With Persistent Unemployment & Record Numbers in Poverty

Protesters Declare a Jobs Emergency

By Allison Fletcher Acosta,
Jobs with Justice
September 17, 2010

http://www.jwjblog.org/2010/09/thousands-hit-the-streets-to-declare-a-jobs-emergency/

On September 15, Jobs with Justice coalitions and
allies in more than 100 cities nationwide brought the
voices of workers, community members, and the
unemployed into the debate on how to move forward on a
jobs plan that would put people back to work
immediately.  With 15 million people out of work and
one in seven  Americans living below the official
poverty line, the time is now for Congress to take bold
action to move the country towards full and fair
employment and to ensure that Wall Street pays their
fair share.

Jobs with Justice coalitions organized a wide range of
events to send a message:  If Congress won't act to
create jobs, then maybe they don't deserve to have
jobs.  JwJ activists were in the streets to demand that
Congress create and save jobs through legislation like
the Local Jobs for America Act, extension of the TANF
emergency fund, and action on President Obama's call to
invest in the country's infrastructure as well as to
extend unemployment insurance and pass legislation that
ensures Wall Street pay their fair share.

In Orlando, FL, people staged a "die in" on the ground
in front of Senator LeMieux's office to portray the
dying state of the U.S. economy.  In Chicago, more than
300 people gathered outside of GOP headquarters to
protest recent votes of 10th District Congressman Mark
Kirk on jobs and unemployment and to demand immediate
action to create jobs. "We need jobs, and until we get
them of course we need unemployment benefits.  Mark
Kirk is voting against both", said Carole Ramsden, an
unemployed union electrician and member of the
Unemployed Workers Council.  Time and again, Mark Kirk
has said cited the budget deficit as his reason for
voting against legislation, but there is general
consensus among economists that in an economic downturn
short-term deficit spending is preferable to further
shrinking the economy by ending benefits to the
unemployed.  Analysis shows that unemployment insurance
kept 3.3 million people out of poverty in 2009.

JwJ San Francisco Demands JobsIn San Francisco, people
gathered for a Community Tribunal to bring forward the
Voices and Faces of the Economic Crisis in front of
Senator Diane Feinstein's office.  The crowd heard from
those most impacted by the economic crisis, including
young workers, low-wage workers, and working parents,
especially those who are struggling to transition off
welfare, support their families and become self-
sufficient.  The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
(TANF) emergency fund has provided subsidized jobs for
nearly 250,000 otherwise unemployed low-income parents
and youth, helping families, businesses, and
communities across America weather the recession.  The
program is set to end on September 30th unless the
Senate joins the House in voting to extend it.

Philadelphia Jobs with Justice held a rally for fair
jobs, full employment, and funding for public services
in front of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of
Commerce and in view of City Hall. A group of
approximately 100 activists rallied to demand an end to
local tax breaks for big business, protection of public
services in the city, and adoption of national, pro-
worker legislation, especially the Local Jobs for
America Act.

There were protests in dozens of other cities. Check
out the press clips and photos from our actions:
http://www.jwj.org/jobs/s15press.html and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwjnational/sets/72157624968749160/

What's next in the fight for jobs with justice?

    * Tell the Senate to extend the TANF emergency fund
past September 30th

http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4023/c/33/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=717

    * Support the DREAM Act

http://www.dreamactivist.org/

    * Join Jobs with Justice and tens of thousands of
activists on October 2nd for the One Nation
Working Together March in Washington, DC

https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4023/c/33/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=775

Thanks for all you do!

_____________________________________________

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