December, 03 2010, 11:09am EDT
Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on November Jobs Report
This morning's disastrous jobs report should wake up Capitol Hill,
where Senate Republicans have been outrageously and unconscionably
blocking the restoration of unemployment insurance for millions of
Americans while demanding tax cuts for millionaires. The unemployment
rate is once again painfully close to double digits at 9.8%, with the
economy adding only 39,000 jobs last month.
WASHINGTON
This morning's disastrous jobs report should wake up Capitol Hill,
where Senate Republicans have been outrageously and unconscionably
blocking the restoration of unemployment insurance for millions of
Americans while demanding tax cuts for millionaires. The unemployment
rate is once again painfully close to double digits at 9.8%, with the
economy adding only 39,000 jobs last month.
The disconnect between Washington and working families is dangerous
and alarming. We need to get serious about investing in job creation now
and we need an immediate, one-year extension of jobless benefits.
Without dramatic action to invest in America and create jobs, our
economy will not see the robust and sustained recovery we need to put
millions of Americans back to work.
There are sure to be tough times ahead as we continue to fight to get
our economy back on track. With more than 15 million people unable to
find work after losing their jobs through no fault of their own, we need
to act fast to extend unemployment benefits during this holiday season.
As of this morning, more than 892,000 jobless workers have already lost
their lifeline. [See Actual Tracking Clock]
That's why we're calling on Congress to maintain our unemployment
insurance lifeline, as our nation has done for generations whenever jobs
are scarce. Never before has Congress allowed unemployment insurance to
expire with this many people out of work. Every day of inaction by
Congress means that more people will fall out of the system during the
toughest job search of their lives - unable to pay the bills, put food
on the table, or celebrate the holidays. This is further damage to our
communities and our weakened economy - and it is unworthy of our great
country.
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) works tirelessly to improve the lives of working people. We are the democratic, voluntary federation of 56 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 million working men and women.
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