Jobs with Justice Blog » jobs

Tell your Senators: Vote YES to extend unemployment benefits

jwjnational — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:37:32 +0000

Unemployment benefits expired for 2.5 million long-term jobless back in May. Since then, the Senate has almost restored unemployment benefits three times, but each time Republicans have blocked the votes with procedural delays.

Tomorrow, the unemployment benefits extension is expected to come to a vote. Tell your Senators not to fall for GOP scare-tactics about the budget deficit — or their offensive assertions that the unemployed are “spoiled” brats who are just “sitting there” collecting unemployment benefits.

One job for every five people looking for work is a jobless emergency, and we need emergency action now!

TAKE ACTION

Unemployed Workers Visit Illinois 10th District Rep. Mark Kirk

Allison Fletcher Acosta — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:27:45 +0000

Earlier today, members of the Chicago Jobs with Justice Unemployed Workers’ Council and allies paid a visit to Representative (and Illinois Senate candidate) Mark Kirk’s office in Northbrook, Illinois to protest his opposition to extending unemployment benefits.

Jorge Ramirez, President of the Chicago Federation of Labor, spoke to Rep. Kirk’s staff, “that’s the primary reason why a lot of these folks are here. They’re unemployed, their unemployment benefits are getting cut off… he needs to know that the votes he makes in Washington are directly accountable to the people you see in this room.”

The House has already voted to extend unemployment benefits (without Rep. Kirk’s support), but it has yet to pass the Senate. A Senate vote is expected Tuesday.

Kentuckians Demand Unemployment Benefits Extension

Attica Woodson Scott — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:51:39 +0000

On Wednesday, July 7th, as a prelude to our first big action following the US Social Forum (which will be on September 15th), Kentucky JwJ stood in solidarity with millions who have lost their jobs and face a desperate future.

Although this was a last minute call to action, at least 50 protesters showed up to march outside of the office of Senator Mitch McConnell in Louisville. Our demand was an immediate extension of unemployment benefits and protection of Social Security and Medicare — our precious social safety net programs won by generations of struggle.

Several individuals on unemployment spoke, including longtime Kentucky Jobs with Justice activist Gail Helinger. She has been laid off for over a year now, and her unemployment compensation will end soon unless Congress acts quickly!

Gail and several other unemployed workers marched into Senator McConnell’s office to speak with him about this issue but, of course, he was unavailable. They were able to speak to an aide who informed them that the Senator will vote for extension of unemployment benefits that is fiscally responsible.

We then marched several blocks to the unemployment office to distribute leaflets with the following call to action:

Are you unemployed? Are
Continue reading Kentuckians Demand Unemployment Benefits Extension

US Social Forum Day Two: Money for Jobs, Not Banks!

Allison Fletcher Acosta — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:51:51 +0000

Yesterday was an exciting day of education and action at the U.S. Social Forum!

JwJ coalitions convened and spoke at a variety of workshops, including: Uncovering the Truth on Police & ICE Collaborations (DC JwJ), Social Networking for Social Justice (KY JwJ), Writers’ Circle (Missouri JwJ), The Impact of Financial Restructuring on Michigan Workers and the Union Response (SE Michigan JwJ), Good Jobs for All: Winning Full and Fair Employment for a New Economy (National JwJ), and The TRADE Act as a Tool for Global Justice (Southern Oregon JwJ).

Jobs with Justice members participated in the Excluded Workers Congress People’s Movement Assembly which focused on how we can expand workers’ rights to organize. We heard inspiring testimony from a variety of workers who are fighting for their rights on the job (stay tuned for more on this, including video).

In the evening, JwJ co-sponsored a march and rally with AFSCME Council 65 and the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO to demand, “Money for JOBS, not Banks!”

U.S. Social Forum Kicks Off with March Through Detroit

Allison Fletcher Acosta — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:50:28 +0000

What an amazing day!

Jobs with Justice held an orientation session for local coalition folks early in the day and then got on buses to meet up with local labor activists for the USSF opening march.

JwJ joined the march with the other members of the Inter-Alliance dialogue more than 10,o00 people for a lively march through downtown Detroit and then convened at Cobo Hall for the USSF opening ceremonies.

Check out our photo album from the march here.

Tonight JwJ held a meeting of our local coalition leaders to discuss our ongoing jobs campaign. We had a rich discussion about the depth of the jobs emergency and possible approaches for how to address it, including challenging the corporate- funded scare tactics about the deficit that are distracting us from the reality of the jobs crisis. We came away from the meeting with renewed dedication to a more coordinated strategy to challenge the right wing agenda and win good jobs for all.

CALL NOW! The Jobless Can’t Wait Any Longer.

jwjnational — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:43:05 +0000

Fifteen million jobless are still waiting for our Senators to finish the job and pass unemployment insurance extension. Millions more are waiting for COBRA health subsidies and aid to states.

CALL NOW: 1-888-854-1978

Tell your Senator to vote for the American Jobs & closing Tax Loopholes Act:

extend unemployment insurance benefits through November 2010

extend State Fiscal relief (FMAP) for 6 months

fund the emergency TANF fund through 2011

vote YES on the amendment to reinstate the COBRA subsidy that the House stripped from the bill

This jobs crisis is deeper and longer-lasting than even the Reagan recession of the 1980s. State and local governments are starting to lay off thousands of teachers, and experts predict a loss of nearly one million jobs in the coming months if Congress fails to help the states now.

So what’s the hold up?

Many Democrats seem to be falling for right-wing scare tactics about the budget deficit and some are even buying into the ridiculous argument that getting jobless benefits keeps the unemployment rate higher.

But defecits are necessary in a jobs crisis. Just imagine what forcing one million more onto the

Continue reading CALL NOW! The Jobless Can’t Wait Any Longer.

Tell the Senate to Help the Jobless

jwjnational — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:16:37 +0000

For over a year, JwJ has been sounding the alarm that we are in an economic crisis calling for bold action and that there is no such thing as a “jobless recovery.” But leaders in Washington DC still don’t get it.

What we really need is a major jobs creation program, but the 15 million jobless Americans need support – NOW!

Tell your Senators to support jobless workers!

There are still nearly 6 people looking for every job opening, and even optimistic projections suggest it will take 5-6 years before the unemployment rate drops to pre-recession levels. If all the jobless Americans stood shoulder to shoulder, they would stretch across America — twice.

Unless Congress acts, 300,000 people will run out of unemployment benefits next week. Unless Congress continues jobless benefits, like the subsidy for COBRA payments, 144,000 per month will likely lose health coverage.

Tell your Senators to act now!

Sherrod Brown Will Introduce the Local Jobs for America Act in the Senate

Debbie Kline — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:05:46 +0000

Yesterday, flanked by Cleveland Jobs with Justice activists; including members of the Cleveland Teachers Union (CTU), SEIU Local 1, Workers United, Working America and ATU Local 268, along with fire and police union members, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown announced his intent to introduce the Local Jobs for America Act during the week of June 7th. Senator Brown’s version of the House Bill would send $75 Billion to local governments and community groups over the next 2 year period. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Mayor Don Plusquellic of Akron both spoke about the cuts in fire and police forces that have had to endure during this economic downturn. Teacher Justin Hons, effected by the upcoming teacher layoff in Cleveland and laid off ATU Local 268 mechanic, Dennis Pohl both attended the news conference lending support to the bill being introduced by Senator Brown.

Michele Pomerantz, CTU Trustee and Director of Political Action and Cleveland Jobs with Justice member said, “today’s announcement gives me hope that better days are coming for everyone.”

The crowd of approximately 100 listened intently while a small group of teabaggers (3, in fact) tried to

Continue reading Sherrod Brown Will Introduce the Local Jobs for America Act in the Senate

They Still Don’t Get It

jwjnational — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:00:56 +0000

14.6 million U.S. workers unemployed. One in ten without work. Only one job opening for every 5.6 people looking.

Congress just doesn’t get it. Joblessness is an emergency, and requires bold, emergency action. Tell Congress they must ACT NOW to create jobs and protect jobless benefits!

This jobs crisis is deeper and longer-lasting than even the Reagan recession of the 1980s, but many Democrats seem to be falling for right-wing scare tactics about the budget deficit and buying into the ridiculous argument that getting jobless benefits keeps the unemployment rate higher.

Wall Street has recovered. Corporate CEOs are back to their greedy ways. Meanwhile, even if trends reverse today, workers will have to wait four to six years to close this job gap. The House voted last week to extend unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed, but only through November, and they removed money to help people keep their health care coverage.

No matter what the conservative number crunchers say: there’s no such thing as a jobless recovery! Congress must act now to save and create jobs, starting with

Continue reading They Still Don’t Get It

Ramping Up the Pressure for Jobs and Benefits

Fran Tobin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:27:03 +0000

Leroy Smith leads chants at a Chicago JwJ Unemployed Workers Council action outside the unemployment office on June 1. Jobless activists and JwJ member groups rallied and collected "applications" for the 1 million jobs that would be created by the Local Jobs for America Act.

Congress still doesn’t get it. During the Congressional recess this week, Jobs with Justice coalitions across the country are sending them a message: There is no such thing as a “Jobless Recovery”.

America is 28 months and 8 million fewer jobs into a major jobs crisis — caused by Wall Street recklessness and corporate greed. Unemployment levels are deeper and longer-lasting that any post-war recession, there are nearly six people looking for every job opening, yet Congress has yet to enact a serious job-creation program, like the “Local Jobs for America Act”. And pundits are telling us we should just wait a few more years til we can put America back to work.

The House of Representatives even stripped health care benefits for the jobless from its recent unemployment extension bill, passed on Friday. Efforts to restore the jobless benefits for long-term unemployed will be

Continue reading Ramping Up the Pressure for Jobs and Benefits