Remarks by Evelyn Evans - Labor Day 2011

(Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation)

Dignified unemployment

As we celebrate Labor Day 2011, my mind turns to those who no longer have the benefit of being employed due to the slow recovery of the United States economy.  Martin Luther King Jr. once said “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”.  Working people have become silent about many things that matter, just one of them being unemployment. Working people have been told for years how free trade agreements would create jobs. Working people have been hoodwinked and bamboozled by the official we elected into office because the reality is, the jobs which have been created from free trade agreements have been in third world countries where employees have to endure inhuman conditions for less than poverty wages. 

All of the off-shoring of American jobs has created a 9.1 % unemployment rate here in the U.S. Unemployment benefits are another area which has been under attack by politicians. NYS has one of the lowest rate of weekly unemployment benefits in the Northeast.  Those who have to apply for and have to survive on unemployment benefits are entitled to receive their benefits in a dignified manner. They should not have to beg for assistance when their employer makes the decision to off-shore their jobs. They should not have to beg or pay to be re-trained, they should not have to beg for an extension and they should not have to beg for a living wage unemployment benefit.

Unions helped to build the middle class in this country. Working people we can no longer be silent, so let’s scream from the mountain tops to have our jobs re-shored (brought back to America), let’s rebuild the middle class, and let’s stand together for Dignity for all Americans!!!!!!