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Workers and Community Members to Rally at Michigan Congressional Offices as Jobless Benefits Approach Expiration |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 9, 2012
CONTACT: Sara Metz, 517-449-3786
Benefits could run out within weeks if Congress doesn’t act, cutting lifeline for thousands in Michigan
LANSING – As federal unemployment benefits approach expiration, workers and community members will gather at the offices of eight members of Congress this Friday to call for an extension of this critical lifeline for Michigan families.
In Michigan alone, nearly 80,000 unemployed workers could lose their benefits on March 6 if Congress fails to approve an extension. This assistance is critical to helping families make ends meet during extended periods of joblessness, and House Republicans are proposing costly and burdensome barriers that would make it even harder for jobless Americans to find work.
WHO: Local workers and community members
WHAT: Rally at Congressional offices to call for an extension of federal unemployment benefits
WHERE/WHEN:
Rep. Justin Amash: 12pm at the Corner of Ottawa Ave NW and Michigan St NW, Grand Rapids
Rep. Dan Benishek: 12pm at 307 S. Front St., Marquette
Rep. Dave Camp: 12pm at 135 Ashman St, Midland
Rep. Bill Huizenga: 4pm at 900 Third St, Ste 203, Muskegon
Rep. Candice Miller: 12pm at 48701 Van Dyke, Shelby Twp
Rep. Mike Rogers: 12pm at 1000 W St Joseph, Ste 300, Lansing
Rep. Fred Upton: 12pm at 157 S Kalamazoo Mall, Ste 180, Kalamazoo
Rep. Tim Walberg: 12pm at 800 W Ganson, Jackson
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The Michigan 2012 Jobs Agenda already has strong support from labor, progressive and community service organizations.
Now we need your help to make sure Lansing politicians start standing up for Michigan’s middle class families. Click here to show your support! |
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Michigan's 2012 Jobs Plan |
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On Thursday, January 12, 2012 Michigan State AFL-CIO President Karla Swift joined workers and citizens groups from around the state to unveil an aggressive plan to hold legislators accountable for creating good-paying jobs, rebuilding the state’s crumbling infrastructure, making sure all of Michigan’s children have access to a good education, and helping unemployed workers get back on their feet. This document, entitled “Michigan’s 2012 Jobs Plan,” provides a roadmap for rebuilding the state’s economy by investing in Michigan’s workers, families, and communities.
Download the full plan to learn more about some of the steps that should be taken now to create opportunities, drive innovation, and get Michigan back on track. |
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Speech on Workers Rights by President Karla Swift |
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Karla Swift, President of the Michigan AFL-CIO delivers a heartfelt speech about how the rights of workers have been threatened, attacked, and dismantled due to pushes from the right to destroy the safety nets put in place to keep Michigan employees safe, healthy, and paid respectably for the hard work they put in each and every day on the job.
View the speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSVnqlv_soc |
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EPI Study: Right to Work is Bad for Michigan |
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“Right to Work (for less)” - The Wrong Answer for Michigan’s Economy
In case you missed it, the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute released a new report on the potential impact of a so-called “Right to Work” law on Michigan’s economy. Here are some of the key findings:
RTW laws have no impact on the performance of state economies. Seven of the 10 highest-unemployment states are states with RTW laws, including Nevada and Florida, which have unemployment rates higher than Michigan’s unemployment rate of 10.5%, and South Carolina, which also has an unemployment rate of 10.5%. Factors other than RTW laws, such as major industries and climate, shape states’ economies.
RTW laws lower wages for union and non-union workers by an average of $1,500 a year and decrease the likelihood employees will get health insurance or pensions through their jobs. By lowering compensation, they have the indirect effect of undermining consumer spending, which threatens economic growth. For every $1 million in wage cuts to workers, $850,000 less is spent in the economy, which translates into a loss of six jobs.
It’s clear that some state politicians and their special interest friends are making a power grab and trying to pass a law to weaken middle class families. By undermining workers’ rights, these greedy CEOs would gain even more profits – at the expense of our jobs, our retirement security and our kids’ future.
Governor Snyder and anti-union politicians in the legislature have moved one anti-worker measure after another, doing nothing to help put Michigan back to work. We need our elected leaders to help create the kind of jobs that pay a fair wage and help give our kids the education they need to have a better life, rather than exploiting our children’s teachers, nurses and firefighters – the people who make Michigan safe every day.

Download the Report Here |
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Statement by Michigan AFL-CIO President Karla Swift on House Passage of HB 5002 |
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Cathy Sherwin (314) 452-2179
Workers Compensation bill is another power grab by corporate special interests that won’t create jobs
Michigan's workers compensation laws were designed to protect workers injured on the job, but HB5002 only hurts those injured workers and gives more political payback to CEOs and corporate special interest groups. This unfair bill is just another partisan power grab by Lansing politicians, and guts protections for injured workers. It was passed yesterday despite hundreds of Michigan workers, including First Responders like police and firefighters that testified about the devastating impact HB5002 would have on our workers compensation system. The bill won't do anything to create jobs, but it will make it far more difficult for injured workers to get back on their feet.
In fact, for the first time ever, HB 5002 would cut benefits for injured workers by subtracting “imaginary wages," regardless of jobs available. It effectively penalizes injured workers because our state politicians have failed to create more jobs. Instead of giving more Holiday handouts to corporate special interests, we need our elected leaders to focus on creating more and better jobs and safer workplaces, rather than attacking people who get hurt on the job through no fault of their own.
Workers compensation is too important for politics as usual. I strongly urge Gov. Snyder to stand up for Michigan workers, not CEOs, and veto this unfair legislation. By working together, we can keep the focus on what's really important to Michigan workers, without reckless attacks that would destroy a critical lifeline for Michigan families.
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