FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, December 21, 2008

CONTACT: Greg Denier, 202-468-2365
Noreen Nielsen, 603-858-2607

WASHINGTON, DC -- The following is a statement from Change to Win chair Anna Burger regarding the announcement today of the creation of a White House Task Force on Working Families.

"Change to Win welcomes the creation of the White House Task Force on Working Families and looks forward to working with Vice President-Elect Joe Biden who has proven time and again his leadership and commitment to workers' issues. Today's announcement shows that President-elect Obama is committed to middle class families and change truly is coming to Washington. Working people finally have an administration that is willing and eager to take action to address their needs.

"Hardworking men and women are struggling to make ends meet because of stagnant wages and declining family incomes. Personal consumption is the largest component of the U.S. economy and workers' wages are the largest single source of consumer spending. Without action to stimulate wage increases, consumption will continue to falter, and the economy will slip deeper into recession. The White House Task Force on Working Families is a vital first step toward restoring our economy and making government work for working people again.

"We are hopeful that the task force will consider how the federal government can use its powers as a regulator and purchaser to raise job standards, protect workers' rights, and hold corporations accountable. Federal contracts and grants directly support 10.5 million private-sector jobs, while private employers in receipt of these funds employ an additional 20 million workers. Government spending has an impact on the employment standards of one in five U.S. workers. Moreover, U.S. government regulatory and enforcement actions also have a profound effect on workers' lives -- from occupational safety and health, to air quality, and transportation policy.

"The seven unions of Change to Win look forward to working with the Task Force on Working Families in the New Year to help restore our economy, rebuild the middle class and renew the American Dream for America's workers."

** Note: Media representatives interested in scheduling an interview with Change to Win chair Anna Burger should contact Noreen Nielsen at Noreen.nielsen@changetowin.org. **

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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.