Endorse First Friday Vigil for Jobs - NYC!
“First Fridays — Vigil for Jobs” – New York City
Local community groups, labor unions, civil rights organizations, and unemployed activists concerned about the high unemployment rate plan to hold a vigil and media briefing in front of Sen. Charles Schumer’s office at 757 Third Avenue (between 47th and 48th Streets) on the First Friday of each month from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Our next vigil will be on Friday, February 4.
Our goal is to call attention to the unemployment crisis, and the need for urgent federal action to reduce unemployment, including a national federal jobs program similar to the WPA. During the last serious economic depression in the 1930’s, President Roosevelt put millions to work doing useful jobs that made a lasting contribution to our country — roads, bridges, schools, libraries, housing, theater, painting, road guides, parks, and much more.
“Jobless recovery” is a contradiction in terms, and completely unacceptable to New Yorkers. We must insist that the Congress and President act swiftly to create millions of new jobs in clean energy and conservation; infrastructure and mass transit; education, health care, public and human services; and by creating a national industrial policy to stabilize and increase the number of manufacturing jobs, pink-and-blue-color jobs, and employment opportunities for youth and those nearing retirement. Also, the Federal Reserve should be encouraged to direct banks to expand lending for community job creation and small business.
This is an opportunity for cross-issue organizing around the central issue facing our nation, our city, our organizational members, and millions of people —joblessness and economic insecurity.\
Endorsing organizations include:
Americans for Democratic Action, NYC Chapter
Communications Workers of America, Local 1180
Empire State Economic Security Campaign
Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition
Healing of the Nations Fndtn, Rev. James Forbes, Jr., Pres.
Hunger Action Network of NY State
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, NYC Chapter
National Jobs for All Coalition
National Organization for Women - NYS
New York City Chapter of U.S. Labor Against the War
NYC Democratic Socialists of America
Workers Defense League, Inc.
[ List in formation ]
Individual Endorsements, org. for identification only:
Ed Ott, former Exec. Dir. NYC Central Labor Council
Jim Perlstein, Retiree Chptr, Profesional Staff Congress/CUNY
Paul Vasquez, Pres., NABET-CWA Local 16
Why the First Friday?
On the first Friday of each month, new statistics are released by the US Department of Labor on the official unemployment rate. This monthly announcement provides an opportunity to reach out to the media and raise awareness about the unemployment crisis and potential solutions.
For example, in November 2010, the Department of Labor announced 15.1 million people were officially unemployed. The official unemployment rate was 9.8%. As reported by the National Jobs for All Coalition, an additional 15.2 million people make up the so-called “hidden unemployed.” These include 1) people who are working part-time because can't find a full-time job; and 2) people who want jobs but are not looking so are not counted in official statistics. Taken together, the total number of jobless people in November was therefore was approximately 30.3 million (18.9% of the labor force). Over 8 million have lost their jobs over the last two years.
Join Us!!
These are our requests of all endorsing organizations:
1) Tell us whether your organization will co-sponsor future First Friday Vigils.
2) Provide us with a two or three sentence quote from your organization’s spokesperson to be used in a press release.
3) Publicize the First Friday vigils to your activist network to get them to attend and participate in the Vigil for Jobs.
4) We ask that at least one person from each organization attend the Vigil each month to represent your organization, if possible.
5) Help prepare signs and chants for the one-hour Vigil geared to the problem of joblessness and the need for government officials to take action.
To co-sponsor, please fill our online endorsement form (also shown below) or call Chuck Bell at (914) 830-0639; or Noreen Connell of National Organization for Women New York State at (212) 586-3257.
Thanks very much in advance for your support!!
