Job growth continues to be concentrated in industries that offer low-wages and no benefits, and temporary firms have added more than 300,00 new jobs since April 2003. Americans need good jobs with health care benefits to support their families and wages that allow them to pay for basic necessities. With food and energy prices rising at exorbitant rates, workers are scrambling to make ends meet. Our nation has seen too many good jobs disappear, and they’re being replaced by low wage, WalMart type jobs that cannot build and sustain a strong economy and a healthy middle class. With wages at a two-year low, it’s inexcusable for the Administration to block measures to raise the minimum wage and protect overtime pay.
Furthermore, sustained long-term unemployment is a disturbing phenomenon that has not improved. The average length of unemployment, little changed in June at roughly 20 weeks, remains at its highest level since 1983. And more than two million long-term unemployed workers have exhausted their unemployment benefits and still cannot find jobs. Yet, the president and Congress continue to deny an extension of unemployment benefits for these workers. It’s also important to note that unemployment has reached crisis levels in minority communities. Last month, the unemployment rate was 10.1 percent for African-Americans and 6.7 percent for Hispanics.
President Bush’s economic policies have left working America behind. He has rewarded corporations for sending good jobs overseas and given tax breaks to the rich at the expense of working people. Americans have become increasingly frustrated by the lack of good jobs and will demand that our nation’s leaders put working family interests at the top of their agenda.
Contact Suzanne Ffolkes 202-637-5018
