FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2009

CONTACT: Greg Denier
202-486-2365

WASHINGTON, DC -- Leaders of Change to Win (CtW) unions representing more than 5.5 million working men and women outlined an aggressive and innovative set of ideas to directly confront the continuing jobs crisis, offering solutions to immediately start putting paychecks back into the hands of America’s workers.

“America's working families sent a clear message today: it is time for immediate action to create good jobs that will drive sustainable economic recovery.  We will put the strength and values of our members, and all working families, firmly behind policies that reward work and give millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet the economic power of a paycheck. The only way out of this recession is to work our way out of it, starting now,” said Anna Burger, Chair of Change to Win.

At President Obama’s Jobs Summit today, CtW leaders presented ideas that would save and expand jobs with investment in building and maintaining our state and local infrastructure from public safety to health and education, from roads and bridges to water and sewage systems; stimulate investment in emerging industries from weatherization to the development of new energy sources; generate additional jobs through addressing the growing hunger crisis across America with broadened food stamp eligibility as well as continued unemployment and health care benefits; and, direct job creation with investment in public service jobs. CtW also pushed for a new job-creating trade policy that would promote U.S. exports.

The CtW proposals taken together offer broad-based job creation in all economic sectors with both immediate impact and long term benefit.

“The jobs we are creating today build the skills for tomorrow’s economy along with the infrastructure for accelerated future economic growth. From weatherizing our homes to rebuilding our roads and bridges, workers are adding value to our economy and driving consumer capacity that will help lift us out of this recession.  Jobs are our best investment for our children and grandchildren. The job deficit is the real threat to their future,” said Terence O’Sullivan, President of the Laborers International Union of North America. 

James Hoffa, President of the Teamsters Union, emphasized the importance of trade policy in rebuilding the economy, “Our challenge is twofold: design an action plan to create new export-driven jobs, and to make sure we don’t lose more existing jobs. We must do no further harm.”  Hoffa pointed to the recently introduced Senate bill — the TRADE Act — as a new beginning for U.S. trade policy.

CtW proposals offer concrete solutions that would relieve both the immediate human suffering that comes with joblessness, and offer a pathway to permanent jobs by bringing supermarkets to underserved areas. The expanded food stamp eligibility proposal, for instance, has one of the highest economic multipliers leading to a higher level of job creation for each dollar spent to help hungry families. Many struggling families in inner city areas have no access to supermarkets that most Americans take for granted. Tax incentives for responsible retail food operators would create jobs and expand food choices for millions of working families.  

“Paychecks—not banker bonuses—are the path to economic recovery. We need policies that create jobs and meet the real needs of our nation. Expanding food stamp eligibility has a double impact. It puts food on the table for a struggling family who receives the food stamps, and food on the table for workers who got jobs producing and selling food. It is a win for working families, and a win for our economy. It is important to make sure unemployed workers have the support they need to stay healthy and responsible employers have access to resources to help rebuild the economy” said Joe Hansen, President of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

CtW leaders emphasized the need to promote job quality with living wages, decent benefits, safe conditions and enforcement of fundamental workers’ rights.

“Make no mistake about it - our economic meltdown was no accident: it was arson.  Over the past decade, we saw productivity rise, but workers' wages stayed flat. We watched the housing bubble burst, and hardworking families lost their homes.  We bailed out the banks, but men and women who get up each day thinking about how they are going to make a better life for their families are still losing their jobs and their belief in the American Dream.  We have a chance now to build a 21st century economy that rewards work and makes sure that our kids will do as well as their parents did.  The President's leadership on job creation is critical but we all have work to do.  The time to act is now,” said Andy Stern, President of the Service Employees International Union.

#  #  #

About Change to Win
Change to Win is a 5.5-million member partnership of five unions founded in 2005 to represent workers in the industries and occupations of the 21st century economy. Change to Win is committed to restoring the American Dream for a new generation of workers – wages that can support a family, affordable health care, a secure retirement, and the opportunity for the future. The affiliated unions are: Service Employees International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Laborers' International Union of North America, and United Farm Workers of America.