Jobless Workers Urge Congress To Extend Unemployment

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

“This is about basic survival- putting food on the table, keeping the house warm at night, making sure there is a house,” said Silver Spring resident Edrie Irvine (r) at a press conference yesterday on Capitol Hill. “We are jobless through no fault of our own. We don’t have to and shouldn’t be invisible. Congress, you must listen to us!” Irvine, who lost her job as a legal secretary in October, 2009 – was joined by 100 jobless workers from across the country urging Congress to extend unemployment insurance. At midnight on November 30, 800,000 Americans lost their unemployment insurance; by Christmas that number will grow to two million. “Congress cannot continue to ignore real people suffering out there,” said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler. “Every day that Congress fails to act equals more people falling out of the system, further damaging our communities and the economy.” With five job seekers for every job opening, the percentage of people unemployed for longer than six months is the highest on record. “Tax cuts for the rich do not create jobs – unemployment insurance creates jobs and does not add to the budget deficit,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Immediately after the press conference, workers delivered more than 150,000 signatures petitioning their members of Congress to maintain unemployment insurance. – report/photo by Adam Wright