolerable. We can put America back to work.

Trumka laid out a five point plan to create jobs:

• Extend unemployment benefits and health care coverage for those currently unemployed.
• Invest in America’s infrastructure, putting federal money towards rebuilding roads, bridges and schools.
•  Boost aid to state and local governments to stop layoffs and maintain important services.
• Create good jobs with fair wages in the communities worst hit by the recession.
• Put TARP funds to work for small businesses and banks that will directly create jobs.

Joining Trumka were Benjamin Jealous, president of the NAACP; Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights; Deepak Bhargava, executive director of the Center for Community Change and Janet Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza.

Said Jealous:

This is one human-rights movement coming together … People want to hear from Congress that creating jobs is their number one priority.

All those on panel pledged to mobilize their members and allies to pressure Congress and the White House to adopt their jobs agenda.

Trumka said he plans to start by bringing the plan to President Obama’s December 3 Jobs Summit.

Said International President Edwin D. Hill:

Job creation needs to be Washington’s top priority. Too many Americans have been out of work for too long and it’s time for labor, the business community and our elected leaders come together to get our country back to work.

 

Photo used under a Creative Commons license from Flickr user Brian Indrelunas